Friendship Haven

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

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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

    4.54·(123)

    Overall rating

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

      4.7
    • Staff

      4.6
    • Meals

      4.6
    • Amenities

      4.6
    • Value

      2.5

    Pros

    • Compassionate, well-trained staff
    • Friendly, resident-centered culture
    • Wide range of care levels (independent to skilled nursing)
    • Private, spacious apartment-style rooms with private bathrooms
    • Wheelchair-accessible layouts and wide doorways
    • In-unit kitchenettes and large closets
    • Indoor pool, whirlpool, gym, and spa facilities
    • On-site rehabilitation and physical therapy rooms
    • Salon, library, coffee shop/gift shop, and chapel
    • Robust wellness and exercise programs
    • Diverse social and recreational activities and classes
    • Active opportunities for socialization and community events
    • Party rooms and conference spaces for gatherings
    • Outdoor amenities (garden, fire pit, gazebo, seating)
    • Flexible housing options including townhomes and independent living
    • Age-in-place model with end-of-life care availability
    • Proximity to hospital and convenient location
    • Well-maintained, attractive campus and public areas
    • Dining that accommodates dietary preferences
    • Reputation for high-quality care and positive resident experiences

    Cons

    • High overall cost and buy-in or entrance-fee structure
    • Unclear pricing and unexpected ancillary charges
    • Staffing instability and elevated employee turnover
    • Variable staffing levels contributing to inconsistent responsiveness
    • Inconsistent dining quality and meal satisfaction
    • Communication delays and unclear family-staff communication processes
    • Inconsistent adherence to family care preferences
    • Sanitation and odor concerns in some common areas
    • Allegations of staff theft or financial misconduct
    • COVID-era operational disruptions affecting service continuity

    Summary of reviews

    Friendship Haven presents as a large, well-resourced senior living campus with a wide range of housing and care options. The facility offers independent living townhomes, assisted living units, and skilled nursing/end-of-life care, supporting an age-in-place model. The physical environment is frequently described as attractive, spacious, and accessible: apartment-style units with private bathrooms, kitchenettes, large closets, wide doorways, and roomy common areas. The campus features a broad roster of amenities including an indoor pool and whirlpool, gym and spa, rehabilitation and physical therapy rooms, salon, library, coffee shop/gift shop, chapel, party and conference rooms, and outdoor gathering spaces.

    Clinical and direct-care strengths are repeatedly emphasized. Many reviewers describe staff as compassionate, well-trained, and resident-centered, and families commonly cite attentive caregiving and good clinical outcomes. The facility is noted for fostering socialization and community engagement through numerous programs — water aerobics, line dancing, balance and brain classes, writing groups, bingo, and other activities — which appear to support resident well-being and social connection. Proximity to local medical services is an additional practical advantage cited by families.

    Dining and activity programming are generally highlighted as robust, with many residents enjoying varied menus and accommodated diet preferences. At the same time, dining experiences are not uniformly consistent: while some families praise excellent food and variety, others describe dissatisfaction with specific meals. Financial transparency is an important operational concern; reviewers note a high cost of care, buy-in requirements, and instances of additional charges (for meals, nursing check-ins, or other services) that may not be fully clear at move-in.

    Operationally, several recurrent issues emerge. Staffing instability — including turnover and COVID-era staffing pressures — is associated with reports of rushed staff, variability in responsiveness, and intermittent declines in continuity of care. Communication gaps between families and management are also described, with delayed responses and occasional unclear explanations for care delays. Some reviewers note inconsistent follow-through on family care preferences. There are also sanitation and odor concerns cited in certain common areas, which suggests room for improvement in environmental services. More serious allegations around staff theft or financial misconduct are present in a limited number of accounts; these are significant operational risks and would warrant direct inquiry by prospective families.

    In summary, Friendship Haven appears to offer a comprehensive, amenity-rich environment and many demonstrable strengths in clinical care, programming, and campus maintenance. Prospective residents and families should weigh the facility’s substantial offerings against its higher cost and seek clear, written explanations of fee structures, ancillary charges, staffing patterns, and communication protocols. Visiting the campus, meeting care staff, reviewing staffing ratios, and asking about how family requests and incident concerns are tracked will help clarify whether the facility’s strengths align with an individual’s priorities and risk tolerance.

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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

    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 42 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, 2026
    ExpiresSeptember 30th, 2028
    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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