Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines
Meets baseline Medicare standards with room for improvement. A tour and talking to current residents' families is the best next step.
based on 56 Google reviews

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What this means for your family
While the facility's rehabilitation therapy team is frequently praised, the recurring reports of neglect, poor hygiene, and slow response times are significant red flags. We strongly recommend visiting the facility unannounced and speaking directly with current residents' families before making a decision.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
56 reviews on Google“The Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines receives highly polarized feedback, with recent reviews highlighting significant concerns regarding facility cleanliness, neglect, and poor communication. While some reviewers praise the rehabilitation therapy team and specific staff members, many families report issues with call light response times, hygiene, and building maintenance.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Knowledgeable rehabilitation therapy team
- Scenic location near the river
- Some dedicated and caring individual staff members
Concerns
- Neglect and poor hygiene (e.g., bed sores, lack of bathing, soiled clothing) (mentioned by 7 reviewers)
- Slow or ignored call lights and lack of staff responsiveness (mentioned by 5 reviewers)
- Facility cleanliness and maintenance issues (smells, stains, outdated furniture) (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Poor communication and administrative disorganization (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 62 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the facility's proximity to the river, what kind of outdoor access or scenic activities are available to residents on a daily basis?
- 2With rehabilitation therapy being a noted strength here, how do you ensure that progress made in therapy is maintained by the nursing staff during daily care routines?
- 3I noticed some concerns regarding facility maintenance and cleanliness; could you walk me through your current housekeeping schedule and how you address deep-cleaning needs?
- 4How does your leadership team ensure that call lights are answered promptly, and what is your process for tracking staff responsiveness throughout the day?
- 5Regarding personal care and hygiene, what specific protocols do you have in place to ensure residents receive consistent assistance with bathing and clothing changes?
- 6How do you keep families informed about changes in a resident's health or care plan, and what is the best way for us to communicate with the administrative team?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“My mom stayed here for rehab and if we would’ve known how horrible this place was, she never would’ve gone. In fact, we removed her and took her home because they ran out of her meds. The final straw.”
“It is the lowest quality Nursing home in all of Des Moines. It smells like pee, FEW employees actually look like they work or do anything, and it is a cluttered mess.”
“The partnership between the clinical and rehabilitation (therapy) team will offer a holistic approach of care, addressing all needs of your loved one.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
8
measures
6
measures
3
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents needing more daily help over time
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
This facility has significant recurring problems that prompted 19 complaint-triggered investigations from families and staff reporting concerns. Persistent issues span infection control, fire safety systems, and care planning, with ongoing deficiencies in accident prevention and resident rights appearing across multiple surveys. While all violations show correction dates, the pattern of repeated problems in core safety and care areas, including serious concerns about abuse reporting and maintaining adequate nursing staff, suggests systemic challenges that warrant careful consideration.
Sep 16, 2025Routine14
Smoke Deficiencies
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Smoke Deficiencies
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the use and maintenance of medical gas equipment.
May 7, 2025Complaint3
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Oct 17, 2024Routine6
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies
Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that corridors are separated from use areas by walls constructed to limit the passage of smoke.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Oct 17, 2024Complaint3
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
Jun 6, 2024Complaint5
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Oct 5, 2023Routine12
Smoke Deficiencies
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Provide a written emergency evacuation plan.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
State Inspection History
State Inspections
Source: Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing
Mar 5, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Feb 10, 2026ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Nov 25, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Nov 15, 2025InspectionClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Sep 16, 2025InspectionClean
Fed violations: 7, State violations: 1
May 24, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
May 7, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 3, State violations: 0
Feb 6, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines
for profit
Chain Affiliation
The Ensign Group
338 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 3.2/5 · Rank 254 of 328
Ownership & Management
Owners
Gateway Healthcare LLC
Owner · Organization
The Ensign Group INC
Owner (parent company) · Organization
Port, Barry
Individual is an Owner, Partner or Trustee of Any Adp of the Snf
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
56 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit rehabcenterofdesmoines.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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