2/5
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
2/5
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
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Owned by Lynne Miller, Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons is a 180-bed facility that the State of Colorado operates under Raenell Lynn Simmons’ administration. It currently has a 70 percent occupancy rate with 126 residents, and the average stay duration of 577 days mirrors a mix of residents receiving short-term rehabilitation and longer-term care. Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay are accepted to offer families several pathways to fund care.
The facility’s Walk Score of 67 indicates moderate walkability. This means some errands can be finished on foot, with a blend of nearby amenities and services accessible to visitors and residents. Nursing support averages 5 hours 35 minutes per resident day, providing a substantial level of daily attentive care. This staffing complement supports the facility’s capacity to deliver care across its resident population.
Significant deficiencies in resident safety and care quality have been documented by the inspection findings.
Families considering the Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons should conduct thorough tours and ask detailed questions, given the inspection history, about how it addresses care planning, clinical oversight, safety protocols, and infection control procedures.
The Overall CMS Rating combines results from health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
Based on the results of the facility's three most recent standard inspections and any complaint investigations. CMS reviews the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies, with more recent findings weighted more heavily.
Measures average nursing staff hours per resident per day, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and total nursing staff. Ratings are adjusted based on the level of care residents require and are compared to state and national benchmarks.
Based on clinical and physical health indicators reported to CMS, such as hospital readmissions, falls, pressure ulcers, and improvements in mobility. These measures reflect how well residents' health needs are being managed.
Daily nursing hours per resident by staff type, reported to CMS. Higher is generally better — compare this facility to state and national averages to see where staffing stands.
This home is ranked 13th out of 215 homes in Colorado for nurse hours. Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.
| Staff type | Hours / Day / Resident | vs state avg |
|---|---|---|
|
Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs hold the highest nursing license and can assess residents, interpret test results, and direct care plans. More RN hours per day often signals stronger clinical oversight and faster response to health changes.
| 0m per day | ▼ 100% State avg: 50m per day · National avg: 41m per day |
|
LPN / LVN
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) deliver routine hands-on care — medication administration, wound dressing, and monitoring vital signs. They work under RN supervision and make up a large share of daily bedside care.
| 4m per day | ▼ 91% State avg: 41m per day · National avg: 52m per day |
|
Nurse Aide
Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) provide the most direct day-to-day assistance: bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility. Nurse aide hours are typically the largest staffing category and directly affect residents' quality of life.
| 18m per day | ▼ 86% State avg: 2h 13m per day · National avg: 2h 21m per day |
|
Weekend Total Nursing
Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours.
| 28m per day | ▼ 86% State avg: 3h 17m per day · National avg: 3h 26m per day |
|
Physical Therapist
Hours per resident per day provided by licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) or PT Assistants. PT services help residents recover mobility after injury or illness and are especially important for post-acute (short-stay) rehabilitation.
| 2m per day | ▼ 69% State avg: 5m per day · National avg: 4m per day |
|
Weekend RN
Registered nurse hours specifically on weekends. Facilities sometimes reduce RN presence on Saturdays and Sundays — a low weekend RN figure compared to weekday hours can indicate reduced clinical oversight when most administrative staff are absent.
| 0m per day | ▼ 100% State avg: 36m per day · National avg: 29m per day |
Average number of days residents stay at this facility, based on CMS cost report data. Shorter stays often reflect post-acute or rehab care; longer stays reflect long-term care.
Lower than the Colorado average: 76.5%Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons is administered by Raenell Lynn Simmons.
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.
This scorecard compares key inspection, deficiency, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Colorado state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.
Deficiencies
| This Facility | CO Average | vs. CO Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total deficiencies
Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.
| 53 | 40 | This facility has 33% more total deficiencies than a typical Colorado nursing home (53 vs. CO avg 40).↑ 33% worse |
|
Deficiencies per year
Average deficiencies per year since 2020.
| 8.8 | 6.7 | This facility has 31% more deficiencies per year than a typical Colorado nursing home (8.8 vs. CO avg 6.7).↑ 31% worse |
An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.
