St. Louis County, Minnesota · Nursing home
Boundary Waters Care Center
5 of 5 overall from CMS
200 West Conan Street, Ely, MN 55731
At a glance
- Overall rating 5 of 5 Above the state average of 3.2
- Nurse time per resident, per day 4.29 hours Above the state average of 4.19
- Nursing staff who left in a year 41.7% Below the state average of 42.2%
- Health citations, last 3 inspection cycles 11 None at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years None None listed by CMS
- Certified beds in use 75.0% of 38 beds, on an average day
Arrows only show whether a figure is above or below the state average. They are not a judgment of the home.
Boundary Waters Care Center is a 38-bed nursing home in Ely, Minnesota (St. Louis County). CMS rates it 5 of 5 stars overall as of Sep 2026. It reports 4.29 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, above the Minnesota average of 4.19. CMS lists no fines in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 38
- Residents per day (average)
- 28.5
- Certified since
- 1967 (59 yrs)
Non profit - Corporation Participates in Medicare and MedicaidPart of Health Dimensions Group (10 homes)
Bed use is this site's calculation: average residents per day divided by certified beds. It is an average, so it does not show today's openings.
Terms used on this page
- CMS
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that publishes the ratings, staffing figures, inspection results and penalties shown here.
- Certified beds
- The number of federally certified beds CMS lists for the home.
- Deficiency or citation
- A federal requirement that inspectors found the home did not meet. Each one gets a letter from A to L for how serious it was and how many residents were affected. What the letters mean
- Actual harm
- Letters G, H and I: actual harm to a resident that is not immediate jeopardy.
- Immediate jeopardy
- Letters J, K and L: the problem caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident.
- Inspection cycle
- A standard inspection plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to it. This page shows the three most recent cycles.
- Special Focus Facility (SFF)
- A home CMS has placed under closer oversight because of its inspection record. More about the program
Questions to ask Boundary Waters Care Center
Chosen from this home's public data.
- Reported nurse staffing is 3.61 hours per resident on weekends against 4.29 overall. Who covers Saturdays and Sundays?Weekend staffing in CMS data
- What is the daily private-pay rate, and are Medicaid beds available now?CMS does not publish prices
- Can we visit at a mealtime and again on a weekend?General
More in what to ask on a nursing home tour.
CMS star ratings
- Overall 5 of 5 Minnesota average 3.2
- Health inspections 5 of 5 Minnesota average 2.8
- Staffing 5 of 5 Minnesota average 4.1
- Quality measures 5 of 5 Minnesota average 3.1
The vertical line marks the Minnesota average. Ratings run from 1 to 5. How to read CMS star ratings
Nurse staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, as the home reported to CMS.
What these roles do
Nurse aides give most hands-on daily care, such as help with bathing, dressing and meals. Licensed practical nurses give medications and routine nursing care. Registered nurses assess residents and direct their care.
- All nursing staff 4.29 h Minnesota average 4.19
- Nurse aides 2.61 h Minnesota average 2.52
- Licensed practical nurses 0.38 h Minnesota average 0.61
- Registered nurses 1.30 h Minnesota average 1.06
- All staff, weekends 3.61 h Minnesota average 3.71
How much nurse staffing is enough? All bars share one scale, 0 to 10 hours. The vertical line marks the Minnesota average; the national average for all nursing staff is 3.86 hours.
- Nursing staff turnover41.7%
- Minnesota average42.2%
- Registered nurse turnover36.4%
- Minnesota average38.6%
- Administrators who left0
Quality measures
CMS calculates these from residents' assessments and Medicare claims. They are shown as published, next to the Minnesota and national averages. marks the measures CMS uses in its quality star rating; for those, the rating gives more points for a lower rate.
