All states › Minnesota › Ely › Boundary Waters Care Center
200 West Conan Street Ely, MN 55731 · St. Louis County
CMS certification number 245138 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Boundary Waters 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 Boundary Waters Care Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the Minnesota average of 3.2.
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 4.07 hours per resident per day at Boundary Waters Care Center, below the Minnesota median of 4.18 (US median: 3.72). About 1.17 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.42 hours, 16% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 38.9% of nursing staff left within a year (Minnesota median 39.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Boundary Waters Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Boundary Waters 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 Minnesota'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 December 11, 2025 and found 0 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 11 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 11 citations at Boundary Waters Care Center across 2 inspection dates. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 11 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (6) and resident rights (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times" (tag F0809, level F, October 16, 2024).
October 16, 2024 · 5 citations
FEnsure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
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.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident.
January 25, 2024 · 6 citations
FKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Questions to ask on a tour of Boundary Waters Care Center
- Weekend staffing is 16% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- 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
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Boundary Waters 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.
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0.1 mi
Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital ElyEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 40m 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
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Other Health Dimensions Group nursing homes in Minnesota
- Frazee Care Center · Frazee · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 10 Health Dimensions Group 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.