Karen Acres Care Center
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Karen Acres Care Center in Urbandale, Iowa, has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #121 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and #12 out of 29 in Polk County, suggesting that there are only a few local options that are better. The facility is currently improving, with issues decreasing from 6 in 2024 to just 1 in 2025. Staffing is average with a turnover rate of 44%, which matches the state average, but the absence of any fines is a positive sign of compliance. However, recent inspections found several concerns, including cluttered hallways that could pose safety risks for residents and improper food storage practices, indicating some areas need attention despite the overall strengths of the facility.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Iowa
- #121/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 44% turnover. Near Iowa's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 39 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Iowa. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 9 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (44%)
4 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 9 deficiencies on record
Jun 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, clinical record review, staff interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to follow the Care Plan for proper and safe transfer for 1 of 1 residents reviewed, resu...
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Jul 2024
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on resident clinical record, staff and family interviews, policy review and video evidence, the facility failed to protect...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. On 7/5/24 at 8:51 am, Staff A, Registered Nurse (RN), Director of Nursing (DON), was observed obtaining the blood glucose of ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, staff interviews and facility policy review, the facility failed to maintain uncluttered hallways to prom...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, menu review, and staff interview, the facility failed to serve the appropriate menu for two of two meals ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, staff interviews, and facility policy review, the facility failed to maintain sanitary practices by improperly storing resident food. The facility reported a census of 27 reside...
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Mar 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, resident and staff interviews, the facility failed to treat each resident in a dignified manner for 3 of 8 residents reviewed (Resident #2, #5 and #9). The facility reported a ce...
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Oct 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, staff interviews, facility documentation and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the facility failed to handle a urinary catheter bag and tubing with appropriate...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, staff interview, and facility policy review the facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards by not labeling foods that were open with open dates and d...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Iowa.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- • 44% turnover. Below Iowa's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Karen Acres Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Karen Acres Care Center an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Iowa, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Karen Acres Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Karen Acres Care Center's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 44%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care. RN turnover specifically is 57%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Karen Acres Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 9 deficiencies at Karen Acres Care Center during 2023 to 2025. These included: 9 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Karen Acres Care Center?
Karen Acres Care Center is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 35 certified beds and approximately 29 residents (about 83% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Urbandale, Iowa.
How Does Karen Acres Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Karen Acres Care Center's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (44%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Karen Acres Care Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Karen Acres Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Karen Acres Care Center has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Iowa. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Karen Acres Care Center Stick Around?
Karen Acres Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 44%, which is about average for Iowa nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Karen Acres Care Center Ever Fined?
Karen Acres Care Center has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Karen Acres Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Karen Acres Care Center is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.