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Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence

All states › Colorado › Aurora › Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence

1600 S Potomac St Aurora, CO 80012 · Arapahoe County

(303) 750-8418

All 11 nursing homes in Aurora, CO (8 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 120 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 065266 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Colorado average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 13 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 2 out of 5; for long-term residents, 4 out of 5. Those results differ a lot, so ask about the unit your family member would be on.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

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Compare with the 3 closest homes

Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.86 hours per resident per day at Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence, above the Colorado median of 3.47 (US median: 3.72). About 0.73 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.37 hours, 13% below its all-week average. 29.9% of nursing staff left within a year (Colorado median 46.6%). That is lower than most homes in Colorado, a sign of a steadier team.

Nursing care per resident per day 3.86 hours
Above the Colorado median of 3.47 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.73 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.37 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 29.9% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 14.3% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds120
Residents per day 98 About 81% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceOctober 1989
Part of a chainLife Care Centers of America
Legal business nameDENVER HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS, LLC

Paying for care at Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence: Medicare and Medicaid

Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Colorado's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on May 1, 2025 and found 6 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 13 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 13 citations at Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence across 6 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 13 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (5) and infection control (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function" (tag F0605, level E, May 1, 2025). 5 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

July 30, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 4, 2026)

March 4, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 10, 2026)

December 9, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0744 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 7, 2026)

May 1, 2025 · 7 citations · includes complaint inspection

EPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0605 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 14, 2025)

EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0761 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 14, 2025)

DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0600 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 14, 2025)

DProtect each resident from separation (from other residents, his/her room, or confinement to his/her room).

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0603 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 14, 2025)

DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 14, 2025)

DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0759 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 14, 2025)

DEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0887 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 14, 2025)

September 14, 2023 · 1 citation

EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 26, 2023)

June 30, 2022 · 2 citations

EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 30, 2022)

DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0550 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 30, 2022)

Questions to ask on a tour of Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence

  1. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on July 30, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  2. CMS rates short-stay quality 2 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
  3. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  4. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 4/5 4/5 4/5 3/5
August 2026 4/5 4/5 4/5 3/5
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Location

Hospitals near Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Advanced Health Care of Aurora Aurora · 0.3 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 54 beds
Life Care Center of Aurora Aurora · 0.9 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 166 beds · Medicaid
The Springs at St. Andrew's Village Aurora · 1.4 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 2/5 58 beds
Hampden Hills Post Acute Aurora · 2.5 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 2/5 218 beds · Medicaid
University Heights Care Center Aurora · 2.7 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 4/5 105 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence ›   All nursing homes in Aurora ›

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Other Life Care Centers of America nursing homes in Colorado

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 194 Life Care Centers of America nursing homes ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/colorado/aurora/garden-terrace-alzheimers-center-of-excellence/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.