1
Essence of Life Hospice
Based in Amana, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
5 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 19 years. Ownership: other.
Dallas County, Iowa
Hospice care in West Des Moines, IA
Hospice care is comfort care for someone with a terminal illness, from a team of nurses, aides, social workers and chaplains, usually at home or wherever the person lives.
25 hospices 3.8 of 5 average CMS rating 10 rated 4 stars or more
Get help finding hospice care in West Des Moines
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Hospice care near West Des Moines, ranked by CMS rating
CMS rates hospices from 1 to 5 stars on the CAHPS Hospice Survey, which asks family caregivers about the care their loved one received.
2
Unitypoint Hospice
Based in Fort Dodge, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
5 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 30 years. Ownership: non-profit.
3
Suncrest Hospice, LLC
Based in West Des Moines, IA
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 11 years. Ownership: for-profit.
4
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls
Based in Cedar Falls, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 16 years. Ownership: other.
5
Myrtue Medical Center Hospice
Based in Harlan, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 29 years. Ownership: government.
6
St Croix Hospice
Based in Ankeny, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 19 years. Ownership: for-profit.
7
Unitypoint Hospice
Based in Urbandale, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 29 years. Ownership: non-profit.
8
Wesleylife Hospice
Based in Urbandale, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 18 years. Ownership: non-profit.
9
Hospice of the Midwest, LLC
Based in Johnston, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 10 years. Ownership: for-profit.
10
Everystep
Based in Des Moines, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
4 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 42 years. Ownership: other.
11
Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines
Based in West Des Moines, IA
3 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 17 years. Ownership: other.
12
Mercyone North Iowa Hospice
Based in Mason City, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
3 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 41 years. Ownership: for-profit.
13
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice
Based in Des Moines, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
3 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 40 years. Ownership: non-profit.
14
Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia
Based in Albia, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
2 out of 5 stars, Patient survey, from CMS Patient survey
Medicare-certified hospice for 17 years. Ownership: non-profit.
Affinity Care of Iowa LLC
Based in West Des Moines, IA
No CMS star rating
Medicare-certified hospice.
Moments Hospice of Des Moines LLC
Based in Hiawatha, IA
No CMS star rating
Medicare-certified hospice for 5 years. Ownership: for-profit.
Gentiva
Based in Panora, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
No CMS star rating
Medicare-certified hospice for 21 years. Ownership: for-profit.
Gentiva
Based in Carroll, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
No CMS star rating
Medicare-certified hospice for 19 years. Ownership: for-profit.
Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines)
Based in Ames, IA. Tells Medicare it serves West Des Moines
No CMS star rating
Medicare-certified hospice for 4 years.
Rural Iowa Home Health Care
Based in Clive, IA, about 5 miles away
No CMS star rating
Registered with the federal NPI registry since 2022.
Elohim Home LLC
Based in Waukee, IA, about 6 miles away
No CMS star rating
Registered with the federal NPI registry since 2024.
Hebronis Home LLC
Based in Urbandale, IA, about 6 miles away
No CMS star rating
Registered with the federal NPI registry since 2024.
Simply Smiles
Based in Grimes, IA, about 10 miles away
No CMS star rating
Registered with the federal NPI registry since 2024.
Elohim Homecare and Staffing Agency INC
Based in Johnston, IA, about 11 miles away
No CMS star rating
Registered with the federal NPI registry since 2017.
Implied Human Dynamics Personal Care Home
Based in Johnston, IA, about 11 miles away
No CMS star rating
Registered with the federal NPI registry since 2025.
How these listings are sourced
- Medicare data. Home health agencies, hospices and nursing homes come from the CMS Provider Data Catalog (home health file of October 2026, nursing home file of September 2026). Star ratings are CMS ratings. Each card links to the provider's Care Compare record.
- Ranking. Rated providers are listed first, highest CMS rating first. Providers CMS has not rated come after them, because no rating is unknown, not bad. Nobody can pay for a place on this list.
- Other providers. Home care agencies, assisted living, adult day centers, disability and ABA providers come from the federal NPI registry, read October 2026. The care type is the one the provider chose when it registered. Nobody checks it, so ask what each provider actually does.
- Location. "Based in" is the provider's own address. "Tells Medicare it serves" comes from the ZIP codes the agency reports to CMS. "Miles away" is the distance from the city center to the provider's ZIP code, so check that they cover your address.
How hospice care is paid for
- Medicare covers hospice care when a hospice doctor and the person's regular doctor certify a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months or less, and the person chooses comfort care instead of care to cure the illness.
- Medicare doesn't cover room and board when someone gets hospice care at home or in a nursing home.
For free local help with care options and benefits, contact your Area Agency on Aging through the Eldercare Locator.
West Des Moines at a glance
- 73,664 residents (Census Bureau 2024 estimate)
- 4 hospices with an address in West Des Moines
- 15 based elsewhere that tell Medicare they serve West Des Moines
- 19 Medicare-certified
- 14 with a CMS star rating
Questions about hospice care in West Des Moines
How many hospice care hospices serve West Des Moines, IA?
Carevo lists 25 hospices for West Des Moines: 4 based in the city, 15 that tell Medicare they serve ZIP codes here, and 6 based within 15 miles.
Which hospices near West Des Moines have the highest CMS rating?
10 of the 14 rated hospices on this page have 4 stars or more from CMS in data published August 2026. Essence of Life Hospice is listed first with 5 out of 5. Ratings change, so check the Care Compare record linked on each card.
How is hospice care paid for?
Medicare covers hospice care when a hospice doctor and the person's regular doctor certify a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months or less, and the person chooses comfort care instead of care to cure the illness. Medicare doesn't cover room and board when someone gets hospice care at home or in a nursing home.
Can providers pay to be listed higher on Carevo?
No. Carevo does not sell placement or ranking. Rated providers are ordered by their CMS rating, and the rest by where they are based.
Other care in West Des Moines
Home care · Respite care · Home health care · Private duty nursing · In-home physical therapy · Assisted living · Memory care · Board and care homes · Nursing homes · Adult day care · Intellectual and developmental disability services · ABA therapy
Hospice care in nearby cities
Urbandale · Waukee · Des Moines · Johnston · Ankeny · Ames · Marshalltown
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care accessed October 27, 2026
- Medicare.gov Care Compare accessed October 27, 2026