Friendship Haven

    420 Kenyon Rd, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care
    • Skilled Nursing

    Attentive staff, spotless campus, reassuring

    I chose this community for the attentive, compassionate staff and spotless, well-kept campus - staff answered every question and residents genuinely seemed happy. My mom loved her large private apartment, excellent food and nonstop activities (pool, classes, social events), and the on-site amenities and continuum of care gave us real peace of mind; not cheap, but worth it.

    Loved one of resident
    Jul 2026

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    4.53·(122)

    Overall rating

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

      4.6
    • Staff

      4.6
    • Meals

      4.6
    • Amenities

      4.6
    • Value

      2.5

    Pros

    • Compassionate, well-trained caregiving staff
    • Friendly and attentive staff–resident interactions
    • Extensive on-site amenities (indoor pool, salon, library, chapel, gift shop)
    • Robust activity program (water aerobics, fitness, arts, games, social events)
    • Multiple levels of care with age-in-place options
    • Private, spacious apartment-style rooms with en-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes
    • Accessible design features (wide halls/doorways, bathroom grab bars)
    • On-site rehabilitation and therapy services
    • Well-maintained, attractive campus and grounds
    • Flexible housing types including independent living townhomes
    • Strong social and community atmosphere
    • Dining variety with accommodations for diet preferences
    • Convenient location near a hospital and community resources
    • Available end-of-life and hospice care options

    Cons

    • High cost and opaque pricing structure
    • Additional fees for services outside base rate
    • Variable staffing levels and high staff turnover
    • Communication and responsiveness gaps with families
    • Inconsistent adherence to family care preferences
    • Sanitation and odor concerns in some common areas
    • Construction-related disruption to access and views
    • Workplace culture and employee-morale concerns
    • Gaps in financial controls and allegations of employee theft

    Summary of reviews

    Overall impression: Friendship Haven presents as a large, well-equipped senior living campus with a broad continuum of care. The community is consistently described as attractive and well maintained, with spacious private apartment-style units, accessible design features, and a range of housing formats from independent townhomes to assisted- and skilled-care units. On-site therapy, rehabilitation spaces, and proximity to a hospital support clinical needs, while extensive amenities and programming—an indoor pool, salon, chapel, library, fitness offerings, and frequent social activities—contribute to an active campus culture.

    Care and staff: Many accounts emphasize compassionate, knowledgeable, and friendly caregiving staff who create a welcoming, social environment. Reviewers praise staff training, interpersonal warmth, and the facility’s ability to support residents through end-of-life services. However, there are recurring operational concerns: staff turnover, periodic staffing shortfalls (including pandemic-era impacts), and perceptions that staff can appear rushed. Relatedly, some families describe communication and responsiveness gaps and inconsistent follow-through on specific family requests, which can reduce confidence in day-to-day care continuity.

    Dining and services: Dining receives generally favorable remarks for variety and accommodation of dietary preferences, and some residents report enjoyable meals. At the same time, statements indicate inconsistent satisfaction with particular meals for some residents. Financially, the community is characterized as costly: a buy-in or substantial monthly fees apply, and the pricing structure has elements that are not always clear. Additional charges for meals, nurse check-ins, or services outside the base rate are a recurrent operational theme; prospective residents should verify exactly which services are included.

    Activities and facilities: Programming is a clear strength. Water aerobics, group exercise, balance and brain classes, arts and social events, and on-site leisure amenities foster strong resident engagement and socialization. The physical plant—public areas, outdoor seating, party rooms, and therapy amenities—is frequently described as attractive and well cared for. Some reviews note construction or renovation activity that has temporarily affected entrances and views, and a few note sanitation or odor concerns in particular common areas; these merit direct inquiry during a visit.

    Management and operational patterns: The facility’s capacity to offer a full spectrum of aging services and a broad amenities set is a major positive, but patterns in reviews point to several managerial attention areas: transparent billing and buy-in explanations, staffing stability, timely family communication, and asset controls. There are isolated but serious allegations regarding employee theft and workplace environment issues; those are distinct from everyday care concerns but relevant to overall governance and should be clarified with leadership.

    Recommendations for prospective families: Friendship Haven appears to be a first-class, amenity-rich community with strong social programs and many families reporting peace of mind. At the same time, prospective residents should request detailed, written information on pricing/inclusions, ask about current staffing ratios and turnover, tour areas undergoing construction, review sanitation and infection-control protocols, and ask how the community documents and responds to family care requests and financial concerns. Direct answers to these items will help align expectations with the facility’s operational realities.

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    Medicare Ratings

    4·/ 5
    • Overall

    • Health Inspection

    • Staffing

    • Quality Measures

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

    Location

    Map showing location of Friendship Haven

    Friendship Haven is located at 420 Kenyon Rd, Fort Dodge, IA, 50501.

    About Friendship Haven

    Friendship Haven sits at 420 Kenyon Road in Fort Dodge, and offers many living options for older adults, including independent living that's age-restricted and maintenance-free, assisted living for those who want help with daily needs, nursing care, and a memory care area called Journeys Memory Care for those living with dementia or Alzheimer's, and you'll find the Simpson Health Center right there too which gives extra support when folks need more medical attention. The nonprofit community tries to make residents feel comfortable and safe, with secured supportive housing units as well as comprehensive healthcare services and daily amenities. There's a full-time staff available to help with personal care, and care plans are made to fit each person's needs, whether it's skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, or everyday support. Residents have access to recreational areas for leisure, a calendar filled with social, educational, and entertaining activities, and lots of opportunities to meet others through structured community life and programs. People can join wellness classes, take part in special community events, volunteer, or check out therapy programs like Rock Steady Boxing and LSVT Big and Loud therapy, which are meant to help those who have Parkinson's disease. Memory care services use personalized plans and activities to keep minds active. The community offers leadership training, catered living, and many social spaces where people naturally get to know one another, and staff work to support everyone's independence and well-being. The environment is welcoming and focused on helping residents make friends, take part in activities, and enjoy a safe and pleasant space to live.

    People often ask...

    Friendship Haven offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, continuing care retirement community, and skilled nursing.

    There are 34 photos of Friendship Haven on Mirador.

    Yes, Friendship Haven allows residents to age in place and adjust their level of care as needed.

    The full address for this community is 420 Kenyon Rd, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.

    No, Friendship Haven 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.

    Safety & Compliance

    In Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing licenses assisted living and long-term care programs, conducting recertification visits and complaint investigations.

    License number3103
    StatusActive
    Facility typeAssisted Living Programs
    Capacity133 residents
    EffectiveOctober 1st, 2024
    ExpiresOctober 1st, 2026
    View the official license record

    Inspection Reports

    4

    Reports

    1

    Citations

    0

    Complaints

    7

    Years

    18 Sept 2025Renewal
    Outlined measures to improve post-fall assessment, ongoing monitoring, and quality assurance.
    31 May 2023Renewal
    Found no deficiencies cited during the recertification visit.
    09 Jul 2020FIC
    Found no deficiencies during the onsite infection control survey.
    28 Feb 2019Initial
    Found that a comprehensive assessment was not completed within 30 days of admission for two tenants.
    • Comprehensive assessment not completed within 30 days of admission

    Disclaimer

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

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