Scottish Rite Park is designed to enrich residents’ lives by offering simply elegant senior living. This retirement community strives to exceed the expectations of those we serve through nutrition, fitness and socialization by continually evolving into an atmosphere of individuality and exceptional customer service. We are dedicated to provide continuing quality care with the utmost compassion giving residents pleasure in calling Scottish Rite Park home.

To provide optimal customer service to the seniors whom we serve. Through its focus on customer service and advances in conveniences and technology, Scottish Rite Park will be the preferred senior living facility in central Iowa.

“My wife and I have been delightfully overwhelmed having recently moved into Scottish Rite Park. Having explored other retirement centers none compare with the supporting culture of its residents. That is far more important than we anticipated. There are all sorts of welcoming organized activities that have kept us busy choosing between them. We now wish we had made this decision years earlier. Everyone is very friendly. The opportunities abound for making the remainder of our lives all that we could ever want. You cannot be lonely living here. More important, we now feel safe regardless of what happens to our health the rest of our lives. We no longer have any worries for our future. We recommend getting your name on the waiting list early so you can chose the apartment where you want to live. We are never moving again.”
-Lyle Simpson

“My mom and dad, Pauline and Norman Holt, picked SRP as their one and only move because they had numerous friends who already lived there who gave glowing reports on the community, plus they thought it was most important that it had the three “stages” of living- independent, residential, and health care. When my mom eventually needed to move to long-term care, she received such wonderful and loving care. Oh my gosh, there just aren’t enough or good enough words to describe how wonderful everyone was, from the nurses to the CNAs and the food service. I never once worried about the care she was receiving which put me so at ease. We became friends with so many of the residents there, everyone was family.”
– Paula Holt Foster

“My short-term stay at Scottish Rite Park Health Center was very productive and there were several reasons for that. In selecting Scottish Rite Park while I was in the hospital, I used the Medicare site and chose it because of the very high rating given for staffing. This rating was well-deserved. I appreciated the diversity of staff. I found staff not only to be courteous, but friendly and willing to engage with me and show concern for my well-being. I also took notice of how this extended to all of the clients they engaged with. The cleaning staff were always willing to assist with any request that I had to make my stay more comfortable. As I worked to reduce the pain medication I was taking, the nursing staff were very helpful in getting me to my goal. I extend my sincere thanks to everyone on your staff.”
– Steve Johnson

“Our decision to select Scottish Rite Park as our new home was rather easy after visiting other facilities. The first reason was, we could do our new apartment exactly as we wished and have many of the same amenities that we had in our home we were leaving. We gained the fact that we would meet some of the friendliest people in the city of Des Moines and we can be as actively involved as we choose to be. We have access to an indoor walking track, heated pool, hot tub, fully equipped fitness center with a trainer and a fully stocked library to take advantage of! We enjoy having a dining room that is open from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, which we can share with our guests. There is a completely equipped woodworking shop and always hot coffee all day long. We have found the staff to be very friendly and accommodating; always ready to help and assist in any way they can. There is always something going on or a friendly face to visit with….what a great place to live!”
– Lois McMillen

“After 42 years of living in our home, we moved to Scottish Rite Park and we couldn’t be happier! Everything we want or need is right here. No more snow shoveling, lawn mowing, or home maintenance, plus all of the extras! Julie enjoys the indoor walking track and fitness center. I’m on the Entertainment Committee which keeps us involved with all of our neighbors. We are HOME!”
– Lloyd & Julie Von Hagen

Why we like living at Scottish Rite Park:
1. We were able to customize our living unit to our needs, taste and comfort.
2. So much of what happens here is resident-driven, meaning that we have plenty of opportunity to use our experience, talents and abilities to enhance life for everyone.
3. We have a great administrative staff and lead staff in all departments, plus loyal employees who are happy to be working here. There are many long-tenured employees, some who have been here 25 years or more.
4. We have many activities available, including wellness classes, Tai Chi, bridge, you name it.
5. We have great amenities, from the fine large swimming pool to the movie theater and to the library and workshop.
– George & Janet Hanusa

Scottish Rite Park Good Gifts

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” -Winston Churchill

Several funds have been established at Scottish Rite Park to enhance the lives of those who live in the community. The funds support amenities and projects outside the normal scope of corporate expenditure and provide financial security for residents in their futures.

The Good Life Fund helps give residents of Scottish Rite Park “the good life”, by supporting special enhancements to the campus. The Good Life Fund is the only fund administered by a subcommittee of the resident-run Good Gifts Committee.

The following funds are administered by Scottish Rite Park administrative staff:

Good Neighbor Fund contributions go directly to care of current Scottish Rite Park residents who have run out of personal financial resources.

Good Grounds Fund provides landscaping and other outdoor enhancements, such as care and replacement of trees and landscaping plants and materials to enhance the appearance of the serene surroundings at Scottish Rite Park. Gifts of $500 or more will be honored by a plaque placed near the plantings, giving the name of the donor and/or the name of the individual being memorialized. Scottish Rite Park will work closely with the donor to match requests for types of trees or plantings with the overall landscaping plan.

Good Gifts Endowment Fund was established in November 1976 via a living trust created by Raymond G. Miller, a Des Moines banker and former resident of Scottish Rite Park, and was initially titled The Raymond G. and Zoe O. Miller Fund. Earnings from the endowment are used to supplement the care of residents who have outlived their financial resources. Contributions to The Good Gifts Endowment Fund become a part of the principal base, providing perpetual income for the future care of residents in need.

The Educational Assistance Fund provides support for Scottish Rite Park employees who are seeking additional education to further their careers.

The Scottish Rite Park Charitable Gift Annuity, established in 2023, lets residents make an irrevocable donation of cash, marketable securities, or property and in return receive fixed, regular payments for life. At end of life, the remainder of the Annuity is given to a Scottish Rite Park Good Gifts Fund of your choice.

Scottish Rite Park is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Any financial contributions or property donations made to Scottish Rite Park or to its special funds are deductible for income tax purposes.