Karen Acres Health Care Center

    3605 Elm Dr, Urbandale, IA 50322
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care
    • Skilled Nursing
    4.1ยท39 reviews

    Family owned rehab, caring staff

    I stayed at Karen Acres for rehab and appreciated the small, family-owned, home-like atmosphere. Pam, Dave, Chris and the therapists were caring, approachable and skilled, the food and activities were good, and I left with friends - I'd return for rehab or long-term care and would recommend them.

    Current/former 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
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    4.08ยท(39)

    Overall rating

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

      4.7
    • Staff

      4.5
    • Meals

      3.0
    • Amenities

      2.0
    • Value

      2.5

    Pros

    • Compassionate, familyโ€‘like staff
    • Individualized and attentive nursing care
    • Private rooms with private baths
    • Strong rehabilitation and therapy services
    • Highโ€‘quality hospice and endโ€‘ofโ€‘life care
    • Active, homeโ€‘like atmosphere with regular activities
    • Good family communication and approachability
    • Small, familyโ€‘owned facility setting
    • Clean, organized common areas
    • Lower privateโ€‘pay cost option

    Cons

    • Inconsistent staff conduct and bedside manner
    • High staff turnover
    • Aging physical plant requiring renovation
    • Inconsistent food quality and kitchen operations
    • Variable care quality across shifts or cases
    • Occasional administrative responsiveness failures
    • Limited modern therapy and facility equipment

    Summary of reviews

    Overall impression: Reviews portray Karen Acres Health Care Center as a small, familyโ€‘owned facility with a clearly homeโ€‘like culture and many strengths in interpersonal care. Numerous families described staff who are compassionate, attentive, and committed to building relationships with residents; comments emphasize individualized attention, a supportive atmosphere, and staff who treat residents like family. The facility is often described as clean and organized, with private rooms and private baths that families value. Cost is noted as relatively affordable for privateโ€‘pay placements, and the smaller size is seen as supporting a close, personal environment.

    Care quality and clinical services: Many accounts highlight strong clinical and therapy services โ€” reviewers praised therapists, the quality of rehabilitation stays, and hospice care. Several families reported that residents received dignified, attentive care and good communication from nursing leadership. At the same time, there is a pattern of variability: while some experiences are described as exemplary, others recount concerns about inconsistent care quality that appear to vary by shift or staff member. This variability, together with reports of high staff turnover, suggests that continuity of care can be uneven at times.

    Staff, management, and communication: Positive comments frequently name specific staff members and administrators who are responsive and involved, and many reviewers noted good family communication and an approachable team. Conversely, other accounts describe poor interactions with certain nurses or frontโ€‘line staff and instances in which administrative responsiveness or disclosure was unsatisfactory. These contrasting experiences indicate mixed performance in staff conduct and occasional lapses in leadership communication or responsiveness.

    Dining, activities, and environment: The facility offers an active schedule with group activities and social engagement that reviewers appreciated; residents watching TV, bingo, and dining room activity were mentioned as indicators of engagement. Opinions on food and kitchen operations are mixed โ€” some reviewers liked the meals, while others described inconsistent food quality and kitchen service issues. The building itself is described as older: reviewers value the homeโ€‘like setting but also note that the physical plant is dated and would benefit from remodeling and updated equipment.

    Notable patterns and guidance: The dominant themes are strong interpersonal care, effective therapy and hospice services, and a close, familyโ€‘oriented culture balanced against operational inconsistencies โ€” particularly in staff conduct, turnover, dining reliability, and facility modernization. Prospective residents and families should weigh the facilityโ€™s personalized care strengths against these variability concerns. A recommended next step is an inโ€‘person visit to observe staffโ€‘resident interactions, review current staffing and leadership stability, sample meal service, and tour rooms and therapy spaces to assess whether the facilityโ€™s strengths align with the prospective residentโ€™s needs.

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    Medicare Ratings

    5ยท/ 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 Karen Acres Health Care Center

    Karen Acres Health Care Center is located at 3605 Elm Dr, Urbandale, IA, 50322.

    About Karen Acres Health Care Center

    Karen Acres Health Care Center sits in Urbandale, Iowa, and has served the Des Moines community since 1992. The place is family-owned and run, with some staff working there for over 20 years, and people often mention that staff are helpful, joyful, and kind, which gives the place a friendly feel most days. They have a licensed skilled nursing facility and offer both short-term and long-term care, so someone who needs 24-hour nursing or personal help can find that here, with nurses or LPNs in the building around the clock for peace of mind. Residents get grooming, feeding, and mobility help, plus medication management, and the center creates a care plan just for each person. They've got hospice care right there on-site, respite care with a minimum stay of seven days, and options for those with Alzheimer's or dementia, with memory care services in a safe section of the building to reduce confusion and prevent wandering, though these sometimes cost more than basic care. The center offers rehabilitation for surgery or injuries, general surgery services, and physical rehab programs, so people working to recover can get therapy. For those who are active and mostly independent, the senior apartments have simple settings, designed to be accessible without much fuss, and the independent living wing lets people live as they like, with social activities if they want them. Karen Acres has regular meals planned and prepared by trained chefs or meal planners, with at least one to two meals served every day, plus housekeeping and laundry services. There are shared care homes with live-in caregivers for anyone who needs extra daily help, and home care services that use trained aides for companionship and non-medical care outside the facility. Residents get to do different activities aimed to keep them engaged physically, mentally, and emotionally. The small nursing home environment means it's easy to know fellow residents and staff, and the place has picked up some recognition in the community, such as the Best of Senior Living awards. Karen Acres Health Care Center is part of several professional organizations like Iowa Health Care Association and remains licensed for Medicare and Medicaid. They're also active in advocacy, education programs, and provide support for other providers, including MDS help and group purchasing options. The team at Karen Acres makes sure each person gets a care plan tailored to them and they have a dedicated care finder for locating the right service or support.

    People often ask...

    Karen Acres Health Care Center offers assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

    The full address for this community is 3605 Elm Dr, Urbandale, IA 50322.

    No, Karen Acres Health Care Center 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 Karen Acres Health Care Center. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Karen Acres Health Care Center directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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