Nursing Homes in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder has 4 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 506 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.5 stars, which is above Colorado's state average of 3.1 stars. 1 facility earns a B grade or better and is recommended for family consideration.
Compare 4 nursing homes · data
See the 1 recommended nursing homeWorth Considering
1
Facilities graded A or B that meet our quality standards
City Average
+0.36 vs state
Total Beds
506
across 4 facilities
High Risk Facilities
2
0 under CMS review
1 with abuse citations
Nurse Availability
44 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Well Staffed
2
exceed staffing threshold
50% of facilities
Zero Fines
passed all inspections
✓ Start your search here
Trend
0
improved vs last year
0 declined
Top Rated in Boulder
Boulder Canyon Health And Rehabilitation
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Boulder Canyon Health And Rehabilitation
★★★★★ · 80/100 · 140 beds
Frasier Meadows Health Care Center
★★★★★ · 73/100 · 54 beds
Boulder Post Acute
★★★★★ · 16/100 · 162 beds
Winding Trails Post Acute
★★★★★ · 0/100 · 150 beds
Showing 1–4 of 4 facilities
All 4 Nursing Homes in Boulder
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Fines · Deficiencies · Ownership Data · Quality Comparisons
About Nursing Home Care in Boulder
In Boulder, CO, the nursing home market presents families with limited options. The standout is Frasier Meadows Health Care Center, which, despite receiving $83K in fines, maintains a clean record for quality care. However, overall, the market is concerning, with only two out of four facilities meeting acceptable standards. Families should be cautious when considering where to place their loved ones.
When exploring facilities, Frasier Meadows Health Care Center is worth a visit for its well-staffed environment, although its fines raise questions about oversight. On the other hand, Boulder Post Acute is a facility to keep on your radar, as it offers some decent services despite its troubled history. However, be prepared for potential shortcomings. Overall, families may want to consider facilities outside Boulder, as the options here are limited.
It’s crucial to avoid Boulder Post Acute due to serious abuse citations and a troubling Grade F rating. Similarly, Winding Trails Post Acute has racked up $102K in fines and also carries a Grade F. Visiting any facility, always ask tough questions about staffing levels and care practices to ensure your loved one will be safe and well cared for.
Boulder at a Glance
Good News
- • 1 facility with clean records—no fines in 3 years
- • Boulder rates better than most Colorado cities
- • 1 community-run facility (non-profit)
- • 2 facilities have more nurses than required
Be Aware
- • 2 facilities have serious problems—check before visiting
- • Some facilities have less nurse time than recommended
- • 1 facility with abuse citations
What's Changing
- → 4 facilities stayed the same
- ★ Overall: Boulder is stable
Questions Boulder Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?
CMS recommends 0.75 hrs; Boulder avg is 0.74 hrs (44 min)
Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?
1 of 4 Boulder facility has zero fines
What were your most recent inspection findings?
Ask for specifics—2 local facilities have serious deficiencies
What is your staff-to-resident ratio on weekends?
Weekend staffing often differs from weekday levels
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado's Boulder County seat, has 4 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 506 beds. Families have good options, with many facilities exceeding state averages.
Boulder vs. Colorado: Above Average Quality
Boulder nursing homes outperform the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 3.50 stars exceeds Colorado's statewide average of 3.14 stars by 0.4 stars—a meaningful difference that suggests stronger local standards.
1 of 4 facility earns a B grade or better, giving families good options. While 2 facilities still warrant caution, the overall picture is positive for Boulder families.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Boulder, 1 facility scores a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Staffing: A Significant Concern in Boulder
Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.
Boulder facilities average 0.74 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Boulder resident receives approximately 44 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.
2 Boulder facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.
Ownership: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit
Boulder has 1 non-profit nursing homes and 3 for-profit facilities. 3 of 4 facilities are chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.
Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.
Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering
Families may also want to consider nearby Colorado cities for additional options. The following Colorado cities offer multiple nursing home options:
- Denver — 23 facilities
- Colorado Springs — 20 facilities
- Lakewood — 13 facilities
- Aurora — 11 facilities
- Pueblo — 9 facilities
- Fort Collins — 8 facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes are in Boulder, Colorado?
Boulder has 4 Medicare-certified nursing homes with a total of 506 beds. The city average CMS rating is 3.5 stars, which is above Colorado's state average of 3.1 stars.
What are the best nursing homes in Boulder?
Based on our Trust Score analysis of CMS inspection data, the top-rated nursing homes in Boulder include:
- • Boulder Canyon Health And Rehabilitation — Grade B+, 80/100 Trust Score
- • Frasier Meadows Health Care Center — Grade B, 73/100 Trust Score
- • Boulder Post Acute — Grade F, 16/100 Trust Score
These facilities have strong inspection records and staffing levels.
Which Boulder nursing homes should I avoid?
We flag 2 facilities in Boulder as high-risk based on patterns of serious deficiencies, substantial fines, or placement on CMS's Special Focus Facility list. These facilities are marked with warning indicators in our listings above.
We recommend avoiding facilities with: Grade D or F, recent "Immediate Jeopardy" citations (indicating serious harm or risk to residents), or those on CMS's Special Focus Facility list.
The Bottom Line on Boulder Nursing Homes
Boulder offers above-average nursing home options compared to the rest of the state. Focus your search on the 1 facility graded A or B, particularly those with zero fines and strong staffing. Avoid the 2 high-risk facilities flagged in our analysis.