A Rich History in Des Moines

Delivering Compassionate Care Since 1931

Our story began humbly in 1931 with the Younker family’s generous donation of their mansion in Des Moines. We started as a home without a name and a simple mission: To house eleven elderly men from the Des Moines Jewish Community.

Our first expansion included the purchase of an adjacent house that enabled us to widen our scope to include nursing care.

We expanded further in 1961 when Iowa Jewish Home opened on Pleasant Street. No longer nameless, we prided ourselves on providing exceptional skilled nursing care to Iowa’s senior population. In 1987, our Community made gifts in excess of $6.5 million to build Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center at its present location on Polk Boulevard. In the new facility, services were expanded to include specialized long-term nursing and rehabilitative services.

In 2006, responding to a growing need for specialized services for those living with dementia, our Community once again stepped up to fund the construction of our CCDI licensed 14-bed Memory Care Unit. This expansion has established Iowa Jewish Life Center as a leader in the provision of compassionate care with those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments.

It is this rich history that will guide us as we continue to evolve to deliver personalized health care services to persons of all faiths.