Des Moines Senior AdvisorKaren Acres Healthcare Center, at 3605 Elm Drive in Urbandale (Polk County), is a nursing facility certified for Medicare and Medicaid with 35 certified beds and Iowa nursing facility license 770275. Karen Acres Healthcare Center holds a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5 in Care Compare data dated October 1, 2026.
What are Karen Acres Healthcare Center's Care Compare star ratings?
Karen Acres Healthcare Center holds a CMS overall rating of 5 out of 5, with 4 stars for health inspections, 4 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) | 4 of 5 |
| Quality measures (CMS stars) | 5 of 5 |
| Certified beds and average daily census | 35 beds, 31.6 residents a day |
| Name as CMS lists it | Karen Acres Care Center |
| Ownership (CMS) | For profit - Corporation |
| Chain affiliation (CMS) | No chain listed |
| Medicare/Medicaid certification since | June 1, 2002 |
| Iowa license (DIAL) | 770275; 35 licensed beds; Current through 10/02/2027 |
| State fines since January 2023 (DIAL) | 1, totaling $0 after adjustment |
Its average census of about 32 residents fills roughly 90% of certified beds, close to the 89% typical of certified homes in the six-county metro.
How many deficiencies were cited at Karen Acres Healthcare Center?
DIAL surveyors working for CMS last completed a full health inspection of Karen Acres Healthcare Center on June 11, 2025, recording 3 health deficiencies for that cycle (1 routine, 2 complaint-driven).
In the cycle before (survey July 7, 2024) CMS counted 6 deficiencies, and infection-control inspections added 0 citations. Certified homes across the six counties have a median of 6 deficiencies in their latest cycle, which puts Karen Acres Healthcare Center at or under the metro middle.
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: March 12, 2024, $0 issued. A suspended state fine usually means CMS imposed its own penalty for the same findings.
Is Karen Acres Healthcare Center well staffed?
At 3.25 total nurse hours per resident-day, Karen Acres Healthcare Center is lower than the metro median of 4.01; its 0.74 RN hours are higher than the metro median of 0.64.
On weekends, total nurse staffing falls to or stays at 3.03 hours per resident-day. Nursing staff turnover is 28.6%, lower than the metro median of 47.2%. CMS counts 0 administrator departures during its measurement period.
How does Karen Acres Healthcare Center stack up against nearby homes?
Its 35 certified beds make it smaller than the Polk County median of 76 licensed nursing facility beds. The nearest other certified home is Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Urbandale, about 1.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 4614 NW 84th Street, 50322 | 1.2 | 115 | 1 of 5 | August 6, 2026 | 23 |
| Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center LLC 1501 Office Park Road, 50265 | 2.5 | 140 | Not rated by CMS | June 3, 2026 | 35 |
| Calvin Community 4210 Hickman Road, 50310 | 2.6 | 59 | 4 of 5 | December 18, 2025 | 8 |
| ChildServe Habilitation Center 5900 Pioneer Parkway, 50131 Serves adults with disabilities or mental illness | 2.7 | 74 | 5 of 5 | June 18, 2026 | 3 |
| Walnut Ridge 1703 Campus Drive, 50325 | 2.9 | 60 | 5 of 5 | July 9, 2025 | 4 |
Where is Karen Acres Healthcare Center, and what shares its campus?
Karen Acres Healthcare Center is in Urbandale, Polk County, and Broadlawns Medical Center is the closest general hospital on DIAL's roster, about 5.0 miles away by straight line.
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center follows at roughly 5.0 miles. These are straight-line distances, not drive times.
What does Karen Acres Healthcare Center's CMS record suggest asking?
Begin with the questions its CMS data raises: ask to read the full statement of deficiencies from June 11, 2025, even though the count (3 deficiencies) is not high for the area.
- Turnover of 28.6% 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 90%; ask whether there is a waiting list and whether rehab beds are kept separate.
- CMS lists a resident council; ask when it meets and whether family members may attend.
- If Medicaid may pay later, confirm Karen Acres Healthcare Center accepts Iowa Medicaid for long stays and which managed care plans it contracts with.
