Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.
Garden Plaza of Aurora
Garden Plaza of Aurora is a continuum-of-care senior living community located at 14221 E Evans Avenue in the Southeast Crossing neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. Operated by Arapahoe Assisted Living Investors, LLC under administrator Alicia Murray, the three-story community is pet-friendly and has served local seniors for 25 years in proximity to the Jewell VA Clinic.
The community features 90 beds and offers private senior apartments in one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts. It is structured as a continuum-of-care campus, allowing residents to transition seamlessly between independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing services as their health needs change.
Daily life at the resort-style campus is supported by numerous wellness and recreational features, including an on-site restaurant, a Jacuzzi, a putting green, a dedicated massage suite, a beauty salon, and a robust social activities calendar. Residents receive regular wellness checks, on-site physician visits, scheduled transportation, and housekeeping services.
The neighborhood carries a walk score of 42, indicating a car-dependent setting where family members or staff will typically need a vehicle for off-site chores and errands.
Families exploring placement options can contact the Evans Avenue administrative office directly to arrange a tour or inquire about specific physical, occupational, or speech therapy programs available on site.
Community insights.
About this community
Garden Plaza of Aurora is administered by Amber Laurienti.
Inspection History
In Colorado, the Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities Division is the regulatory body that performs unannounced surveys and publishes facility inspection findings.
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed
Housing Options: 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Building Type: 3-story
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
Living Spaces & Floor Plans for Garden Plaza of Aurora
Places of interest near Garden Plaza of Aurora
3.5 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Aurora's city center to Garden Plaza of Aurora's address, calculated via Google Maps.
— 0.11 miles to nearest hospital (Jewell VA Clinic)
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Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the CO Dept. of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), 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.
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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.
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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.
MC (Memory Care):
Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Colorado average is: 63.5% 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.
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CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Care Center of Aurora | NH SNF | Aurora (Southeast Crossing) | 166
Facility
166
CO AVG
93
Rank
#17 / 233 |
31.9%
Facility
31.9%
CO AVG
73.3%
Rank
#134 / 140 | -56% | 4.18
Facility
4.18
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#46 / 203 | +17% | +8% | $33.2k
Facility
$33.2k
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#153 / 211 | 23
Facility
23
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#132 / 205 | 5.8
Facility
5.8
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#126 / 205 | 2 | 53 | A+ |
41
Facility
41
CO AVG
59
Rank
#188 / 256 | Arapahoe Medical Investors, LLC | $14.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
Facility
$14.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
CO AVG
$9.9M
Rank
#22 / 180 | $10.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
Facility
$10.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
CO AVG
$6.1M
Rank
#14 / 180 | 72.4%Fiscal year ending 08/2024
Facility
72.4%Fiscal year ending 08/2024
CO AVG
63.5%
Rank
#17 / 180 | 65332 | ||||
| Cadence Aurora | NH SNF | Aurora (Utah Park) | 54
Facility
54
CO AVG
93
Rank
#190 / 233 |
94.4%
Facility
94.4%
CO AVG
73.3%
Rank
#15 / 140 | +29% | 3.65
Facility
3.65
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#98 / 203 | +84% | -6% | $0
Facility
$0
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#1 / 211 | 7
Facility
7
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#7 / 205 | 1.8
Facility
1.8
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#6 / 205 | 1 | 51 | - |
44
Facility
44
CO AVG
59
Rank
#183 / 256 | Daniel Cortez | $10.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$10.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$9.9M
Rank
#59 / 180 | $6.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$6.1M
Rank
#80 / 180 | 56%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
56%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
63.5%
Rank
#121 / 180 | 65393 | ||||
| Garden Terrace at Aurora | NH MC SNF | Aurora | 120
Facility
120
CO AVG
93
Rank
#43 / 233 |
80.5%
Facility
80.5%
CO AVG
73.3%
Rank
#66 / 140 | +10% | 4.14
Facility
4.14
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#51 / 203 | -10% | +7% | $0
Facility
$0
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#1 / 211 | 12
Facility
12
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#22 / 205 | 2.4
Facility
2.4
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#29 / 205 | - | 97 | - |
46
Facility
46
CO AVG
59
Rank
#176 / 256 | Jerry Weeter | $10.7MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$10.7MFiscal year ending 09/2023
CO AVG
$9.9M
Rank
#65 / 180 | $7.9MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$7.9MFiscal year ending 09/2023
CO AVG
$6.1M
Rank
#35 / 180 | 73.3%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
73.3%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
CO AVG
63.5%
Rank
#16 / 180 | 65266 | ||||
| Summit Rehabilitation and Care Community | NH MC SNF | Aurora (Sunny Vale) | 110
Facility
110
CO AVG
93
Rank
#61 / 233 |
97.9%
Facility
97.9%
CO AVG
73.3%
Rank
#4 / 140 | +34% | 3.34
Facility
3.34
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#148 / 203 | +4% | -13% | $0
Facility
$0
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#1 / 211 | 22
Facility
22
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#108 / 205 | 3.7
Facility
3.7
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#42 / 205 | 1 | 108 | - |
70
Facility
70
CO AVG
59
Rank
#94 / 256 | - | $12.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$12.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$9.9M
Rank
#37 / 180 | $6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$6.1M
Rank
#63 / 180 | 55.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
55.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
63.5%
Rank
#125 / 180 | 65176 |
Rank badges are statewide: each nursing home is ranked against every CO nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 4 on this page. See how we rank facilities
Financial Assistance for
Nursing Home in Colorado
Garden Plaza of Aurora is located in Aurora, Colorado.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions about Garden Plaza of Aurora
What neighborhood is Garden Plaza of Aurora in?
Garden Plaza of Aurora is in the Southeast Crossing neighborhood of Aurora.
Who is the owner of Garden Plaza of Aurora?
Garden Plaza of Aurora is legally operated by Arapahoe Assisted Living Investors, LLC, and administered by Amber Laurienti.
Is Garden Plaza of Aurora in a walkable area?
Garden Plaza of Aurora has a walk score of 42. Car-dependent. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.
How long has Garden Plaza of Aurora been in business?
Garden Plaza of Aurora has been operating for approximately 25 years, based on available licensing and registration records.
Are pets allowed at Garden Plaza of Aurora?
Yes, Garden Plaza of Aurora allows residents to bring their pets.
Who is the administrator of Garden Plaza of Aurora?
Amber Laurienti is the administrator of Garden Plaza of Aurora.
How many beds does Garden Plaza of Aurora have?
Garden Plaza of Aurora has 90 beds.
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