Caring Acres Nursing and Rehab Center

I really appreciate Caring Acres' efforts to both integrate my mom and get her out of her shell. Its wonderful to see her getting out to meals and activities, and seeing the improvement with physical therapy. Receiving updates directly from the Director of Nursing has me so happy!

The best place ever! We placed my mom here after seeing multiple nursing homes and I am so glad we did. From the moment we walked in and was greeted at the door from the staff through settling mom in her room we felt the greatest and love that would surround our mom. They even set up lunch so we could share a meal before leaving. She has had amazing care, staff all came to greet her, and they take time to just let us know she is doing well. The sense of relief and knowledge she is in a loving, family owned nursing home without the corporate buracracy makes it the best place for any loved one. Its worth the little bit of drive from Des Moines to know my moms care and comfort is their top priority.

I was in Caring Acres for over 2 months in 2018, due to a broken hip. It was one of the worse experiences I ever had. The DON, as well as her staff 1st appears to be kind. I soon realized the staff was entirely unprepared for a temporary patient and completely unskilled in medical issues not immediately related to geriatrics. They were often unkind & impatient. For example, I had broken my hip, only 3 wks earlier. I am sure the hospital provided that information. However, upon arrival I was not even given a walker. I was there for rehabitation. The administrator said my ins. would only pay for restoration. This meant I was not assisted by a PT. Their restoration consisted of a very small set of steps and a stationary exercise bike. The CNAS, who are suppose to be restoring me, were on their cell phones most of the time. When ANY patient was using the bike, they were left alone for at least 15 minutes. When I returned home I learned from the insurance co. that they had approved and paid for rehabilitation and PT. As proof, the ins. Immediately allowed me to select my own physical therapist. Months later, I am still in physical therapy. The PT, explained to me that yes the new hip was in place, however that when the surgeon cut that area open, he had to cut through all of the muscle and nerves and he could quickly tell that none of these were healed. So, while the DON had aggressively insisted I was healed and ready to live alone and walk up 2 flights of stairs to my apt, I was actually telling the truth: I was in a lot of pain. There response was I 'walked just fine.' Therefore, Caring Acres really did me a favor by sending me home.' The ins co. had approved for me to receive 'home health care.' Good luck on learning what that means, but the consensus of the ins. Co. & my Dr. was that, prior to my return home someone should have gone to my apt. and assessed its safety and made sure after 3 months, I had edible food. The extent of home health care from Caring Acres was the administrator's son driving me home & dumping 4 boxes of my possessions on my sofa & leaving. That was it, I was alone. I could not use my shower or even safely use the toilet. Luckily I had a few frozen dinners. The nurse said she gave me a few days supply of my meds, I discovered this to be untrue. She gave me a lot of 1 med & about 2 other meds. The meds I had to have were not there. I went home on a Thurs evening. I spent all of Fri. trying to obtain the rest of my meds. I ended up in the hospital that night. I must also add that soon after I arrived the adm. took me into her office & asked about my finances. Foolishly I admitted, I had a substantial amount of money coming into my bank. She soon informed me not only was she going to use my insurance, she wanted $2000.00 of my funds. When I refused, she called the owner, & had me talk to her. The owner forcefully, informed me that either I wrote a check out for $2000.00 right then or I would have to leave Caring Acres immediately. I could not even walk, I did not have clothing only a hospital gown, and Anita IA is in the middle of no where. I was not even offered a taxi! The administrator graciously said she would settle for $1600.00, rather than $2000.00. Not seeing any alternative, I signed over $1600.00. Later I learned from the Nursing Home Ombudsman in Iowa, I did not have to give Caring Acres a penny. I was informed that nursing homes that demand cash from patients are nursing homes that are surviving off the patients finances, until insurance releases funds. In other words, the Nursing Home is financially unsound! Imagine that your mother, father, lived in an institution that took their money in order to keep their own facility open! I could describe many more unsettling experiences there, but I hope this is enough to warn people of what Caring Acres really cares about & what a patient might experience. Please, carefully inspect such facilities & even contact the state's Ombudsman for an actual review.