The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Colorado

Compare the Worst Nursing Homes in Colorado

Every year, thousands of seniors, their families, and friends are faced with the difficult decision of choosing a skilled nursing facility, either because someone is recuperating after a hospital visit or for end-of-life care. This is usually an issue that arises suddenly, and the decision makers are not equipped with the right knowledge and information to make a good decision. Not knowing how to decide, they turn to others for recommendations. Word of mouth, along with geography, are constantly cited as the most important factors in choosing a skilled nursing facility. Choosing a facility with such limited information can lead to significant problems. Not all skilled nursing facilities are the same and the people that you trust to recommend a facility may not know enough about the facility and the alternatives to be a competent guide.

Providing the type of care that residents of skilled nursing facilities require is very difficult. The range of issues that are being treated is vast and the needs cover both people recuperating and recovering as well as those facing end-of-life issues. Residents require significant help with basic daily activities as well as supplemental needs like oxygen and 24/7 monitoring.

To help people who are facing this difficult situation, we have compiled a list of the worst Colorado skilled nursing facilities and the the best skilled nursing facilities. (We have also compiled the best and worst nursing homes by city for most cities in the United States, links are shown at the bottom on this page.) The lists are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (“CMS”) and include information gathered from detailed annual inspections, monthly reporting, complaint histories, deficiency reports and much more.

The list below calls out the worst skilled nursing facilities in Colorado. For the most part these facilities should be avoided. All the facilities have issues with cleanliness and safety and a large number of the facilities have been flagged by CMS as locations where abuse has either occurred or is highly likely.

Avoiding these facilities may not always be an option either because of geographic, monetary, or occupancy constraints. However, being in a bad nursing home does not mean that the resident will not improve. If you have a loved one in one of these facilities, we encourage you to visit often and to ask that friends and other family visit too. It is well documented that positive outcomes for skilled nursing residents is highly correlated with the number and diversity of people visiting the resident. Being there, getting to know the staff, showing the staff that the resident has people that care about him or her is critical. There may not always be a better option, but your direct involvement can make a difference.

To see a more detailed analysis of the performance on skilled nursing facilities in Colorado, including staffing, COVID-19 infections, historical occupancy levels and recent trends, look at our detailed analysis page.

Nursing Home	Rating
Winding Trails Post Acute 2800 PALO PKWY BOULDER, CO	516.83 /
Oakwood Care and Rehabilitation 5301 W 1ST AVE LAKEWOOD, CO	300.17 /
Juniper Village - The Spearly Center 2205 W 29TH AVE DENVER, CO	285.33 /
Paonia Care and Rehabilitation Center 1625 MEADOWBROOK BLVD PAONIA, CO	266.33
Pikes Peak Post Acute 2719 N UNION BLVD COLORADO SPRINGS, CO	242.33
Prestige Care Center of Morrison 150 SPRING ST MORRISON, CO	223.67 /
Willow Tree Care Center 2050 S MAIN ST DELTA, CO	204.67 /
Sandrock Ridge Care and Rehabilitation 943 W 8TH DR CRAIG, CO	198.00 /
Mantey Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center 2825 PATTERSON RD GRAND JUNCTION, CO	189.83 /
Thornton Care Center 501 THORNTON PKWY THORNTON, CO	186.50 /

Nursing Homes with the warning icon () have been flagged by CMS for abuse.

How We Compile Nursing Home Ratings in Colorado

Every month, we rank all of the skilled nursing facilities in Colorado. These rankings are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid measures ("CMS"), including the CMS 5-Star Rating System and the Health Inspection Scores. The list of the Worst Skilled Nursing Facilities in Colorado is based on the weighted overall health inspection score which is a composite of CMS's three most recent skilled nursing home inspection scores weighted to give the most recent inspection more importance.

The CMS 5-Star Rating System rates skilled nursing facilities from one to five stars, with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest. The rating system also rates Colorado nursing homes across five different dimensions including overall rating, health inspection rating, quality measures rating, overall staffing rating, and RN staffing rating (RN is an acronym for Registered Nurse).

In addition to the 5-Star Rating System, CMS provides numerical metrics that summarize:

