By Hola Iowa
Broadlawns Medical Center is launching a mobile unit to bring memory screenings, Alzheimer’s-related testing and caregiver support closer to older adults in Central Iowa.
Iowa is launching what is believed to be its first mobile memory clinic in Polk County, with a Broadlawns Medical Center unit designed to bring early detection services, education and Alzheimer’s-related support into community spaces.
The clinic will begin in phases and initially focus on community outreach and education. The program is expected to offer cognitive testing, caregiver support and blood draws for biomarker testing related to memory loss.
Broadlawns will use a specially equipped mobile unit
Broadlawns Medical Center is launching the clinic with a specially equipped van and support from a $45,000 county grant. The unit will travel to senior centers and community events in Polk County to provide on-site early detection services.
The model is meant to bring care closer to people who may face barriers in traditional medical settings. For older adults, those barriers can include transportation, mobility, scheduling, lack of a caregiver to accompany them or distance from specialized services.
The clinic will not be tied to one exam room. Its role is to move through the community and meet residents in places where they already gather or receive services.
The program will start with outreach and education
The clinic will launch in phases. During the first phase, staff will focus on community education and outreach with residents, caregivers and local organizations.
Once screenings begin in the coming weeks, clinic staff expect to assist 15 to 20 people per month. The clinic is also expected to return to sites about a month after an initial visit to review results with participants.
Clinic locations and schedules will be posted on the hospital’s social media channels. That information will be important for families who want to know when the unit will be near their neighborhood, senior center or community event.
Some services may be billed to insurance
The clinic’s outreach and education services are free. Formal screenings and bloodwork, however, may still be billed to insurance companies when applicable, according to Jonathan Brendemuehl, director of the Broadlawns Foundation.
For families, that distinction matters before seeking an evaluation. Educational outreach may be available at no cost, while some medical services or specific tests could be handled as clinical care.
When the mobile unit is not being used for memory care, it will also support other Broadlawns services, including immunizations, according to Polk County officials.
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More than 62,000 older Iowans live with Alzheimer’s
The launch comes as Central Iowa’s older population continues to grow. Nationally, about one in nine Americans over 65 is living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to figures cited in the report.
In Iowa, about 62,100 people ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s, representing about 11% of the state’s older adults, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 state report cited in the available information.
Early diagnosis may allow some patients to access medication that can help with symptoms or slow disease progression. It can also give families more time to plan for care, transportation, medical appointments, documents and support at home.
The clinic aims to reach underserved residents
Polk County Supervisors Chairperson Matt McCoy said the clinic will help reach underserved residents who can be difficult to identify or serve through traditional care settings.
Similar mobile memory programs have launched in other states, including a Minnesota clinic focused on memory screenings for communities of color. Broadlawns officials say the Polk County unit is believed to be Iowa’s first.
The available information does not describe the program as limited to a specific community. Its focus is older adults, caregivers and residents who may need early detection or support related to memory loss.
Public launch set for West Des Moines
The public launch of the clinic was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Polk County Westside Community Center, located at 134 6th St. in West Des Moines.
Future clinic locations and dates will be posted by the hospital on social media. Residents interested in the service should check those channels to confirm when the mobile unit will be available at senior centers, community events or other locations in Polk County.
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