Colorado average 4.8
Last Health inspection on Nov 2024
Colorado average 24.8
Colorado average 5.2
Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.
17 of 24 citations resulted from standard inspections; 6 of 24 resulted from complaint investigations; and 1 of 24 came from combined inspections (standard and complaint).
400% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 0.4
52% better than Colorado averageColorado average: 2.1
Corrected
Corrected
Corrected
Corrected
Reporting period: October 1 – December 31, 2025 (Q4 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.
88% fewer staff per resident than Colorado average
0% compared with Colorado average
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Manages medical care and health needs.
No RN Staff reported this quarter.
0
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
—Assists with medical care and medications.
All 5 LPN Staff are contractors.
5
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
9.3 hoursHelps with daily care and mobility.
All 22 CNA Staff are contractors.
22
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
9.1 hours
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Total hours from contractors
5,375 contractor hours this quarter
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 0 | 22 | 22 | 3,572 | 92 | 100% | 9.1 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 0 | 5 | 5 | 743 | 63 | 68% | 9.3 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 0 | 1 | 1 | 440 | 66 | 72% | 6.7 |
| Qualified Social Worker | 0 | 1 | 1 | 319 | 62 | 67% | 5.1 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician | 0 | 1 | 1 | 301 | 62 | 67% | 4.9 |
Includes penalties issued in 2023
Federal penalties imposed by CMS for regulatory violations, including civil money penalties (fines) and denials of payment for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions.
Source: CMS Penalties Database (Data as of Jan 2026)
161% higher than Colorado averageColorado average: $40K
35% more fines than Colorado averageColorado average: 2.2
Serious action where Medicare and/or Medicaid temporarily stops payments for new residents until issues are fixed.
0
100% fewer payment denials than Colorado averageColorado average: 0.3
Penalties are imposed by CMS for violations of federal nursing home regulations.
1 penalty in the past 3 years
Jul 28, 2023 · $34K
Fines imposed for noncompliance, which can be assessed per day or per instance of violation.
Jul 28, 2023Last updated: Jan 2026
These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.
A composite score based on pressure ulcers, falls with injury, weight loss, walking ability decline, and activities of daily living decline.
11.1
23% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 9.0
A composite score based on activities of daily living decline, walking ability decline, and incontinence.
22.0
17% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 18.8
CMS star rating based on long-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = significantly above average, 1 star = significantly below average.
Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased
19.7%
23% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 16.0%
Percent of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened
22.4%
32% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 17.0%
Percent of low risk long-stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder
23.9%
In line with Colorado averageColorado average: 23.2%
Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury
5.8%
74% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 3.3%
Percent of long-stay high risk residents with pressure ulcers
3.6%
7% better than Colorado averageColorado average: 3.9%
Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
3.5%
141% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 1.4%
Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight
3.9%
25% better than Colorado averageColorado average: 5.2%
Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms
4.3%
41% better than Colorado averageColorado average: 7.2%
Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication
12.0%
36% better than Colorado averageColorado average: 18.8%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
88.0%
6% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 93.3%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
98.6%
In line with Colorado averageColorado average: 94.7%
Number of hospitalizations per 1,000 long-stay resident days.
1.81
39% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 1.30
Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1,000 long-stay resident days.
1.43
14% better than Colorado averageColorado average: 1.67
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
34.2%
55% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 76.6%
Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication
6.6%
368% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 1.4%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
60.6%
20% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 75.6%
Percentage of SNF residents who experience falls with major injury during their stay.
5.0%
549% worse than Colorado averageColorado average: 0.8%
Quality measures are calculated from Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. For most measures, lower percentages indicate better care quality.
13% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.
80% of new residents, often for short stays.
7% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.
Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)
Total residents
129Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities
Family members meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities
Organized group of family members that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, resident care, and activities.
Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.
