Des Moines Senior AdvisorChildServe Habilitation Center, at 5900 Pioneer Parkway in Johnston (Polk County), is a nursing facility certified for Medicare and Medicaid with 74 certified beds and Iowa nursing facility license 770916. ChildServe Habilitation Center holds a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5 in Care Compare data dated October 1, 2026.
How many stars does ChildServe Habilitation Center have from CMS?
ChildServe Habilitation Center holds a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5, with 4 stars for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 5 for quality measures on CMS's five-star scale.
| CMS / DIAL measure | Value |
|---|---|
| CMS overall stars | 5 of 5 |
| Health inspections (CMS stars) | 4 of 5 |
| Staffing (CMS stars) | 5 of 5 |
| Quality measures (CMS stars) | 5 of 5 |
| Certified beds and average daily census | 74 beds, 68.0 residents a day |
| Name as CMS lists it | ChildServe Habilitation Center |
| Ownership (CMS) | Non profit - Corporation |
| Chain affiliation (CMS) | No chain listed |
| Medicare/Medicaid certification since | July 1, 1976 |
| Iowa license (DIAL) | 770916; 74 licensed beds; Current through 05/01/2027 |
| State fines since January 2023 (DIAL) | 1, totaling $325 after adjustment |
Its average census of about 68 residents fills roughly 92% of certified beds, above the 89% typical of certified homes in the six-county metro.
What does ChildServe Habilitation Center's inspection history look like?
The latest standard health inspection CMS has on file for ChildServe Habilitation Center took place June 18, 2026 and produced 3 health deficiencies: 2 from the routine survey and 1 from complaint visits.
For comparison, May 1, 2025's survey recorded 5 deficiencies, with 0 more citations from infection-control checks; the latest-cycle median among Des Moines-area certified homes is 6, so this home's newest count is not out of line.
Within CMS's three-year penalty window it lists no federal fines and 0 payment denials.
Iowa's own Assessed Fines Report adds 1 state fine since January 2023: September 14, 2023, $500 issued. A suspended state fine usually means CMS imposed its own penalty for the same findings.
Is ChildServe Habilitation Center well staffed?
Payroll data submitted to CMS shows 10.58 nursing hours per resident per day at ChildServe Habilitation Center, higher than the metro median of 4.01, with registered nurses supplying 4.35 of those hours (higher than the metro median of 0.64).
On weekends, total nurse staffing falls to or stays at 8.74 hours per resident-day. Nursing staff turnover is 32.3%, lower than the metro median of 47.2%; RN turnover is 29.3%. CMS counts 0 administrator departures during its measurement period.
What is the closest nursing home to ChildServe Habilitation Center?
Its 74 certified beds make it smaller than the Polk County median of 76 licensed nursing facility beds. The nearest other certified home is Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston, about 0.5 miles away as the crow flies, with a CMS rating of 1 of 5.
| Facility | Miles away | Units or beds | CMS overall rating | Last CMS health inspection | Deficiencies cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Drumm Retirement Center 5837 Winwood Drive, 50131 | 0.5 | 150 | 1 of 5 | July 21, 2025 | 26 |
| Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 4614 NW 84th Street, 50322 | 2.1 | 115 | 1 of 5 | August 6, 2026 | 23 |
| Karen Acres Healthcare Center 3605 Elm Drive, 50322 | 2.7 | 35 | 5 of 5 | June 11, 2025 | 3 |
| Brio of Johnston, LLC 6901 Peckham Street, 50131 | 2.9 | 36 | 4 of 5 | April 9, 2026 | 5 |
| Calvin Community 4210 Hickman Road, 50310 | 3.5 | 59 | 4 of 5 | December 18, 2025 | 8 |
How close is ChildServe Habilitation Center to a hospital?
ChildServe Habilitation Center is in Johnston, Polk County, and Broadlawns Medical Center is the closest general hospital on DIAL's roster, about 5.3 miles away by straight line.
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center follows at roughly 5.3 miles. These are straight-line distances, not drive times.
What should we ask ChildServe Habilitation Center before choosing it?
Use the federal record as a checklist: ask to read the full statement of deficiencies from June 18, 2026, even though the count (3 deficiencies) is not high for the area.
- Turnover of 32.3% is at or under the metro median; ask which charge nurses have worked nights the longest.
- Ask what led to the federal or state fines listed above and whether the underlying problem is closed.
- Occupancy is about 92%; ask whether there is a waiting list and whether rehab beds are kept separate.
- CMS lists a none council; ask when it meets and whether family members may attend.
- If Medicaid may pay later, confirm ChildServe Habilitation Center accepts Iowa Medicaid for long stays and which managed care plans it contracts with.
