Nursing Homes in Urbandale, Iowa
Urbandale has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 180 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.3 stars, which is at Iowa's state average of 3.1 stars. 1 facility earns a B grade or better and is recommended for family consideration.
Compare 3 nursing homes · data
See the 1 recommended nursing homeWorth Considering
1
Facilities graded A or B that meet our quality standards
City Average
+0.27 vs state
Total Beds
180
across 3 facilities
High Risk Facilities
0
0 under CMS review
0 with abuse citations
Nurse Availability
61 min
RN time per resident daily
Meets CMS recommendation
Well Staffed
1
exceed staffing threshold
33% of facilities
Zero Fines
passed all inspections
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Trend
0
improved vs last year
0 declined
Top Rated in Urbandale
Karen Acres Care Center
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Karen Acres Care Center
★★★★★ · 80/100 · 35 beds
Deerfield Health Care Center
★★★★★ · 61/100 · 30 beds
Royal Oaks Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
★★★★★ · 0/100 · 115 beds
Showing 1–3 of 3 facilities
All 3 Nursing Homes in Urbandale
A-ZWant to learn more about nursing home care in Urbandale?
Fines · Deficiencies · Ownership Data · Quality Comparisons
About Nursing Home Care in Urbandale
Urbandale, IA, presents a mixed bag when it comes to nursing home care. Families should approach this market with caution, as only two of the three facilities meet acceptable standards. The standout is Heritage House, which boasts a clean record with zero fines over the past three years. However, overall, the options are limited and concerning, making it essential for families to be selective.
While Heritage House is worth visiting, it’s important to be aware of the other available options. Parkridge Specialty Care has received some positive feedback for its well-staffed environment, which can lead to better care overall. However, it still has its share of issues, so families are encouraged to do thorough research. If you’re looking for more robust alternatives, consider expanding your search to nearby cities like Des Moines, where additional facilities may offer better options.
On the other hand, families should steer clear of Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which has accumulated $122K in fines and has a troubling Grade F rating. Additionally, Deerfield Health Care Center has incurred $70K in fines, raising concerns about the quality of care. When visiting any facility, be sure to ask about staff turnover rates and patient-to-staff ratios to gauge the quality of care.
Urbandale at a Glance
Good News
- • 1 facility with clean records—no fines in 3 years
- • 1 community-run facility (non-profit)
- • 1 facility has more nurses than required
Be Aware
- • Always check recent inspection reports before visiting
What's Changing
- → 3 facilities stayed the same
- ★ Overall: Urbandale is stable
Questions Urbandale Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?
CMS recommends 0.75 hrs; Urbandale avg is 1.02 hrs (61 min)
Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?
1 of 3 Urbandale facility has zero fines
What were your most recent inspection findings?
Ask for specifics—0 local facilities have serious deficiencies
What is your staff-to-resident ratio on weekends?
Weekend staffing often differs from weekday levels
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Urbandale, Iowa
Urbandale, Iowa's Polk County seat, has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 180 beds. Families have solid options to choose from.
Urbandale vs. Iowa: Near State Average
Urbandale nursing homes perform near the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 3.33 stars is close to Iowa's statewide average of 3.06 stars.
1 of 3 facility earns a B grade or better. Families should still research carefully, as quality varies by facility.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Urbandale, 1 facility scores a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Staffing: Meeting Standards in Urbandale
Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.
Urbandale facilities average 1.02 RN hours per resident day, which meets the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Urbandale resident receives approximately 61 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.
1 Urbandale facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.
Ownership: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit
Urbandale has 1 non-profit nursing homes and 2 for-profit facilities. 2 of 3 facilities are chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.
Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.
Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering
Families may also want to consider nearby Iowa cities for additional options. The following Iowa cities offer multiple nursing home options:
- Des Moines — 12 facilities
- Cedar Rapids — 9 facilities
- Dubuque — 8 facilities
- Davenport — 7 facilities
- Sioux City — 6 facilities
- Marion — 6 facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes are in Urbandale, Iowa?
Urbandale has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with a total of 180 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.3 stars, which is above Iowa's state average of 3.1 stars.
What are the best nursing homes in Urbandale?
Based on our Trust Score analysis of CMS inspection data, the top-rated nursing homes in Urbandale include:
- • Karen Acres Care Center — Grade B+, 80/100 Trust Score
- • Deerfield Health Care Center — Grade C+, 61/100 Trust Score
- • Royal Oaks Nursing And Rehabilitation Center — Grade F, 0/100 Trust Score
These facilities have strong inspection records and staffing levels.
Which Urbandale nursing homes should I avoid?
We flag 0 facilities in Urbandale as high-risk based on patterns of serious deficiencies, substantial fines, or placement on CMS's Special Focus Facility list. These facilities are marked with warning indicators in our listings above.
We recommend avoiding facilities with: Grade D or F, recent "Immediate Jeopardy" citations (indicating serious harm or risk to residents), or those on CMS's Special Focus Facility list.
The Bottom Line on Urbandale Nursing Homes
Urbandale offers typical nursing home options for the state. Focus your search on the 1 facility graded A or B, particularly those with zero fines and strong staffing.