Data sourced from CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics quarterly report. Payer mix reflects the current resident census by primary payment source.
Historical financial and operational data for Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons from 2012–2024, based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.
Key figures below are for fiscal year ending in 06/2024.
Based on CMS SNF Cost Report for fiscal year ending in 06/2024.
Net patient revenue — what the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts are subtracted from its gross charges (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It covers resident care only; money the home earns from other sources is shown separately as "Other income."
Net patient income: net patient revenue minus the home's total operating expenses. A positive figure means it earns more from resident care than it spends to deliver it; a negative figure means the opposite. It excludes non-operating "other income."
Net patient revenue — what the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts are subtracted from its gross charges (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It covers resident care only; money the home earns from other sources is shown separately as "Other income."
Net patient income: net patient revenue minus the home's total operating expenses. A positive figure means it earns more from resident care than it spends to deliver it; a negative figure means the opposite. It excludes non-operating "other income."
Money the home earns outside of resident care — such as investments, grants, rentals and other non-operating sources (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It is tracked separately from net patient revenue: it is not part of that figure, and it is not included in net patient income.
Staff salaries plus wage-related costs — benefits such as payroll taxes, health insurance and retirement — from the home's own accounting records (CMS cost report, Worksheet A). Contract or agency labor is counted separately, under other operating costs.
Rank #2 / 221Payroll — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 2nd out of 221 homes in Colorado for Payroll. Shows total annual staff payroll benchmarked to the Colorado average. Higher payroll investment relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on cheaper contract labor.Rankings are based only on facilities in Colorado that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Payroll as a share of revenue: staff salaries and wage-related benefits divided by net patient revenue. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay.
Rank #181 / 221Payroll % — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 181st out of 221 homes in Colorado for Payroll %. Shows payroll as a percentage of revenue versus the Colorado average. Well-run Colorado facilities typically land around 60–68% — the top third Statewide. Below 25% may signal understaffing or heavy agency use — read with Staffing ratings.Rankings are based only on facilities in Colorado that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Everything it costs to run the home apart from payroll — food, utilities, supplies, maintenance, contract labor and administration. Calculated as total operating expense minus payroll (staff salaries and wage-related benefits).
The home's total operating expense for the year — all the costs of running it, salaries included (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3).
Residents typically stay for brief periods, with frequent admissions and discharges throughout the year.
Most new residents arrive under private pay (80% of admissions), and a typical private pay stay runs around 1 - 2 years.
Coverage residents most often arrive under.
Coverage residents most often leave under.
1.9 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Aurora's city center to Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons's address, calculated via Google Maps.
— 0.35 miles to nearest hospital (UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital)
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The information below is reported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities Division.
| Garden Terrace at Aurora | NH MC SNF | Aurora (South Potomac Street) | 120
Facility
120
CO AVG
76
Rank
#79 / 533 |
79.6%
Facility
79.6%
CO AVG
—
Rank
#111 / 221 | - | 4.36
Facility
4.36
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#34 / 215 | -10% | +13% | $0
Facility
$0
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#1 / 221 | 11
Facility
11
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#24 / 221 | 2.8
Facility
2.8
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#30 / 221 | - | 96 | - |
46
Facility
46
CO AVG
51
Rank
#525 / 872 | Jerry Weeter | $10.7MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$10.7MFiscal year ending 09/2023