Health Inspection Domain. The health inspection rating is based on the three most recent standard surveys for each nursing home, results from any complaint investigations during the most recent three-year period, and any repeat revisits needed to verify that required corrections have brought the facility back into compliance. CMS calculates a weighted deficiency score based on points assigned to health deficiencies identified in each active provider’s current health inspection survey and the two prior surveys (including revisits), as well as deficiency findings from the most recent three years of complaint investigations. More recent surveys are weighted more heavily than older surveys: the most recent period (cycle 1) is assigned a weighting factor of 1/2, the previous period (cycle 2) has a weighting factor of 1/3, and the second prior survey (cycle 3) has a weighting factor of 1/6. The weighted time period scores are then summed to create the survey score for each facility.
Staffing Domain. Using multiple reporting methods, CMS calculates the amount of time that the nursing staff spends with residents. This is measured across multiple dimensions, one each for three different levels of nursing, including Registered Nurses (“RNs”), Licensed Practical Nurses (“LPNs”), and Certified Nursing Assistants (“CNAs”), plus one metric that totals all contributions. These metrics are expressed in hours per resident per day. CMS also provides state-level and national averages for the metrics to allow for additional comparisons.
Quality Measures Domain. A set of quality measures (QMs) has been developed from MDS-based indicators to describe the quality of care provided in nursing homes. These measures address a broad range of functioning and health status in multiple care areas. The facility rating for the QM domain is based on performance on a subset of 11 (out of 18) of the QMs. Ratings for the QM domain are calculated using the three most recent quarters for which data are available. This time period specification was selected to increase the number of assessments available for calculating the QM rating, increasing the stability of estimates and reducing the number of facilities that do not have enough data to report QM ratings.
Abuse Flag. Abuse is always a concern in skilled nursing facilities. To highlight the issue, CMS has extracted this feature as its own flag. Facilities with an actual abuse event or where the potential for abuse has been shown for the past two years are flagged. The Health Inspection Score is capped at 2-stars for nursing homes that have been flagged for abuse.

Skilled nursing facilities that are new and do not have at least two surveys completed are not rated by CMS. These facilities may have health inspection scores that can be used to evaluate the facility.

One complication in Colorado nursing home inspections is the COVID-19 pandemic. Although inspections should be performed every 12 months, COVID has decreased this frequency. While CMS admits that only in “rare cases” do these inspections increase to 15 months, our analysis suggests that this time frame may be even longer. This report shows that the time between inspections is now just under 500 days (more than sixteen months). There are now hundreds of skilled nursing homes in the United States that have not been inspected in more than 24 months. This list shows the skilled nursing homes with the longest period since being inspected. According to the CMS data, these homes have not been inspected since 2018!

Skilled Nursing Home Abuse in Colorado

Abuse is always going to be an issue with skilled nursing facilities. Skilled nursing facility residents need help with so many basic things and they are suffering, confused, and frustrated. If you are the friend or relative of a nursing home resident, we guarantee that you will be constantly fretting about whether your loved one is receiving proper and timely care. Abuse feels like a violation of your trust, but it happens. CMS actively monitors nursing homes not just for actual abuse but also for indicators that suggest that abuse might be occurring. Homes where abuse has either occurred or might be occurring are flagged. A very high percentage of the worst skilled nursing facilities in Colorado have been flagged for abuse. We have marked these facilities both on the list of the worst skilled nursing facilities and on the detailed page for each of the facilities.

How to Report a Nursing Homes in Colorado

If you run into an issue at a Colorado nursing home, there are a few steps you can take to make sure the issue is reported. First, speak with the immediate staff. If the problem is not solved, speak with a director or administrator, doctor, or any other employee of a high level.

As required by Medicare and Medicaid, reports and complaints must go through a grievance procedure. Per the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a grievance is “an expression of dissatisfaction (other than an organization determination) with any aspect of the operations, activities, or behavior of a Medicare health plan, or its providers, regardless of whether remedial action is requested”. All grievances must be filed in writing or verbally within 60 days of the event prompting the grievance.

To report a Colorado nursing home for quality of care, go through a grievance procedure through your Medicare or Medicaid plan. You can also go through the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care-Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIO). These groups serve to help with complaints made regarding the quality of care by Medicare providers. You can also choose to go through both Medicare and a BFCC-QIO.

Worst Nursing Homes in the Largest Colorado Cities

All of the following nursing homes have been given a Weighted Health Inspection Score by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Every year, nursing homes in Colorado go through an unannounced inspection performed by independent state examiners. These examiners look at factors such as cleanliness, hazards, and safety to perform the inspection. Points are given to nursing homes based on their deficiency in a certain category. Thus, a higher Weighted All Cycles Score means more problems and lower quality of care.

The list below ranks the homes with the highest (worst) weighted scores. The score is shown next to the facility name. The list also shows the two most recent deficiencies for each of the nursing homes.

