Bickford Cottage Urbandale
Families consistently rate this highly — reviewers highlight engaging and creative activity programming. Schedule a visit to confirm the fit.
based on 42 Google reviews
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What this means for your family
This facility is highly regarded for its vibrant activity program and dedicated care staff, making it a strong choice for residents who benefit from high engagement. However, families should be aware of reported inconsistencies in management communication and should ask direct questions about how the facility handles administrative transparency and staff conflict resolution.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
42 reviews on Google“Bickford Cottage Urbandale receives high praise for its dedicated activity staff, who are frequently cited for their creativity and genuine care for residents. However, the facility has faced significant criticism regarding management communication and staff professionalism, with some reviewers reporting poor experiences during difficult times. Families should weigh the strong engagement programs against these concerns about administrative responsiveness and internal staff culture.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Engaging and creative activity programming
- Warm, home-like environment
- Dedicated and caring frontline staff
- Clean and well-maintained facility
Concerns
- Poor management communication and responsiveness (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Unprofessional staff attitudes and internal conflict (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 48 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility responds to some reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1We've heard wonderful things about the creative activity programming here; could you tell us more about what a typical day looks like for the residents?
- 2The facility looks so clean and well-maintained; how do you ensure the home-like environment stays consistent for everyone?
- 3How does the management team handle communication with families to ensure we are always kept in the loop regarding our loved one's care?
- 4In the event of a medical emergency after hours, what is the specific protocol for getting residents the care they need?
- 5How does the staff work together to maintain a positive and professional atmosphere for both the residents and the team?
- 6We noticed you are very active in responding to feedback; how does the facility use resident and family input to improve day-to-day operations?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The Happiness Coordinator (Activity Director) is remarkable in keeping the residents engaged and entertained with a variety of fun activities. The inviting smells from the kitchen only add to the warm and homely atmosphere.”
“Bickford of Urbandale has been a huge blessing to our family! It's very reassuring to know that my mom is in good hands, has 3 good meals a day provided as well as laundry and housekeeping.”
“Our family has never experienced such poor communication as we have with the management of the Bickford in Urbandale during the care and death of our mother. We were notified of her passing by hospice, but when we attempted to reach the director, none of our phone calls were ever returned.”
State Inspection History
State Inspections
Source: Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing
Oct 16, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Jun 10, 2025ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Mar 19, 2025InspectionClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 3
Oct 14, 2024OtherClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Apr 24, 2024ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 1
Feb 19, 2024ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 21
Dec 8, 2022InspectionClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Jul 7, 2021ComplaintClean
Fed violations: 0, State violations: 0
Contact
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References & Resources
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
42 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit bickfordseniorliving.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
EveryPlace is a research directory. Facility information is compiled from public sources — Medicare.gov, state licensing portals, Google Places, and publicly available street-level imagery. Listings do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or advertisement, and we do not accept payment for placement. Families should verify all details directly with the facility and the original sources linked above before making any care decisions. See our Research Policy for our editorial standards, correction process, and image-removal policy.
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