facebook tracking Briarwood Health Care Center, Denver CO: CMS Ratings
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Briarwood Health Care Center

All states › Colorado › Denver › Briarwood Health Care Center

1440 Vine St Denver, CO 80206 · Denver County

(303) 399-0350

All 23 nursing homes in Denver, CO (22 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 201 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 065255 · 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 Briarwood Health Care Center 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 Briarwood Health Care Center as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Colorado average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 25 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 1 penalty, including $9,110 in fines, in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 3 out of 5; for long-term residents, 5 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.

Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.97 hours per resident per day at Briarwood Health Care Center, above the Colorado median of 3.47 (US median: 3.72). About 0.62 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.60 hours, 9% below its all-week average. 41.4% of nursing staff left within a year (Colorado median 46.6%). 2 administrators left in the past year.

Nursing care per resident per day 3.97 hours
Above the Colorado median of 3.47 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.62 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.60 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 41.4% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 26.7% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 2 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds201
Residents per day 87 About 43% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceFebruary 1989
Part of a chainLife Care Centers of America
Legal business nameLIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.

Paying for care at Briarwood Health Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid

Briarwood Health Care Center 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 July 14, 2026 and found 9 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 25 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 25 citations at Briarwood Health Care Center across 4 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on May 9, 2023. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (13) and resident rights (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide and implement an infection prevention and control program" (tag F0880, level J, May 9, 2023).

July 14, 2026 · 9 citations

EProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0695 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

EMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Environmental Deficiencies · Tag F0919 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0578 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0628 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0685 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0693 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0698 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0842 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 13, 2026)

July 16, 2025 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection

GEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.

Actual harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0760 · Complaint inspection · Past Non-Compliance

October 3, 2024 · 4 citations

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 (Oct 27, 2024)

DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0695 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 27, 2024)

DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0698 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 27, 2024)

DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Environmental Deficiencies · Tag F0919 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Oct 27, 2024)

May 9, 2023 · 11 citations, includes immediate jeopardy

JProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Immediate jeopardy · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 7, 2023)

FSet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0867 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 2, 2023)

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 1, 2023)

DProvide care by qualified persons according to each resident's written plan of care.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0659 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 31, 2023)

DEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0676 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 2, 2023)

DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0677 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 31, 2023)

DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0679 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 1, 2023)

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 2, 2023)

DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0688 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 2, 2023)

DEnsure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · Tag F0712 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 2, 2023)

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 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 1, 2023)

Questions to ask on a tour of Briarwood Health Care Center

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on May 9, 2023 under the rule on infection control. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
  3. The home averages about 43% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
  4. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  5. 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

1 penalty in the last three years, including $9,110 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Jul 16, 2025 Fine $9,110

Rating history

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

Hospitals near Briarwood Health Care Center

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

Health Center at Franklin Park Denver · 0.5 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 86 beds · Medicaid
City Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Denver · 0.6 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 2/5 125 beds · Medicaid
Denver North Care Center Denver · 0.9 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 4/5 82 beds · Medicaid
Uptown Care Center Denver · 1.1 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 5/5 79 beds · Medicaid
City Scape Rehabilitation & Care Center Denver · 2.4 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 3/5 60 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Briarwood Health Care Center ›   All nursing homes in Denver ›

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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/denver/briarwood-health-care-center/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.