Page 13 of Best Nursing Homes in Colorado

A skilled nursing home in Aurora, Colorado, is Highland Park Rehabilitation & Care Center situated on Geneva Street in a moderately walkable neighborhood. It operates 110 beds and concentrates on rehabilitation services with solid daily staffing support.

The facility maintains a hands-on care model with a blend of nursing levels present each day. Registered nurses average 39 minutes of direct care per resident daily, nurse aides contribute 2 hours 5 minutes per resident, and licensed practical nurses add another 41 minutes. That layering of skilled and supportive staff is built into the facility’s structure, so daily support is consistent across the community. With 24-hour staffing on-site, the home supports residents moving through post-acute rehabilitation and those needing active skilled nursing care. Daily activities are tailored not to a fixed schedule but to individual resident interests, giving people some freedom in how they spend time. Daily living is backed by a full-service dining room, so meals are prepared on-site. The surrounding neighborhood scores 69 for walkability. This means some local errands can be walkable, while most trips benefit from a quick drive. For visiting family members, that type of mixed access keeps the area fairly convenient to explore.

Adara Living is a 210-bed skilled nursing community in Broomfield, Colorado, offering long-term care, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and respite stays. Privately owned and operated by Broomfield Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center LLC, the facility has been in operation for 24 years and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility holds a 2-star overall CMS rating, roughly 37% below the Colorado average — driven primarily by its health inspection sub-rating, which trails the state by 64%. Since 2022, Adara Living has recorded 47 citations across 7 inspections, nearly double Colorado’s average of 24.8; that includes 1 critical citation and 4 serious citations in the past four years. CMS issued $61,000 in federal fines in 2023, including a $39,000 civil money penalty and a two-day payment denial in August 2023.

The facility stands out in staffing. Total adjusted nursing hours average 4 hours and 23 minutes per resident per day — 14% above the Colorado average of 3 hours and 51 minutes — ranking the facility 30th among 177 Colorado skilled nursing facilities on that measure. Nurse aide staffing in particular is 14% above state norms. Quality measures also perform above average at 21.4% above the Colorado benchmark, suggesting stronger day-to-day clinical management despite the inspection record.

On-site services include 24-hour staffing, including dietary services, social services, and activity programming. Its occupancy rate is 77%, in line with the state average.

Adara Living is best suited for residents in Broomfield County who need skilled nursing, post-acute rehabilitation, or memory care, with current availability and a staffing profile that supports higher-acuity daily care needs. However, families should carefully review the facility’s inspection and enforcement history before arranging placement.

Overview of Irondale Post Acute

Irondale Post Acute is a skilled nursing facility located in Commerce City, Colorado. It offers long-term care, secure memory care, and respite care services. The facility emphasizes personalized care and a variety of therapeutic approaches to meet the unique needs of each resident.

Overview of Irondale Post Acute

Irondale Post Acute is a 95-bed skilled nursing facility in Commerce City, Colorado, offering long-term care, secure memory care, rehabilitation services, and respite care to residents in Adams County. The facility is owned by West Van Buren Healthcare, Inc. and administered by Albeejohn Hummel.

CMS rates Irondale Post Acute at 2 stars overall, with 1-star ratings in both Health Inspection and Quality Measures — each substantially below Colorado averages. Across 8 inspections since 2020, the facility recorded 26 total citations, roughly in line with the state average of 24.8. However, the severity profile is a concern: 2 critical and 3 serious citations were issued, and CMS imposed $89,000 in civil money penalties between 2023 and 2025, including a payment denial for new Medicare and Medicaid admissions in December 2023. The most recent fines — $27,000 in April 2025 and $29,000 in October 2025 — both followed Quality of Care citations.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 33 minutes per resident per day, about 8% below the Colorado average. Physical therapist staffing stands out at 80% above the state average, which aligns with the facility’s rehabilitation focus. Long-stay quality measures are broadly below average, with antipsychotic use at 37.8% — more than double the Colorado figure of 18.8% — and daily-activity decline rates elevated compared to state peers.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 91.2%, well above the Colorado average of 76.5%, placing it 31st out of 185 in the state. The current resident census is heavily Medicaid-weighted (88%), with an average length of stay of 192 days, reflecting a predominantly long-term population.

Irondale Post Acute is best suited for long-term Medicaid residents and post-acute rehabilitation in Commerce City, with secure memory care capacity for residents who require a locked unit. Families should review the facility’s enforcement history, antipsychotic-use rates, and quality-of-care findings before making a long-term decision.

