Best Nursing Homes in Urbandale, IA

Deerfield Health Care Center is a skilled nursing facility located in Urbandale, IA, south of Deer Ridge Park. This is a 30-bed Medicare and Medicaid certified facility providing skilled nursing services and rehabilitation, both for their long-term, and short-term patients. Other services they provide to their residents are post acute-care for patients who had recent surgery for accidents, or treatments for a disease or illness.

However small, the residents and patients of this nursing facility are able to enjoy their amenities such as; housekeeping services, medication management, meal preparation and restaurant style dining experience, grooming services, and community sponsored activities designed to help boost the residents’ physical and cognitive health.

Karen Acres Health Care Center is a rehabilitation facility and nursing home located in Urbandale, IA, just above Karen Acres Elementary School. The main services they offer are rehabilitation, and long-term care. Their long-term care residents receive 24/7 RN or LPN provided assistance, grooming and feeding assistance, medication management, as well as mobility assistance for those who need it.

This long term nursing home also provides hospice care, as well as respite care with a minimum of 7 day required stay. Karen Acres Health Care Center also offers bespoke care plans that will surely cater to the patient’s needs, in order for them to keep their cognitive and physical health at the highest level.

Urbandale Health Care Center is a rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility located in Urbandale, IA, northwest of Meredith Park. Aside from rehabilitation and long-term care, they also provide specialized services like respite care, and hospice care. Their current facility can house 106 patients, with access to a full nursing assistance 24 hours daily. Aside from this, the patients also receive medication administration done by licensed professionals, meal provisions, grooming services, housekeeping, and various therapy depending on patient needs.

Urbandale Health Care Center admission inquiries are open 24/7 including holidays. They also provide tours for those who would like to learn more about this long-term care nursing home. However, due to their capacity limit, admissions to the facility will be based on bed availability.

Overview of Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 115-bed skilled nursing facility at 4614 NW 84th Street in Urbandale, Iowa. Owned by Cedar View Holdings LLC and administered by Gianni Beer, the center provides short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and respite stays for Polk County residents. The campus is somewhat walkable with a Walk Score of 43 and maintains a daily census of approximately 85 residents.

Operational Records and ComplianceThe facility is regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). CMS data as of early 2026 assigns Royal Oaks a 1-star overall rating, categorized as “Much Below Average”. While the quality measure rating is “Average,” the health inspection rating is 1 star, reflecting 59 total citations over recent years, a rate nearly triple the Iowa average. Federal fines totaling $51,555 have been imposed since 2023, and the facility has faced one payment suspension.

Staffing metrics show a focus on therapy, with physical therapist hours at 4 minutes per resident day, 100% above the state average. However, Registered Nurse (RN) hours are 39% below the Iowa average, and weekend RN coverage is 33% below the state mean. Clinical outcomes show zero short-stay falls with major injury, and rehospitalization rates are 48% better than the state average. Conversely, the long-stay hospitalization rate is 57% higher than the Iowa average, and nursing staff turnover is 61.9%.

The campus provides customized care plans within a 24/7 clinical setting. Resident services include housekeeping, laundry, and chef-prepared meals with dietary oversight. The social calendar features pet visits and personalized activities, and residents are permitted to furnish their own living spaces. However, recent state surveys identified multiple environmental and care deficiencies, including failures in behavioral health services and the absence of an effective pest control program.

Families should evaluate the facility’s recent corrective actions during an on-site visit. It is advisable to ask the administrator for specific details on the October 2025 staffing and safety citations and to confirm that the infection control and pest management protocols mentioned in 2024 and 2025 reports have been fully addressed.

Overview of Senior Suites of Urbandale

Senior Suites of Urbandale is a 100-bed assisted living facility at 4600 86th Street in Urbandale, Iowa. Administered by Dee Luttenegger, the community serves Polk County under a license active through November 2026. The facility reports 17% occupancy with 17 residents, a significant decline from its 2010 census of 44. The property includes a specialized memory loss center and private suites with 24-hour support.

State monitoring through the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing reveals a history of recurring medication control failures. While the facility averages 0.8 deficiencies annually, 33% better than the state average, it has faced repeated citations for improper narcotic counts. Both November 2021 and October 2023 inspections identified failures to complete required controlled-substance counts at shift changes. Most recently, the October 2025 recertification resulted in a citations-per-inspection rate of zero.

Daily clinical services were previously impacted by more severe regulatory findings. A 2012 investigation involving a resident death following two falls resulted in seven deficiencies, including inadequate fall assessments and failures to conduct timely neurological checks. Other past records from 2011 identified issues with service plan updates and medication administration record documentation. Professional care is provided by a team responsible for managing both general assisted living and memory care residents.

The residential environment focuses on the “Veranda” memory loss center located in a western suburb of Des Moines. Current low occupancy may indicate operational challenges or reduced staffing capacity relative to the building’s size. Although recent state evaluations show improvement, historical gaps in nursing oversight and assessment protocols have required multiple corrective actions over the facility’s 25-year operating history.

Prospective residents should carefully weigh the facility’s recent zero-deficiency finding against its documented pattern of narcotic oversight issues. It is necessary to request specific evidence of improved medication governance and updated fall assessment protocols during an on-site visit. Individuals can contact the administrative office to discuss current staffing ratios and to verify that 2026 safety standards meet their expectations for high-acuity care.