Walden Point

Walden Point sits in Des Moines, Iowa, just north of the downtown Mercy Campus, and the building is managed by Keyway Management Company as a Low Income Housing Tax Credit community, which means it's an option for older adults with limited income looking for affordable assisted living, and folks here need to be at least 55 years old, but often the minimum age for residency is listed as 65 too, where you'll find a selection of one- or two-bedroom apartments, studios, and semi-private units, each fully handicap accessible, and there's plenty of parking both off-street and for residents, and the building is secure and accessible to busline transportation. The community is set up for different care needs, including assisted living and special needs housing, and offers supportive services like congregate meals and on-site nursing therapies, and there's on-site Mercy Home Health Services for extra support. Staff are always awake with visiting nurses and homecare workers ready for emergencies any hour of day or night, and they can help residents with things like moving from beds to wheelchairs or providing standby assistance for those who are not able to walk on their own, but residents who have incontinence are expected to manage it themselves, and for diabetes, staff help monitor blood sugars but don't give insulin. Residents pay through private pay, Veteran's benefits, social security, or private insurance, and there are several fees to consider, like community, respite, and buy-in fees, along with fees based on the level of care-high, medium, or low. Rent can be fixed or based on income, around 30% of monthly income when income-based, and applicants need to provide a photo ID, Social Security Card, proof of all income, bank statements, credit and personal references, and pass credit and criminal background checks, and there are non-refundable application fees usually between $25 and $50. Meals aren't included in rent but are supplied by Hy-Vee for an added cost, and meal times happen in a bright, open dining area, and you'll find both indoor and outdoor common spaces for folks to gather, join activities, or just sit and talk. There's a library, laundry on every floor, a craft and activities room, a computer center, an exercise room, and a beautician on site for hair or grooming needs, and there are hospice services if residents need end-of-life care. Devotional services run both on-site and off-site, and activities encourage folks to move and socialize, so residents can make use of the facilities or join in group events. There's also dedicated management on-site to help everyone live as independently as possible, and the building offers housing options not only for seniors but for families and people with special needs, and rents are kept affordable for those who qualify.