Owned by Amber Hopkins, Glenwood Springs Healthcare is a nursing home offering skilled nursing and rehabilitation care in Colorado. The 54-bed facility has an occupancy rate of 74%, which typically serves residents who stay an average of 337 days, including post-acute rehabilitation patients and those requiring ongoing nursing support.

The facility’s focus is on rehabilitation and specialized care programming. It offers several focused clinical programs, including pulmonary care, stroke management, and Parkinson’s disease care. The facility also provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. Residents can access specialized interventions such as sensory integration therapy, individual counseling, palliative care, mental health support, and bowel and bladder retraining.

With 24-hour nursing staffing on-site, the home is able to support residents through complex medical needs and therapeutic recovery. The facility is in a very walkable neighborhood, with a Walk Score of 75. Most errands can be accomplished on foot. Also, many essentials are within walking distance. This accessibility may appeal to residents and visiting family members who want to explore the surroundings.

The facility has four years of inspection records available. Interested families can review those records during their evaluation process to get an idea of the home’s quality performance over time.

Overview of River Valley Rehabilitation Healthcare Center

Owned by Swede Swagerty, River Valley Rehabilitation Healthcare Center is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in Del Norte, Colorado. The home provides short-term rehabilitation and subacute care to residents healing from hospitalization, surgery, or other acute health events. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, offering families numerous routes to fund rehabilitation and nursing care needs. Occupancy typically runs at 67 percent, with 40 residents currently in residence. The facility operates as a 60-bed community, averaging a stay of 251 days and reflecting a blend of short-term rehab patients and those needing longer-term skilled nursing support.

Daily nursing support averages 2 hours and 23 minutes per resident, with registered nurses allotting 44 minutes per day and nursing aides contributing 1 hour and 45 minutes. The facility clinically specializes in orthopedic and cardiac rehabilitation alongside general subacute care. Specialty programs include wound healing, pain management, and diabetes management, making it suitable for residents managing complex recovery needs. The focus on rehabilitation services reflects a grounded approach to post-acute care for those regaining strength and independence after an acute illness or injury episode. The community features private and semi-private suites with access to a courtyard and patio, giving residents and visitors outdoor space. Family lounges are there for entertaining guests, and dining options span various menus prepared on-site. Housekeeping and laundry services are included, along with Wi-Fi and cable television throughout the building. The location in Del Norte scores 45 out of 100 for walkability. This means most trips need transportation, with some nearby services walkable. Such a setting supports visiting families who drive to spend time with their dearest ones while allowing ambulatory residents to access some neighborhood destinations independently.

Mountain View Post Acute is a 159-bed nursing home run by owner David Shepherd. The property operates at a 78 percent occupancy rate, and residents stay for an average of 102 days. This operational pattern indicates a daily schedule that balances permanent medical placements with shorter, transitional post-hospital rehabilitation. For monthly billing, the business department takes state Medicaid, traditional Medicare, and regular private pay.

The surrounding location scores a 0 out of 100 on the walkability scale, meaning the area is entirely car-dependent, and visitors will need a vehicle for any errands outside the property. Indoors, the floor crew provides an average of 3 hours and 30 minutes of direct nursing care to each resident daily. This round-the-clock staff of RNs, LPNs, and aides carries out the clinical therapy programs for people recovering from recent surgeries or major illnesses.

Past inspection filings noted recurring operational problems concerning infection control, abuse prevention, daily care practices, medication handling, building maintenance, and staffing levels, which the administration is required to address under state guidelines.

Prospective individuals can contact the main office to check on current room availability, ask about the protocols for infection control and safety monitoring, or arrange a time to visit the campus.

Skylake Post Acute is a 242-bed nursing home located at 12080 Bellaire Way in Thornton, Colorado. Run by owner Malcolm Fraser, the facility keeps around 65 percent of its beds filled. People stay here for an average of 135 days, which means the daily routine is split between folks recovering from short-term hospital stays and those who live there long-term. On the financial side, the front office takes traditional Medicare, state Medicaid, and private payments to cover room and care costs.

If you look at the surrounding neighborhood, it gets a walk score of 60 out of 100. This means a few basic errands can be handled on foot, but visitors will generally want a car to get around. Indoors, residents get about 3 hours and 25 minutes of direct nursing attention each day. This care comes from a 24-hour floor crew of RNs, LPNs, and aides who manage the main physical rehabilitation programs and run a separate, secure unit for residents dealing with memory loss and dementia. The facility also schedules daily group activities and events to keep residents engaged.

The building’s management team is responsible for fixing any issues found during these surveys and keeping the nursing routines, kitchen standards, and physical building up to regional codes.

Interested individuals can get in touch with the admissions team to see what rooms are open, ask about the calendar of upcoming events, or set up a time to come take a look around the property.