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Best Nursing Homes in Helena, MT

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 5 nursing homes in Helena, MT using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in MT
Reviewed by
Jordan Weiss, PhD
Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Helena, MT our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in Helena, MT.
5 homes
Other senior care options in Helena:
Assisted Living Memory Care Independent Living

Compare Nursing Homes around Helena (Metro Area)

Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the MT Dept. of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This Table NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Montana average is: 49.9% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
Mt. Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
NH
SNF
Helena
108
Facility 108
MT AVG 97
Rank #11 / 37
C-
67.6%
Facility 67.6%
MT AVG 72.2%
Rank #18 / 26
-6%
3.42
Facility 3.42
MT AVG 4.87
Rank #22 / 29
 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ -25%-30%
$80.4k
Facility $80.4k
MT AVG $78.2k
Rank #20 / 30
63
Facility 63
MT AVG 31.4
Rank #25 / 30
5.3
Facility 5.3
MT AVG 5.6
Rank #14 / 30
373-
30
Facility 30
MT AVG 47
Rank #33 / 40
Shane Brady
$8.9MFiscal year ending 12/2024
Facility $8.9MFiscal year ending 12/2024
MT AVG $8.1M
Rank #8 / 26
$4.3MFiscal year ending 12/2024
Facility $4.3MFiscal year ending 12/2024
MT AVG $4.0M
Rank #10 / 26
48.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2024
Facility 48.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2024
MT AVG 49.9%
Rank #14 / 26
275044
Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
NH
SNF
Helena
90
Facility 90
MT AVG 97
Rank #19 / 37
D
75.4%
Facility 75.4%
MT AVG 72.2%
Rank #14 / 26
+4%
3.00
Facility 3.00
MT AVG 4.87
Rank #29 / 29
 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ -27%-38%
$213.1k
Facility $213.1k
MT AVG $78.2k
Rank #29 / 30
76
Facility 76
MT AVG 31.4
Rank #30 / 30
7.6
Facility 7.6
MT AVG 5.6
Rank #26 / 30
1168A+
37
Facility 37
MT AVG 47
Rank #30 / 40
-
$10.5MFiscal year ending 12/2024
Facility $10.5MFiscal year ending 12/2024
MT AVG $8.1M
Rank #4 / 26
$4.8MFiscal year ending 12/2024
Facility $4.8MFiscal year ending 12/2024
MT AVG $4.0M
Rank #8 / 26
45.1%Fiscal year ending 12/2024
Facility 45.1%Fiscal year ending 12/2024
MT AVG 49.9%
Rank #22 / 26
275080

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each nursing home is ranked against every other MT nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 analyzed for Helena. See how we rank facilities

Nursing Home Explorer

Mt. Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia

2475 Winne Ave, Helena, MT 59601
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Overview of Mt. Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia
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Mt. Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia in Helena offers nursing home and skilled nursing care. Skilled nursing includes licensed nursing care on site around the clock, which may suit someone who needs ongoing clinical support or rehabilitation services.

The community has 108 beds, with 3 hours and 25 minutes of nursing time allocated to each resident per day. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted.

Phone: (406) 442-1350

Contact Mt. Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia

Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia

Po Box 3007, Helena, MT 84059
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Overview of Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia
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Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia is a nursing home and skilled nursing community in Helena, MT. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care around the clock, while rehabilitation supports residents recovering or rebuilding function after illness, injury, or hospitalization. The community may be a good fit for someone who needs ongoing nursing care alongside rehabilitation in the same setting.

The home has 108 beds. Private and semi-private rooms let residents live alone or share a room. An on-site rehabilitation gym provides a dedicated space for therapy without arranging transportation elsewhere, and social services help with the practical and personal needs that can arise during a stay. Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and Ellen Afflick serves as the administrator.

