Birchwood Health Care Center
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 28 Google reviews
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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Low overall rating (2/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (8 vs median 6.5)
Below average in MN · Meets national RN staffing standard · Best in LIFESPARK chain · $132,781 in fines
What this means for your family
While some residents report positive interactions with specific staff members, the recurring reports of neglect, hygiene failures, and unsafe handling of medical equipment are deeply concerning. We strongly recommend that families conduct unannounced visits and speak directly with current residents or their families to verify the current standard of care before making a decision.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
28 reviews on Google“Birchwood Health Care Center receives highly polarized feedback, with some families praising the staff's kindness and the facility's cleanliness, while others report severe concerns regarding neglect and hygiene. Critical reviews highlight alarming incidents of poor patient care, including hygiene failures and unsafe handling of medical equipment. Potential families should be aware of these significant inconsistencies in care quality and safety standards.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Friendly and attentive nursing staff
- Clean and well-maintained facility
- Effective hospice care support
- Responsive administrative leadership
Concerns
- Neglect of basic hygiene and physical care (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Unsafe medical practices and equipment handling (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Poor communication and language barriers (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 32 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1I've heard wonderful things about how attentive the nursing staff is here; how do you ensure that level of personal care is maintained during shift changes?
- 2What specific steps are in place to ensure medication management is handled with high precision and safety?
- 3How does the facility approach daily hygiene routines and physical care to ensure every resident feels refreshed and well-tended?
- 4Could you tell me more about the communication process between the nursing staff and family members to ensure we are always kept in the loop?
- 5What kind of daily activities or social events are organized to keep residents engaged and active?
- 6In the event of a medical emergency after hours, what is the protocol for immediate response and notifying the family?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The staff are very nice but sometimes communications are hard due to not understanding English.”
“I witnessed a big African nurse aide use a towel to wipe a resident armpits with on their face. Also, another African male aide don’t care to follow the instructions on how to safely use a sit to stand lift.”
“After surgery he was able to walk around by himself but as soon as he was put here they made him lay in bed for the 3 weeks and not do physical therapy when he left could barely walk. They also didn’t bath him for those 3 weeks.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Total nursing hours are below minimum, though RN coverage is adequate. This may mean fewer aides for daily tasks like bathing and mobility.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
13
measures
4
measures
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents on antipsychotic medication
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Families filed multiple complaints triggering 17 deficiencies, including repeated issues with accident prevention, abuse/neglect reporting, and care planning. The facility has struggled with accident hazard prevention (appearing in four separate surveys) and has had recurring problems with infection control and nursing staff competency. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the pattern of repeat violations and frequency of family complaints suggests ongoing quality concerns that warrant careful consideration during your visit.
Dec 19, 2025Complaint1
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Nov 13, 2025Complaint2
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Apr 10, 2025Routine10
Egress Deficiencies
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Egress Deficiencies
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Smoke Deficiencies
Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Apr 10, 2025Complaint1
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Feb 9, 2024Routine18
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Administration Deficiencies
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Egress Deficiencies
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
Smoke Deficiencies
Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have restrictions on the use of portable space heaters.
Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies
Ensure proper storage of liquid oxygen.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Post nurse staffing information every day.
Jan 10, 2024Complaint6
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Nov 13, 2025
$15,940
Fine
Feb 9, 2024
$29,234
Fine
Jan 4, 2024
$9,103
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Birchwood Health Care Center
nonprofit
Chain Affiliation
Lifespark
4 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 1.3/5 · Rank 1 of 4 (Best)
Ownership & Management
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
28 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit birchwoodseniorliving.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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