University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation

    233 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care
    • Skilled Nursing

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    Reviews

    2.21·(28)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      2.0
    • Staff

      2.6
    • Meals

      2.8
    • Amenities

      2.3
    • Value

      1.5

    Pros

    • Skilled physical, occupational, and speech therapy staff
    • Attentive and friendly direct-care caregivers
    • Nutritious, regularly served meals
    • Varied recreational and religious activities (movies, crafts, Wii, bible study)
    • On-site personal services (beauty shop, nail care)
    • Spacious, suite-style resident rooms
    • Consistent staff presence across day/night/weekend shifts
    • Clean common areas and well-presented meal service

    Cons

    • Inconsistent overall clinical care quality
    • Gaps in clinical-incident response and family communication
    • Medication-management inconsistencies
    • Infection-control lapses
    • Incontinence-care delays and supervision shortfalls
    • Unprofessional or confrontational administrative communication
    • Weak discharge-planning coordination between therapy and nursing
    • Staffing instability and scheduling errors
    • Facility infrastructure and maintenance deficiencies
    • Billing and charge-transparency concerns, including alleged irregularities
    • Inconsistent meal preparation and limited dietary accommodation

    Summary of reviews

    Reviews present a mixed assessment of University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation. Strengths frequently cited include capable therapy clinicians (physical, occupational, and speech), attentive direct-care staff, a range of activities and religious programming, and suite-style rooms with generally clean communal areas. Several reviewers praised dependable coverage across shifts and described meals that were nutritious and attractively served. On those stays that went well, families emphasize helpful, engaged caregivers and organized recreational offerings.

    However, the pattern of comments also indicates significant operational weaknesses. Clinical care quality is inconsistent: while some residents receive attentive, reliable care, others experienced delayed responses to needs, inconsistent medication handling, and issues with continence care and supervision. There are also concerns about infection-control practices and follow-up after serious clinical events. In several accounts, discharge planning appeared poorly coordinated between therapy and nursing, resulting in conflicting messages about readiness for return home.

    Staff-level feedback is similarly mixed. Frontline caregivers are often described as friendly and committed, but reviewers also describe an overworked workforce, frequent schedule disruptions, and instances of unprofessional or confrontational communication from administrative personnel. Staffing instability and scheduler problems were noted as contributors to slower response times and uneven care. Management turnover and perceived weaknesses in leadership oversight were recurrent themes.

    Dining and activities are areas of both strength and variability. The facility offers a broad activity program (movies, crafts, Wii, religious services) and on-site personal services such as a beauty shop. Meal presentation and nutrition receive praise in several accounts, but other reviewers raise concerns about food quality, preparation, and the facility’s ability to accommodate specific dietary needs.

    Facility and operational maintenance show a contrast between some well-maintained spaces and noticeable infrastructure issues. Positive comments about spacious rooms and clean common areas coexist with reports of worn carpeting, areas needing paint, and at least one extended utility outage that reviewers said affected resident comfort. Financial and administrative practices are another recurring area of concern; there are allegations of billing irregularities and general frustration about charge transparency.

    In sum, University Park appears to provide solid therapy services, engaging activities, and caring frontline staff in many cases, but persistent operational and management issues — including staffing stability, clinical coordination, infection control, facility upkeep, and billing transparency — create variability in resident and family experiences. Prospective residents and families would be advised to inquire specifically about current staffing levels, infection-control protocols, discharge-planning processes, dietary accommodations, and billing/contract details when evaluating the facility.

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    Medicare Ratings

    2·/ 5
    • Overall

    • Health Inspection

    • Staffing

    • Quality Measures

    Ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Care Compare). View on Medicare.gov

    Location

    University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation is located at 233 University Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50314.

    About University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation

    University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation sits at 233 University Ave. in Des Moines, Iowa, and has served the community for over 20 years. This nursing home provides skilled nursing, long-term care, and short-term rehab for people who need help with health and daily activities. People who stay here can get wound care, IV therapy, tracheotomy care from a full-time Respiratory Therapist, and help for diabetes and pain. They also have ostomy care, enteral nutrition, continence support, and medication management. Licensed nurses are always on-site, and a team of nursing assistants and therapists works with doctors to make care plans that fit each resident. Folks can receive physical, occupational, and speech therapy with professionally supervised therapy programs in the facility, and if someone needs infusion therapy, that's available, too.

    University Park offers respite stays, so caregivers can get a break through programs like Restore and Rejuvenate, and there's memory care, palliative care, or regular everyday caregiving. The staff provides help with bathing, dressing, and other daily needs, and they do housekeeping and laundry for the residents, too. Private rooms are available, each with free WiFi and a TV with cable, and there are pleasant gathering rooms for families, a lounge with a large TV, and even beauty or barber services. Visiting pets are welcome if they're up-to-date on shots. Residents can go to social activities, join special programs for engagement, and spend time in the facility's pretty outdoor spaces. The building recently had renovations to make things nicer, and there's transportation to appointments.

    University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation gets a rating of 2.6 from 10 online reviews. The team of motivated nursing assistants and therapists aims to keep everyone comfortable, safe, and as independent as possible. The facility is owned by a group that values compassionate care and tries to keep things up-to-date. With housekeeping, nutritional counseling, patient-focused care plans, and a friendly environment, University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation makes sure people get the support they need whether they're recovering from surgery or living long-term.

    People often ask...

    University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation offers assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

    There are 6 photos of University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 233 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314.

    No, University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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