Parkridge Nursing & Rehab Center, also called Parkridge Specialty Care, sits in Pleasant Hill on the edge of Des Moines, where you can still see the downtown skyline, and it's a newer place with a single story, white columns, and landscaped spaces that give a home-like feeling which is nice for folks moving in from their own homes. This community has 90 beds for skilled nursing, long-term care, short-term rehab, and hospice care, and takes both Medicare and Medicaid, which helps a lot of families plan. It's part of Care Initiatives, which is Iowa's biggest non-profit for skilled nursing and long-term care, and that means it tries to run for people, not for money, and they have more than 90 staff including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and therapists who work together 24 hours a day, providing as much kindness and individual attention as they can, including for people with things like Alzheimer's, heart disease, COPD, and complex conditions that often make things harder as you age.
It's got a range of rooms-some private, some semi-private, and some shared or companion setups-and every room, even the shared ones, aims to give folks some dignity and comfort, with cable or satellite TV, Wi-Fi or high-speed internet, washer and dryer, and choices about room layouts, which is handy for different personalities and needs. They cook homemade meals right on site-breakfast, lunch, and dinner-using an up-to-date kitchen with a real chef, so residents can eat in the restaurant-style dining room or get room service if they're not feeling up for the dining hall, and they keep the menu friendly to special diets.
Staff at Parkridge handle a lot: short-term and long-term rehab, outpatient therapy, medication management, wound care, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, nutritional counseling, pain management, orthopedic rehab, stroke recovery, IV antibiotic therapy, and bariatric care, which can be a relief for folks who need more support after an injury, stroke, or surgery, or who need help with breathing or staying stable with their medications. They also pay close attention to things like pressure ulcers and falls, with a goal to avoid serious problems. Residents with chronic disease and memory loss, like dementia, get customized care plans, and everyone has access to daily physical and mental activities-computer classes, Bible study, physical therapy, and lots of social gatherings-meant to keep everybody both sharp and active, and there's a Penner bath/spa room made for relaxation, while the rehab-to-home wing helps folks recover before they move back to their usual lives.
All the standard things are here-housekeeping, laundry, salon, barber, fitness center, gathering spaces, safely managed medications, transportation for errands or appointments, and secure outdoor areas with patios so people can enjoy sunny days. For families needing a break, respite stays are available, and there's a theater area for movies or special programs. There isn't a resident or family council, but the staff does aim for a personal touch, mixing humor and care into their service. The American Health Care Association gave Parkridge a 2019 Bronze Commitment to Quality Award, which shows some outside recognition, though the Medicare Nursing Home rating sits at 1 star right now and the average user rating comes out to about 6.8 out of 10-so it's the third highest rated in Pleasant Hill, but certainly not perfect.
Parkridge puts effort into serving people from many backgrounds and makes a point of providing compassionate, respectful care. With private and shared rooms, options for assisted living, memory care, and home care, and many ways to keep folks comfortable, Parkridge stays focused on helping people live with as much dignity and independence as possible, offering support for a wide range of needs and medical situations.
