Western Hills Health Care Center
Western Hills Health Care Center – Medicare Certified Since 1985
Western Hills Health Care Center is a Medicare and Medicaid certified skilled nursing facility located in Lakewood, Colorado. This facility has been serving the community for 41 years. A Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility provides 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitation services, and assistance with activities of daily living for patients who need skilled nursing or rehabilitation services on a daily basis.
This facility has 140 certified beds with a current occupancy rate of 64% (averaging 90 residents per day), which is below average. Skilled nursing facilities provide 24-hour nursing care for patients who need rehabilitation services after a hospital stay or ongoing care for chronic conditions. Services include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and assistance with daily activities.
Staffing Levels: Based on CMS payroll data, this facility provides approximately 3.55 hours of total nursing care per resident per day (2.05 hours from CNAs, 0.79 hours from LPNs, 0.71 hours from RNs). Physical therapy staffing is 0.07 hours per resident per day.
Medicare Quality Ratings: According to CMS, Western Hills Health Care Center has an overall quality rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes nationwide. Individual category ratings are: health inspection: 4 stars, staffing: 3 stars, quality measures: 5 stars.
Medicare Coverage: Medicare covers skilled nursing facility care for up to 100 days following a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 days. Days 1-20 are fully covered by Medicare, days 21-100 require a daily coinsurance payment. Many residents also use Medicaid, private insurance, or pay privately for long-term stays.
Questions to Ask: When visiting a nursing home, ask about: staff-to-resident ratios and RN coverage around the clock, how they handle medical emergencies, activities and therapy programs, how they communicate with families, their approach to falls prevention, and policies for managing resident complaints.
Visit Medicare Care Compare to view detailed ratings, inspection reports, staffing data, and compare this facility with others in the area.
Quality ratings and facility data are updated periodically by CMS. We recommend verifying current information at Medicare Care Compare.
Local Comparison Snapshot
How Western Hills Health Care C... compares to 89 facilities in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
Click a measure name to jump to details • Hover over ⓘ for definitions
Data from CMS Medicare Compare and Payroll-Based Journal. Area averages based on 89 facilities in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO.
Ratings and staffing data typically reflect the most recent quarterly reporting period available.
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Medicare Star Ratings
Official CMS ratings based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures
Data as of December 2025
Star Ratings History
Quarterly performance from 2013-2026
How Does This Facility Compare?
Compared to 89 other nursing homes in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
Based on CMS Medicare star ratings. Higher ratings indicate better performance.
Staffing Hours per Resident Day
Staffing data from CMS Payroll-Based Journal. Higher hours generally indicate more direct care time.
Staff Turnover Rate
Lower turnover rates generally indicate a more stable workforce and better continuity of care.
Agency/Contract Staff Usage
Lower agency usage often indicates better staff retention. High agency rates (>30%) may suggest staffing challenges.
Agency Staff Trends
Historical agency/contract staff usage by role
Data from CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ). Agency % = contractor hours / total hours.
Direct Care Staffing
Average minutes of direct nursing care per resident per day
Data as of December 2025
Staffing Trends
Direct care minutes per resident per day
Occupancy Rate History
Average daily residents as a percentage of certified beds
Data from CMS Provider Info files. Occupancy = Average Residents per Day / Certified Beds.
Staff Turnover History
Annual percentage of nursing staff who left the facility
Data as of December 2025
Data from CMS Payroll-Based Journal. Turnover = staff who left during the year / total staff.
Average Daily Rate
Average daily charge for care at this facility
Based on CMS Cost Report data (inpatient revenue ÷ total patient days)
Data Source: Financial data from CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Cost Reports. Data typically lags 1-2 years. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for financial or care decisions. CareListings does not guarantee accuracy.
Financial Health
Comprehensive financial indicators from CMS Cost Reports
Data from fiscal year 2023 (most recent available - cost report data lags ~2 years)
Staff Investment: Higher spending per resident often correlates with better care quality.
Payer Mix: Shows revenue sources. Higher Medicare % typically means more post-acute/rehab care; higher Medicaid % indicates more long-term care residents.
Nonprofit/Government: May operate with lower margins while still providing quality care due to community mission.
Data Source: All financial data on this page comes from CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Cost Reports submitted by the facility to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for any financial or care decisions. Cost report data typically lags 1-2 years. CareListings does not guarantee the accuracy of this data.
Who Stays Here
Breakdown of residents by payment type
Based on fiscal year 2023 cost report data
Average Length of Stay
How long residents typically stay at this facility
Based on fiscal year 2023 cost report data
Services
Comprehensive skilled nursing services, rehabilitation programs, and medical care in LAKEWOOD
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Find Jobs Near MeReviews
The staff is caring and professional. My mom is getting great care here from the nursing staff, the CNA’s, the Physical Therapists and the Occupational Therapists. The Case Worker has also been a terrific help in overseeing her getting-back-home plan. Some of the food selections are excellent - the egg salad sandwich, Rueben sandwich and meat loaf dinner are tasty examples. Modernizing the beds and linens would be a good addition to the excellent staff and the many food options.
My family member recently stayed at Western Hills Health Care Center, and I can honestly say it was a much better experience than anything we had seen elsewhere. From the moment we walked in, the facility felt welcoming and clean, and the staff treated us like family. The nurses and caregivers went above and beyond to make sure my loved one was comfortable, safe, and cared for. Any questions I had were answered right away, and the open communication gave me real peace of mind. The rehab team worked closely with my family member, and the progress we saw in just a short time was incredible. Compared to other facilities we visited, nothing came close to the level of professionalism, kindness, and attention to detail that Western Hills offered. My family member wasn’t just another patient here — they were truly cared for with respect and compassion. I would highly recommend Western Hills Health Care Center to anyone looking for a place where their loved one will receive excellent care. It really does stand above the rest.
I’ve stayed in a few rehabs and this one made me feel like they really cared. I have to say there were a couple of issues, but I went to someone to solve those issues and they were very understanding and took care of it for me. The night time CNAs are just amazing! They would come and check on me and if I needed anything, they were right there! The daytime CNAs were good but I think they are so busy that sometimes it would take awhile for them to answer. The therapy staff are just wonderful! They would work with me and always give me the attention I needed. They have activities that patients can go to, which is something a lot of other places don’t have! They even have Karaoke! The food is pretty good! I loved the grilled fish! 😊 if I ever have to go to rehab again I will chose Western Hills, above any other place !!
My grandmother had a delightful time staying here! The staff treat residents with the respect, dignity, and patience they deserve and I think that speaks volumes. After touring several other facilities, I can say with certainty that not everyone is operating with this level of engagement in their care. All of the staff I interacted with here went out of their way to accommodate my grandmother. It’s so difficult to replicate the comforts of home in a nursing home, but allowing the staff to bring their dogs in does just that. The dogs (all very well behaved in my experience) bring so much life and joy to the building, giving residents a belly to rub and a reason to smile. Such a brilliant idea. She said the food was always great while she was there and I am so grateful for the quality of care she got. Hospitality at western hills is not a goal, it is a culture. Thank you to your team for operating with such consideration and integrity!!
My father-in-law was placed at Western hills for a short time. Due to his health, he needed to transfer to the hospital. However, from the very first phone call I made, the staff was responsive, sincere and genuinely interested in meeting his needs. During his short stay, we engaged with nursing staff, physical therapy, scheduling for upcoming appointments, the social worker and the director. Everyone was so responsive and helpful. Knowing that the staff cared so much and paid attention to detail, provided such peace of mind. I would highly recommend other families to reach out to this facility when looking for care for a loved one.
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