All states › Colorado › La Jara › Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
39 Calle Miller La Jara, CO 81140 · Conejos County
CMS certification number 065399 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare 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 Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Colorado average of 3.1.
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 3.44 hours per resident per day at Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, about the same as the Colorado median of 3.47 (US median: 3.72). About 0.70 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.08 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 46.9% of nursing staff left within a year (Colorado median 46.6%). 2 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare 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 April 22, 2026 and found 12 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 40 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 40 citations at Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center across 6 inspection dates, 6 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on November 6, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (10) and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (9). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections" (tag F0690, level J, November 6, 2025). 9 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 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.
April 22, 2026 · 12 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EHonor the resident's right to choose his or her attending physician.
EPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
EProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DImplement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
November 6, 2025 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
July 24, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from separation (from other residents, his/her room, or confinement to his/her room).
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
March 26, 2024 · 7 citations
EObserve each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
EImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide or obtain dental services for each resident.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
November 20, 2019 · 15 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FConduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
FSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
FGive their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
EGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
EHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
EProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
ERespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
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.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DProvide care by qualified persons according to each resident's written plan of care.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Questions to ask on a tour of Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on November 6, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 4, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- 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
2 penalties in the last three years, including $54,946 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2025 | Fine | $39,163 |
| Mar 26, 2024 | Fine | $15,783 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 0.2 mi
-
15.2 mi
San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center AlamosaEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 48m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center › All nursing homes in La Jara ›
Compare Rio Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other Centennial Healthcare nursing homes in Colorado
- Cottonwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Durango · 5 stars
- The Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Mancos · 4 stars
- Trinidad Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Trinidad · 3 stars
- Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Pagosa Springs · 3 stars
- Vista Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Cortez · 2 stars
- River Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Del Norte · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 8 Centennial Healthcare 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.