Elm Crest Senior Living Community

    2104 12th St, Harlan, IA 51537
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care
    • Skilled Nursing

    Warm, clean, caring senior living

    I moved my grandmother here and immediately felt at home - the staff are warm, professional and caring (Royce is a joy), the nurses are sweet, and helpful employees made the move-in smooth and pleasant. The facility is clean, organized, emphasizes health and safety, offers great meals and many activities (she's thriving and has even gained weight), plus freedom to move around and rental transportation; the apartment layout (living area joined to bedroom, good closet, microwave, cupboards, small fridge) works well for us. The retirement-friendly location and a resident video had me laughing and crying with nostalgia. I'm very pleased and would welcome inviting details on costs and exact room sizes.

    Loved one of resident
    Jul 2026

    Schedule a Tour

    Date of Tour
    Time Window
    Tour Type

    You selected in-person tour on in the

    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

    4.43·(30)

    Overall rating

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

      3.8
    • Staff

      4.1
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      3.0
    • Value

      1.0

    Pros

    • Friendly, helpful staff
    • Compassionate, professional nursing team
    • Inviting, home-like atmosphere
    • Clean, organized facility
    • Well-regarded, nutritious meals
    • Active, varied activities and programming
    • Supportive move-in coordination
    • In-unit kitchenette with microwave and small refrigerator
    • Studio-style units with usable living/bedroom space and storage
    • Transportation rental available

    Cons

    • Inadequate overnight staffing and monitoring
    • Delays in responding to residents' care needs
    • Gaps in fall-prevention and transfer-safety practices
    • Poor family–facility communication
    • Inconsistent management oversight of clinical issues
    • Relatively high monthly pricing
    • Odor concerns in some areas

    Summary of reviews

    Elm Crest presents a mixed picture for prospective residents and families. Many reviewers praised the facility’s welcoming environment, describing a home-like atmosphere, clean and organized common areas, and staff who are described as friendly, caring, and professional. Move-in coordination and front-line employee interactions were frequently characterized as supportive, and reviewers highlighted a particular staff member as making transitions smoother. The nursing team received positive comments for compassionate care from some families, and several reviewers noted residents thriving after placement.

    Dining and programs are reported strengths. Meals are commonly described as high quality and satisfying; reviewers attributed weight gain and improved well-being to the food service. The community offers an active activities schedule and varied programming that residents appear to enjoy, contributing to emotional engagement and social connection. Unit layouts are generally described as practical for independent living: studio-style spaces with combined living/bedroom areas, reasonable closet/storage, and basic kitchenette features (microwave, small refrigerator, cupboards). The location and available transportation rental were also noted as convenient for residents.

    However, there are consistent operational concerns that prospective families should weigh. Several reviewers described delays in responding to resident needs, particularly overnight, which points to potential understaffing or limited monitoring during late hours. A related pattern involves fall-risk and transfer-safety gaps; at least one account linked inadequate supervision with a negative care outcome. Communication with families was also identified as uneven, with specific comments about poor updates and limited proactive outreach from night staff or management. Some reviewers expressed broader unease about clinical oversight and how management addresses safety issues. Additional practical considerations include relatively high monthly pricing cited by a reviewer and intermittent odor concerns reported in parts of the facility.

    In sum, Elm Crest appears to offer a warm social environment, strong meal service, and attentive front-line employees in many cases, but there are noteworthy operational weaknesses around overnight coverage, responsiveness, fall prevention, and family communication. Families considering Elm Crest may want to ask direct questions about night-shift staffing ratios and monitoring protocols, fall-prevention and transfer procedures, recent staffing turnover, management escalation pathways, unit dimensions and kitchenette specifications, and how the community documents and communicates clinical incidents and care-plan changes.

    Reviews written on Mirador

    We have no reviews to show about Elm Crest Senior Living Community.

    Help other families by writing a review about your experience with this community.

    Medicare Ratings

    3·/ 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 Elm Crest Senior Living Community

    Elm Crest Senior Living Community is located at 2104 12th St, Harlan, IA, 51537.

    About Elm Crest Senior Living Community

    Elm Crest Senior Living Community sits at 2104 12th Street in Harlan, IA, where it's served seniors and families in Harlan and the surrounding area for over 65 years, and folks know it for its warm atmosphere and long history of care, and with American Baptist Homes of the Midwest owning and running it as a not-for-profit, there's a focus on dependable support and real community. You'll find different living options here, whether someone wants an independent apartment, needs assisted living, seeks memory care, or needs nursing or rehab care, and these include Cottage Apartments, Lakeview Landing, Meadow Glen Terrace, and places for seniors who like privacy but also want common dining rooms with round tables, inviting living rooms with comfortable seating and soft lighting, fully equipped kitchens, and sometimes even private balconies to enjoy the outdoors. Elm Crest keeps things lively with a variety of activities that include movie nights, resident-run programs, music, and something-going-on most days, plus there's a resident and family council so any concerns get heard and improvements can be discussed.

    You'll see a library, walking paths near Pioneer Walking Park, a game room, a business room, a barber and salon, fitness and wellness areas, a garden, and a chapel or meeting room with plenty of light and simple seating for gatherings or reflection, and each apartment for independent residents keeps things practical with open-concept layouts and modern appliances. When someone needs help, staff provide personalized care with support for activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and medicines, and there's a 24-hour emergency call system with supervision for safety at all times. Medical care ranks above average for the area, and there's a certified nursing home with beds and rehab services on site for people coming back from surgery or illness, plus a memory care community for folks with memory troubles. Elm Crest works as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), so seniors can move between levels of care as their needs change, and there's help through home health and adult day care services for those who need it.

    Dining spaces let everyone share meals, and volunteer opportunities bring folks together, giving family and friends a way to stay involved, while decision guides and resources help people figure out the best living situation. Residents' voices appear in testimonials, and there's always a community calendar, floor plans to review, and a video tour if someone wants to see the place from home. Staff keep the health center, rehab therapy, and supportive services ready, and amenities aim to fit people's routines, whether they're using the spa room, gardening, or just walking outside. The facility is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and runs all day and night on weekends. Elm Crest wants to make life easier and more comfortable for people who live there, and it keeps close ties with Harlan and neighboring communities.

    People often ask...

    Elm Crest Senior Living Community offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, continuing care retirement community, and skilled nursing.

    There are 33 photos of Elm Crest Senior Living Community on Mirador.

    Yes, Elm Crest Senior Living Community allows residents to age in place and adjust their level of care as needed.

    The full address for this community is 2104 12th St, Harlan, IA 51537.

    No, Elm Crest Senior Living Community 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 Elm Crest Senior Living Community. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Elm Crest Senior Living Community directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

    Are you an owner or operator of this community?

    Claim this listing to receive messages from prospective customers and manage your community page.

    Nearby Communities

    Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

    1. 11 facilities$5,218/mo
    2. 10 facilities$5,313/mo
    3. 2 facilities
    4. 3 facilities
    5. 2 facilities
    6. 2 facilities
    7. 3 facilities$4,605/mo
    8. 3 facilities$4,605/mo
    9. 3 facilities$4,605/mo
    10. 2 facilities
    11. 3 facilities
    12. 3 facilities
    © 2026 Mirador Living