Phone: (406) 442-1350

Contact Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia

Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation

2555 E Broadway St, Helena, MT 59601
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Exterior view of Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation building
Overview of Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation
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Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation is a nursing home and skilled nursing facility in Helena, Montana, with 90 beds. Licensed nursing care is available on site around the clock, and post acute care and rehabilitation therapies support recovery after an acute medical stay. These services make the community a good fit for someone who needs nursing support while recovering through rehabilitation.

An expansive rehabilitation gym provides a dedicated setting for therapy, while courtyards give residents outdoor areas to use. Chef prepared meals include vegetarian and gluten free options, so residents with those dietary needs have suitable choices at mealtimes. Medicare can cover short term skilled care after a hospital stay, Medicaid can help cover a longer stay when personal savings are limited, and private pay allows a family to pay directly. Christopher Cotton serves as the administrator.

Phone: (406) 447-1650

Contact Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation

Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia

2475 Winne Ave, Helena, MT 59601
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Exterior view of Mount Ascension Transitional Care building and garden
Overview of Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia
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Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia in Helena, MT, delivers skilled nursing and long-term nursing home care. Licensed medical staff remain on site 24 hours a day to provide continuous clinical oversight and address resident health requirements. Rehabilitation services run alongside daily medical care to assist individuals working through physical recovery goals.

Payment options include Medicare for short-term rehabilitation, Medicaid for qualifying individuals, and direct private pay. Combining restorative therapy with round-the-clock nursing support allows the facility to serve patients recovering from acute medical events who still require hands-on clinical supervision.

Prospective representatives exploring nursing care or rehabilitation options in Helena can contact the admissions desk to inquire about admissions or schedule a site visit.

Phone: (406) 442-1350

Contact Mount Ascension Transitional Care of Cascadia

Cooney Home

2555 E Broadway St, Helena, MT 59601
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Aerial view of the Cooney Home with surrounding landscape
Overview of Cooney Home
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Cooney Home is a nursing home and skilled nursing facility in Helena, MT. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while nursing home services support residents who need short term or long term care.

Rehabilitation therapy is available for residents who need therapy as part of their care, including people recovering from an illness or procedure. Staff are available 24 hours a day. Cooney Home may be a good fit for someone who needs skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or ongoing long term care.

Phone: (407) 490-3632

Contact Cooney Home

Ranking Methodology

How we rank these nursing homes

Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports. Rank badges compare each home against other nursing homes in the same state — never against assisted living, memory care, or independent living communities.

  • CMS data
  • 5 weighted categories
  • Updated quarterly
Full methodology

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Care Quality
  • 20%
    Staffing
  • 20%
    Regulatory
  • 20%
    Operational
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Care Quality 35%

The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.

  • Includes
  • Overall Rating
  • Health Inspection
  • QM Rating
  • Long-Stay QM
  • Short-Stay QM
02

Staffing Adequacy 20%

The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.

  • Includes
  • Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
  • RN vs State
  • Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
  • RN Turnover
03

Regulatory & Safety Record 20%

Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • Citations
  • Citations/Inspection
  • Severe Citations
  • Fines
  • Accreditations
04

Operational & Financial Stability 20%

Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy vs State
  • Avg Length of Stay
  • Revenue
  • Payroll %
  • Years in Operation
  • Admin Tenure
05

Environment & Accessibility 5%

Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • BBB Rating
Full methodology →
No paid rankings Facilities cannot pay to influence placement.
Data source Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
How we're paid: If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Nursing Homes in Helena at a glance

Avg Overall CMS Rating: 1.0/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Helena, MT. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating: 2.5/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Helena, MT. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating: 1.0/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Helena, MT. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.0/ 5

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Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Helena, MT

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Montana?

Assisted living in Montana is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does Montana Medicaid cover nursing home care?

Yes — Montana Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.

What is nursing home care?

Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.

How many nursing homes are listed on this page?

This page features 5 nursing homes in Helena, MT. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right nursing home in Helena, MT?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Helena, MT, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting nursing homes in Helena, MT?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.

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