Des Moines, IA has 5 licensed home health care agencies listed on ElderCareCosts. The median estimated cost is $7,917/mo. That's roughly in line with the Iowa state median.
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Starting tier, Des Moines
$3,599/mo
About 20 hours a week: a common starting point for a new home-care client
Full-time care (44 hrs/week, survey standard)
$7,917/mo
Estimated range $7,634 – $8,231
● Des Moines $7,917 at 44 hrs/wk ○ National median $6,769 at 44 hrs/wk
2025 figures
This uses the survey's home care rate, because the survey no longer prices skilled nursing or therapy visits separately. Skilled visits are usually billed per visit.
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Home care in Des Moines runs about $42 an hour. Here is what common schedules cost a month:
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Medicare generally does not cover long-term custodial care. Families usually combine private pay, long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance, or a Medicaid waiver where they qualify. See paying for care and the state Medicaid guides.
Nearby cities: West Des Moines · Urbandale
If getting up from the toilet is the hard part, an electric toilet lift does the lifting, day or night. Sponsored
Here is what different monthly budgets cover in Des Moines.
Home health care comes to the home, so agencies based one town over often serve Des Moines; their licensed office is simply in a different city. These 12 are based nearby, listed by office location, nearest first. They are separate from the licensed-in-Des Moines count above. Always confirm they cover your address.
Ordered by distance from Des Moines, never by who pays. Office location is shown on every card.
Between visits, a medical alert button covers the hours no one is in the house. See plans and the current offer. Sponsored
Des Moines, in Polk County, has about 212,421 residents. About 27,045 of them (13%) are 65 or older. The median household income is $65,932.
Source: US Census BureauAAA serving Polk County (Des Moines) and seven surrounding counties. Contact from Iowa HHS SFY 2025 AAA Plan Update Synopsis.
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Statewide help for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.
VA Medical Center in Des Moines.
Can help pay for care if your parent qualifies.
1 VA Community Living Center or State Veterans Home nearby.
VA Aid & Attendance overview →National helplines, including the Eldercare Locator and 211, are listed on paying for care.
Veterans & surviving spouses: VA Aid & Attendance can help wartime veterans who qualify. How Aid & Attendance works →
Based on the modeled median, home health care in Des Moines runs about $42 an hour. A 20-hour week runs about $3,599/month.
Des Moines's median home health care cost is about 1% higher than the Iowa state median.
Tell us what you need and your budget, and we will email you licensed options right away.
Reading up first? Home Health Care across Iowa → · Home Health Care cost across Iowa → · Assisted Living vs Home Health Care →
Assessment scheduled this week? Print our checklist: what to ask during your in-home assessment, what to notice, and the license paperwork to request. Or email it to yourself to have it on your phone.