The Kavanagh Houses

For patients who need a special kind of care, two Kavanagh Houses are available.  The Kavanagh Houses are Des Moines area residential hospice care facilities operated by Hospice of Central Iowa.  The facilities are named after one of Hospice of Central Iowa’s founders, Sister Eve Kavanagh. 

The Kavanagh House located at 900 56th Street in Des Moines was one of Iowa’s first residential hospice care facilities.  Opened in 1993, Kavanagh House on 56th Street has 15 patient rooms and is situated on a large, wooded property.

The Bright Kavanagh House, located in east Des Moines at 3000 Easton Boulevard, opened on July 7, 2008, and is now accepting patients and dedicated volunteers. The facility offers 24 additional rooms and permits us to serve approximately 500 more families every year.  Beautiful views of the surrounding trees and wildlife, stained-glass accents and a calming inspiration room contribute to the spirit of this new residential home.

If you qualify for hospice care and are considering the Kavanagh Houses, please ask for a Hospice of Central Iowa admissions coordinator at (515) 274-3400 or (800) 806-9934.

Patient and Family Amenities
Kavanagh Houses provide a home-like atmosphere with private bedrooms, living room, family kitchen, meditation room and other family accommodations. Many patients and families enjoy being outdoors where they are surrounded by nature and scenic gardens.

A Kavanagh House resident once compared the care he was receiving to a special kind of bed and breakfast inn. He could order anything he wanted for breakfast, lunch or dinner, soak in a specially designed whirlpool, feel pleased that his guests were greeted with a fresh plate of cookies and always made to feel welcome. He also could spot birds, fox and deer right from his bedroom window.

Hospice of Central Iowa is proud to offer financial assistance, funded by our foundation, for those unable to afford the daily residential fee.  Our staff will be happy to assist you with determining financial eligibility for this assistance. 

Tour the Kavanagh Houses
In the following video, you will experience the Kavanagh Houses and learn about the care that is offered for patients and their families.

Choose one of the following video files:
56K Windows Media Video File (2MB)
High-Speed Windows Media Video File (12MB)
High-Speed MPEG Video File (22MB)

For more information about the Kavanagh Houses, please contact Hospice of Central Iowa at (515) 274-3400.

"Words cannot express my feelings of gratitude for your wonderful organization. I remember too well my desperation…it was such a wonderful feeling of peace to know that my gentle, sweet husband would get the perfect care...I wish the enclosed donation in his memory could be tenfold, and even that would not be enough to express my gratitude to all of you."
-- Wife of a patient