714 N Division St, Audubon, IA 50025
To contact a resident: (712) 563-2651
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Friendship Home
Pros
The facility is clean and tidy.- The staff are welcoming and courteous to residents and visitors.
- The residents seem to really enjoy being there.
- The Friendship Home offers many opportunities for fellowship, including bingo on multiple days.
- The daily activities, group meals, and the shared wing with The Children's Nest keep residents engaged and active.
- It has a Christian-focused environment that aligns with residents' preferences.
- Residents have opportunities to manage wall gardens outside the facility, adding a sense of normalcy.
Cons
The agency staff are harassing, earning a 0/10 rating.- One reviewer described the facility as an "old folks home."
- The layout and rooms are solid, but unspectacular.
Review
Friendship Home in Audubon, IA is best suited for seniors who want a cozy, faith-aligned community with daily structure and visible warmth from staff. The setting works particularly well for families that value a Christian-oriented environment, steady routines, and regular social programming. Residents who thrive on interaction, lighthearted activities, and a sense of belonging will find the atmosphere here welcoming. The combination of a clean, well-kept building and staff who are consistently courteous makes this facility feel like a home rather than a medical corridor.
Key strengths include cleanliness and a professional, approachable staff, plus a robust menu of activities. A pastor notes the place is always clean and tidy, with residents seeming genuinely engaged. The activity calendar, bingo sessions on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, daily group meals, and diverse in-house programming, keeps people active rather than idle. The layout that shares a wing with The Children's Nest daycare adds an authentic sense of normalcy and intergenerational energy, giving residents opportunities to observe and interact with children, which many find uplifting. Wall gardens outside offer a unique, tangible outlet for residents who can manage them, reinforcing independence and routine.
Yet the community is not without its criticisms. Some perceptions label the facility as “old folks home,” signaling that the environment may feel traditional or dated to those seeking a more contemporary aesthetic. Others note that while the campus is solid and well-kept, it does not aim for luxury or cutting-edge medical amenities. A particularly sharp caveat appears in a report about outside agency staff, suggesting that interactions with contractors or temporary caregivers can be problematic if oversight is lacking. These concerns underscore the importance of evaluating staffing consistency and the specific care needs of a resident before choosing this setting.
Those who should consider alternatives include families prioritizing modern interior design, expansive medical services on site, or a secular, non-religious culture. The Christian focus, while a strength for many, may be a misalignment for residents who prefer a more pluralistic or non-faith-based environment. Additionally, anyone seeking extensive memory care programming, hospital-style facilities, or highly specialized therapies might find the offerings here too modest. In short, this is a solid, homey option that does not pretend to be a high-end or hyper-specialized care campus.
Nevertheless, the favorable elements balance these caveats. Cleanliness and staff warmth create a reliable baseline of comfort, while the active schedule and visible resident engagement reduce the sense of abandonment that can come with aging in place. The intergenerational aspect, via the daycare wing, injects variety into daily life, and the wall gardens offer independent tasks that preserve autonomy. The community's spiritual orientation often translates into a cohesive culture among residents and families who share those values, contributing to overall satisfaction. On balance, the pros, consistency, connection, and purpose, offset the modest environment to produce a lived-in, comforting experience.
Practical guidance for families is to tour with specific questions in hand: how staff turnover is handled, how agency caregivers are supervised, what memory care options exist if needs progress, and what the daily activity calendar looks like across a typical week. Confirm room choices, meal quality, and transportation support, and assess whether the religious orientation aligns with the resident’s preferences. If a more modern aesthetic, broader medical services, or secular programming is essential, consider nearby options. For those who prize warmth, engagement, and a chapel-based sense of community, Friendship Home presents a credible, dependable choice worth pursuing.
Assisted Living
Activities on-site
Devotional services off-site
Indoor common areas
Ambulatory care
Diabetic care
Meals provided
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