Long-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | 13.8% | 18.2% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | 4.3% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | 1.0% | 1.9% | 0.8% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | 0.0% | 2.6% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | 0.0% | 4.1% | 12.8% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | 3.6% | 4.0% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 100.0% | 97.4% | 93.6% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | 5.1% | 20.5% | 14.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | 8.4% | 12.5% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 100.0% | 96.1% | 95.5% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | 26.8% | 24.5% | 19.0% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | 7.6% | 17.1% | 15.4% |
| ★ Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days | Too few residents or stays to report | 1.61 | 1.90 |
| ★ Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days | Too few residents or stays to report | 1.90 | 1.78 |
Short-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 100.0% | 88.1% | 82.0% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | 0.0% | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 95.7% | 82.7% | 79.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission | Too few residents or stays to report | 23.5% | 23.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit | Too few residents or stays to report | 14.8% | 12.0% |
Measure periods: April 2025 to March 2026 for most measures; July 2024 to June 2025 for the flu vaccine measures; January to December 2025 for the hospital and emergency department measures, which CMS risk-adjusts. See the measures on Medicare.gov
Inspection history
Inspectors cited 11 health deficiencies in the three most recent inspection cycles. None was graded as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
| Standard inspection | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2025 | 0 | 2 |
| Oct 16, 2024 | 5 | 6 |
| Jan 25, 2024 | 6 | 8 |
Minnesota homes averaged 7.1 health deficiencies in the latest cycle; the national average is 9.2. Each cycle's health count covers the standard inspection on that date plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to that cycle.
Health citations, three most recent inspection cycles (11)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
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.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 18, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 18, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide 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.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 18, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 18, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 18, 2024)
Show 6 more
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 24, 2024)
-
EPotential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 24, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 24, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 24, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 24, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 24, 2024)
What severity letters A to L mean
Each sentence above is the requirement that was not met, in CMS's wording. For the inspection results as Medicare publishes them, open this home's page on Medicare.gov and look under "Health inspections".
Penalties, past three years
CMS lists no fines or payment denials for this home in the past three years.
Minnesota homes averaged 0.8 fines and $24,507 in fine amounts; the national averages are 0.9 and $30,972.
Cost
Not in the public data. CMS does not publish what a nursing home charges.
Ask the home for its daily private-pay rate and whether a bed is open for your coverage. See what Medicare covers and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.
Compared within Minnesota
- Size296 of 338 by certified beds
- Minnesota average residents per day60.3
- ChainHealth Dimensions Group
- Chain average overall rating3.2 of 5
- Resident or family councilResident
- Homes in St. Louis County17
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Boundary Waters Care Center?
Boundary Waters Care Center has an overall rating of 5 of 5 stars from CMS as of Sep 2026. Its health inspection rating is 5, staffing is 5 and quality measures is 5.
How many beds does Boundary Waters Care Center have?
Boundary Waters Care Center has 38 certified beds. It averages 28.5 residents per day, about 75.0% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Boundary Waters Care Center?
The home reports 4.29 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 1.30 hours from registered nurses. The Minnesota average is 4.19 hours and 1.06 hours from registered nurses.
Has Boundary Waters Care Center been fined?
CMS lists no fines for this home in the past three years.
Does Boundary Waters Care Center accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare and Medicaid". Ask the home whether a bed is open for your coverage.
Guides for families looking at this home
- Understanding the recordWhat to ask on a nursing home tourQuestions that turn a home's public record into a useful conversation when you tour, plus what to look for yourself.
- Understanding the recordInspection severity letters A to LHow inspectors grade each deficiency by harm and by how many residents were affected.
- Understanding the recordHow to read CMS star ratingsWhat the overall, health inspection, staffing and quality measure ratings cover, and what they leave out.
Nearest nursing homes
- 5 of 5 Essentia Health Northern Pines Medical Center 33beds 95.2%in use 3.67nurse hours a day
- 4 of 5 Cook Hospital & Care Center 28beds 78.9%in use 4.46nurse hours a day
- 5 of 5 Essentia Health Virginia Care Cent 40beds 41.5%in use 5.08nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in St. Louis County
Who to call in Minnesota
These offices serve residents of every nursing home in Minnesota.
- Long-term care ombudsman Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (OOLTC) 1-800-657-3591 (Also 651-431-2555. Calls answered 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday. TDD/TTY: 711. Email MBA.OOLTC@state.mn.us; fax 651-431-7452.) An advocate for residents and their families.
- File a complaint about a nursing home Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) 651-201-4200 (Email: health.ohfc-complaints@state.mn.us. MDH directs suspected maltreatment of a vulnerable adult (abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, unexplained injury) to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC), 844-880-1574 (toll free).) The state agency that inspects nursing homes.
Minnesota staffing, bed-hold and Medicaid rules · Residents' rights in every state
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026. CMS Certification Number 245138. See this home's official record on Medicare.gov
See something shown incorrectly? Tell us. This site shows each record as CMS publishes it and cannot change the underlying record.