CO AVG
$11.2M
Rank
#91 / 221 | $7.9MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
$7.9MFiscal year ending 09/2023
CO AVG
$4.9M
Rank
#55 / 221 | 73.3%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility
73.3%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
CO AVG
46.6%
Rank
#25 / 221 | 65266 | ||||
| Cadence Aurora | NH AL | Aurora (Utah Park) | 54
Facility
54
CO AVG
76
Rank
#343 / 533 |
93.1%
Facility
93.1%
CO AVG
—
Rank
#83 / 221 | - | 4.11
Facility
4.11
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#58 / 215 | +84% | +6% | $0
Facility
$0
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#1 / 221 | 6
Facility
6
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#8 / 221 | 2.0
Facility
2.0
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#6 / 221 | 1 | 50 | - |
44
Facility
44
CO AVG
51
Rank
#549 / 872 | Daniel Cortez | $10.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$10.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$11.2M
Rank
#58 / 221 | $6.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$4.9M
Rank
#109 / 221 | 56%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
56%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
46.6%
Rank
#195 / 221 | 65393 | ||||
| Life Care Center of Aurora | NH SNF | Aurora (Southeast Crossing) | 166
Facility
166
CO AVG
76
Rank
#27 / 533 |
31.9%
Facility
31.9%
CO AVG
—
Rank
#205 / 221 | - | 3.95
Facility
3.95
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#66 / 215 | +17% | +2% | $33.2k
Facility
$33.2k
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#162 / 221 | 28
Facility
28
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#142 / 221 | 5.6
Facility
5.6
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#139 / 221 | 2 | 53 | A+ |
41
Facility
41
CO AVG
51
Rank
#570 / 872 | David Strain | $14.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
Facility
$14.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
CO AVG
$11.2M
Rank
#40 / 221 | $10.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
Facility
$10.6MFiscal year ending 08/2024
CO AVG
$4.9M
Rank
#23 / 221 | 72.4%Fiscal year ending 08/2024
Facility
72.4%Fiscal year ending 08/2024
CO AVG
46.6%
Rank
#54 / 221 | 65332 | ||||
| Summit Rehabilitation and Care Community | NH MC SNF | Aurora (Sunny Vale) | 110
Facility
110
CO AVG
76
Rank
#108 / 533 |
96.3%
Facility
96.3%
CO AVG
—
Rank
#21 / 221 | - | 2.98
Facility
2.98
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#177 / 215 | +4% | -23% | $0
Facility
$0
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#1 / 221 | 23
Facility
23
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#117 / 221 | 3.3
Facility
3.3
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#46 / 221 | 1 | 106 | - |
70
Facility
70
CO AVG
51
Rank
#227 / 872 | - | $12.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$12.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$11.2M
Rank
#42 / 221 | $6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
$4.9M
Rank
#76 / 221 | 55.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
55.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
CO AVG
46.6%
Rank
#172 / 221 | 65176 | ||||
| Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons | NH AL HOS MC RC SNF | Aurora (Fitzsimons) | 180
Facility
180
CO AVG
76
Rank
#17 / 533 |
70.4%
Facility
70.4%
CO AVG
—
Rank
#145 / 221 | - | 5.59
Facility
5.59
CO AVG
3.86
Rank
#13 / 215 | -100% | +45% | $79.5k
Facility
$79.5k
CO AVG
$39.2k
Rank
#204 / 221 | 24
Facility
24
CO AVG
24.8
Rank
#120 / 221 | 6.0
Facility
6.0
CO AVG
5.2
Rank
#146 / 221 | 3 | 127 | - |
67
Facility
67
CO AVG
51
Rank
#271 / 872 | Lynne Miller | $27.0MFiscal year ending 06/2024
Facility
$27.0MFiscal year ending 06/2024
CO AVG
$11.2M
Rank
#3 / 221 | $18.5MFiscal year ending 06/2024
Facility
$18.5MFiscal year ending 06/2024
CO AVG
$4.9M
Rank
#2 / 221 | 68.5%Fiscal year ending 06/2024
Facility
68.5%Fiscal year ending 06/2024
CO AVG
46.6%
Rank
#181 / 221 | 65380 |
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons is located in Aurora, Colorado.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Colorado.
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons is in the Fitzsimons neighborhood of Aurora.
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons is legally operated by State Of Colorado, and administered by Raenell Lynn Simmons.
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons has a walk score of 67. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons's occupancy is 70%.
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons is registered as a for-profit in CO.
Raenell Lynn Simmons is the administrator of Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons.
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons has 180 beds.
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