Worst Nursing Homes in Denver

Juniper Village - The Spearly Center (285.333)

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds. (2024-09-16)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-09-16)

The Heights Post Acute (175.667)

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2024-07-29)
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2024-06-07)

Hilltop Park Post Acute (165.167)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-09-06)
Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home. (2024-09-06)

Westwood Post Acute (163.5)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-04-30)
Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility. (2024-04-30)

City Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (131.5)

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2024-04-12)
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2024-02-23)

Brookshire Post Acute (117)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-03-21)
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements. (2024-02-29)

Forest Street Compassionate Care Center (99.333)

Have a fire alarm with audible and visual signals that transmits the alarm automatically to notify emergency forces in event of fire. (2024-09-30)
Provide properly protected cooking facilities. (2024-09-15)

Center at Lowry, LLC (94.333)

Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2024-04-05)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-03-23)

Highline Post Acute (92.667)

Ensure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods. (2024-09-15)
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2024-09-15)

Briarwood Health Care Center (89.667)

Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2023-06-30)
Meet requirements for the installation and maintenance of electrical systems. (2023-06-27)

Worst Nursing Homes in Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Post Acute (242.333)

Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. (2024-04-12)
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs. (2023-12-04)

Mountain View Post Acute (173.167)

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (2024-02-23)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-02-15)

Kiowa Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing LLC (146)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-03-19)
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2024-03-19)

Falcon Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing LLC (116)

Honor the resident's right to choose his or her attending physician. (2024-08-28)
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-08-28)

Colonial Rehabilitation and Nursing LLC (107.167)

Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2024-03-19)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2023-11-30)

Springs Village Care Center (103.333)

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2024-05-22)
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations. (2024-05-22)

The Healthcare Resort of Colorado Springs (100.5)

Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times. (2023-12-26)
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. (2023-12-26)

The Center at Centennial (90.667)

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (2024-08-01)
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-08-01)

Medallion Post Acute Rehabilitation (78.167)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-04-17)
Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2023-05-15)

Center at Cordera (76)

Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2023-07-31)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2023-06-14)

Worst Nursing Homes in Aurora

Aurora Nursing (211)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-05-25)
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. (2024-05-25)

Hampden Hills Post Acute (158.333)

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2024-01-15)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2023-11-10)

Pearl of Orchard Valley (154)

Provide care by qualified persons according to each resident's written plan of care. (2024-08-13)
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-08-13)

University Heights Care Center (145)

Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating. (2024-05-17)
Have a complete alarm system manually initiated and initiated by fire sprinkler system connection. (2024-05-17)

Lowry Hills Care and Rehabilitation (133.167)

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2024-06-18)
Install proper backup exit lighting. (2024-06-18)

Westfield Quality Care of Aurora (96.833)

Establish emergency prep training and testing. (2024-05-10)
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities (2024-05-10)

Grove of Fox Valley,the (76.167)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-03-22)
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2024-03-22)

Life Care Center of Aurora (75.333)

Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas. (2024-05-02)
Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2024-04-29)

Alden of Waterford (72.833)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-05-22)
Have exits that are accessible at all times. (2024-04-24)

Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons (70.167)

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds. (2023-10-20)
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs. (2023-08-31)

Worst Nursing Homes in Fort Collins

Prestige Care Center of Fort Collins (158.667)

Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health. (2023-07-10)
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-07-10)

Creekside Village Rehabilitation and Nursing LLC (114)

Honor the resident's right to choose his or her attending physician. (2024-08-12)
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2024-08-02)

Poudre Canyon Rehabilitation and Nursing LLC (75.333)

Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas. (2024-04-12)
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. (2024-04-12)

Columbine West Health and Rehab Facility (45.333)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-08-25)
Have exits that are accessible at all times. (2024-05-21)

Center at Rock Creek, LLC (42.667)

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-08-25)
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action. (2024-08-25)

Centre Ave Health and Rehab (36)

Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment. (2023-06-19)
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. (2023-06-09)

Good Samaritan Society -- Fort Collins Village (35.333)

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2024-02-09)
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use. (2024-02-09)

Rehabilitation and Nursing Center of The Rockies (26)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-05-29)
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services. (2024-05-29)

Lemay Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Facility (18.667)

Provide properly protected cooking facilities. (2023-12-21)
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours. (2023-12-14)

Worst Nursing Homes in Lakewood

Oakwood Care and Rehabilitation (300.167)

Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2024-07-28)
Provide properly protected cooking facilities. (2024-07-28)

Lakewood Post Acute and Rehabilitation (135)

Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs. (2023-12-19)
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services. (2023-12-19)

Sierra Post Acute (118)

Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public. (2024-04-07)
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests. (2024-04-07)

Cedars Healthcare Center (112.167)

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2024-09-09)
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2024-05-21)

Mapleton Post Acute (89.333)

Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services. (2024-04-09)
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. (2024-04-09)

Lakewood Villa (78.667)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2024-05-01)
Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests. (2024-02-21)

Crestmont North Nursing Home (72.667)

Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered. (2022-10-14)
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities (2022-10-14)

Harmony Pointe Care Center (72.667)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2023-06-20)
Have an externally vented heating system. (2023-06-15)

Villa Manor Care Center (54.667)

Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2024-10-31)
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2024-05-03)

O'neill Healthcare Lakewood (42.667)

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2024-07-01)
Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months. (2024-07-01)

Worst Skilled Nursing Homes in Other States

See the worst skilled nursing homes in other states: