Karen Acres Health Care Center in Urbandale, IA

Pros

• The staff at Karen Acres are caring and very helpful at all times.
• The facility is clean, well maintained, and easy to navigate for residents, whether on foot or in a chair.
• Karen Acres is highly recommended for short- or long-term care.
• The staff are amazing and the facility is great.
• Ethan is great with residents; he talks with them and their families and accommodates food requests.
• The therapists do a fantastic job and truly get to know their patients.
• The care feels personal and like family; residents leave feeling connected.
• Pam the administrator is caring and responsive to residents' needs.
• The place feels welcoming, home-like, and resident-focused.
• The smaller size allows for individualized, person-centered care.
• The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive.

Cons

• The reviewer called it the worst place on planet Earth and would never put anyone there.
• The nurses were rude and condescending.
• The facility needed remodeling and updating.
• The head nurse dismissed concerns about the mother's eating, saying she wasn't starving.
• The DON was rude on the phone, refused to let them talk, and hung up.
• The facility was terrible and did not deserve even a single star.
• The kitchen was horrible.
• There was high staff turnover.

Review

Karen Acres Health Care Center in Urbandale is best suited for families seeking a small, family-owned, home-like setting where seniors receive individualized attention for short-term rehab or ongoing nursing care. The community's intimate scale allows staff to learn residents' preferences, build trust quickly, and tailor routines rather than slotting individuals into rigid protocols. Reviews consistently highlight caring, hands-on staff and a welcoming atmosphere where residents feel known and valued. For families prioritizing warm, relational care, strong rehabilitation, and a sense of belonging - where caregivers operate like an extended family - Karen Acres meets practical, dependable needs.

However, those who demand a modern, showroom-grade environment or a highly polished corporate operation may want to consider alternatives. Feedback notes a trade-off: some residents or families experienced rude interactions with staff, moments of limited responsiveness, and a facility that shows its age. The building's dated feel can be a hurdle for some, even when care and kindness are evident. For households equating quality with contemporary fixtures or requiring uniform service standards across a larger campus, other options may deliver more of what is sought.

The core advantages - genuine compassion, easy access to caregivers, and robust rehab and long-term nursing services - often offset the drawbacks. Therapists pursue real progress, residents form connections with staff who remember names, and administrators who are approachable help families navigate care plans with less friction. The small footprint fosters intimate coordination among nurses, aides, and therapists, reducing the sense of being lost in the shuffle. Clean, well-kept spaces and activities that keep residents engaged reinforce dignity and create a community feel that makes aging at Karen Acres feel manageable and, for many, comforting.

Still, the risk points should not be dismissed. The most consequential question for any decision maker is whether the facility's infrastructure will meet evolving needs; the age of the building and its fixtures can matter if a resident requires more specialized equipment or a consistently modern environment. Tour behavior matters: observe how staff respond to questions, how maintenance issues are handled, and how dining and activity schedules are actually implemented. Meeting the administrator (Pam is a frequently cited figure) and the director of nursing helps gauge consistency, transparency, and willingness to involve families in care decisions.

Within the positive consensus, several staff members stand out in the anecdotes: therapists who take time to know residents, nurses who communicate clearly, and leaders who make families feel welcome. The facility's smaller footprint enables a homelike dynamic where residents may share rooms and enjoy private baths, with community meals and activities that feel approachable rather than overwhelming. Practical care details - personalized rehabilitation, regular family updates, and a culture that treats residents like more than a number - drive satisfaction for many families, especially those transitioning from larger, more impersonal campuses.

In the end, Karen Acres represents a solid, practical choice for families prioritizing personal attention, a close-knit care team, and dependable rehab and long-term care within a smaller setting. The decision hinges on willingness to trade some modernization for warmth, continuity, and a family-like atmosphere. Those who prize architectural polish, high-end amenities, or uniformly standardized service across a broad network should look elsewhere. A focused tour, with candid questions about staffing stability, renovation plans, and how family input is integrated into care decisions, will reveal how well Karen Acres aligns with specific needs. When alignment exists, the result is care that feels familial, with meaningful progress and daily life that respects the person at its center.

This part of Urbandale, Iowa is a convenient and well-equipped neighborhood for seniors looking to settle in a peaceful and accessible location. With pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS in close proximity, access to healthcare services is readily available. Physicians such as Christian Eye Clinic and Mercy Urbandale Medical Clinic are nearby for medical care needs. Enjoy outdoor activities at Lions Park or grab a bite to eat at local restaurants like Teds Coney Island West or Viva Mexican Restaurant. For entertainment, Flix Brewhouse Des Moines offers a unique movie-watching experience. Nearby hospitals include Mercy Franklin Center and Iowa Methodist Medical Center for peace of mind when it comes to healthcare emergencies. Places of worship like Covenant Presbyterian Church are also within reach for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this area provides essential amenities and services for comfortable senior living in Urbandale.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Onnen Co. (1.7 miles)
• National Pharmaceutical Returns (2 miles)
• MedPharm Iowa (2 miles)

Physicians

• Christian Eye Clinic (0.6 miles)
• Urbandale Family Physicians (0.8 miles)
• Woodard Hearing Centers (1.1 miles)
• Mercy Urbandale Medical Clinic (1.2 miles)
• Vision Eye Clinic (1.4 miles)
• Eyemart Optical Outlet - North Des Moines (1.4 miles)
• Iowa Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center (1.6 miles)

Parks

• Lions Park (0.6 miles)
• Terra Park (2.5 miles)
• Kawanis Park (3.8 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• St Kilda Collective (3.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Teds Coney Island West (0.9 miles)
• Viva Mexican Restaurant (1.2 miles)
• McAlister's Deli (1.2 miles)
• Jersey Mike's (1.5 miles)
• Culver's (1.6 miles)
• Maria's Mexican Food (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)

Theaters

• Flix Brewhouse Des Moines (1.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Mercy Franklin Center (2.4 miles)
• Spay Clinics (3.1 miles)
• Iowa Methodist Medical Center (3.5 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center West Lake (4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Covenant Presbyterian Church (3.1 miles)
• Shepherd Of The Valley (3.5 miles)