Karen Acres Care Center
3605 Elm Drive, Urbandale, IA 50322
Based on 2026 CMS Data
Official Government Ratings
Health Inspections
Frequency & severity of deficiencies
Staffing Levels
Nurse hours per resident per day
Quality Measures
Clinical outcomes & care quality
Resident Council Active
Active councils indicate resident empowerment and facility transparency.
Vetting This Facility? Get Answers They Don't Volunteer
Free guide: the exact questions to ask Karen Acres Care Center, how to pull the public records (ownership, inspections, penalties), and how to request the info that isn't online — like the medical director.
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Care Quality Indicators
Lower is better
Lower is better
Lower is better
Lower is better
How Karen Acres Care Center Compares
Karen Acres Care Center is a 35-bed for-profit nursing facility in Urbandale, Iowa. It holds an overall CMS rating of 5 out of 5 stars, above the Iowa average of 3.1 stars. Its strongest area is quality measures, rated 5 stars. Its rate of long-stay antipsychotic medication use (5.5%) is below the Iowa average of 19.5%, a favorable sign for resident care. With 35 certified beds, it maintains moderate occupancy at roughly 87% occupied.
Among the 3 nursing facilities ElderVoice tracks in Urbandale, 2 hold a 5-star rating and the local average is 3.7 stars.
By the numbers vs. Iowa average
- Long-stay antipsychotic medication use: 5.5% — better than the Iowa average of 19.5% (72% lower).
- Falls with major injury: 2.9% — better than the Iowa average of 3.8% (25% lower).
- High-risk pressure ulcers: 3.6% — better than the Iowa average of 4.2%.
- Short-stay rehospitalization: 12.0% — better than the Iowa average of 20.8% (42% lower).
Comparisons use CMS Care Compare data (updated September 9, 2026) measured against Iowa averages across 387 facilities tracked by ElderVoice.
Questions to Ask Karen Acres Care Center
Use these facility-specific questions when calling admissions, touring the building, or comparing Karen Acres Care Center with other nursing homes in Urbandale.
What keeps Karen Acres Care Center's health inspections rating strong?
This category is rated 4 out of 5 stars. Ask for concrete staffing, training, or care-process examples behind the score.
What practices help Karen Acres Care Center keep long-stay antipsychotic medication use below the state average?
Long-stay antipsychotic medication use is 5.5% here versus 19.5% across Iowa. Lower is generally better for this CMS measure.
What practices help Karen Acres Care Center keep falls with major injury below the state average?
Falls with major injury is 2.9% here versus 3.8% across Iowa. Lower is generally better for this CMS measure.
How can a new family connect with existing councils at Karen Acres Care Center?
Active resident or family councils can provide useful context about daily life, responsiveness, and recurring concerns.
What explains Karen Acres Care Center's rating advantage in Urbandale?
Its 5-star overall rating is above the local average of 3.7 stars across 3 facilities. Ask which practices families can observe during a tour.
What would the first 30 days look like for a new resident at Karen Acres Care Center?
Ask who builds the care plan, how medication changes are communicated, how often families receive updates, and who to call after hours.
The Senior Community Around Urbandale
Urbandale sits in Polk County, where adults 65 and older make up about 13.1% of the population — a lower share of seniors than Iowa as a whole (17.1% statewide). The area's median household income is higher than the state average, reflecting a higher cost of living.
- Residents 65+
- 63,436 (13.1%)
- Median age
- 35.7 years
- Median household income
- $69,747
- Median home value
- $190,400
Demographics for Polk County from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Provided as local context for families comparing care options near Urbandale.
Facility Details
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