Every one of the 17 certified facilities here, with its CMS rating, nurse staffing hours and enforcement record. Not a shortlist.
4 of these hold the top CMS rating of five. 7 sit at one. Registered nurse cover averages 0.99 hours per resident per day across the county. That is the number worth comparing, and it is the one families rarely see.
CMS overall rating first. Ties go to higher registered nurse hours.
| Facility | City | Overall | Health | Staffing | RN hrs | Beds | Fines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESSENTIA HEALTH VIRGINIA CARE CENT | Virginia | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2.15 | 40 | $0 |
| Ecumen Lakeshore | Duluth | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1.71 | 60 | $0 |
| Boundary Waters Care Center | Ely | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1.30 | 42 | $0 |
| Essentia Health Northern Pines Medical Center | Aurora | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1.08 | 33 | $0 |
| VIEWCREST HEALTH CENTER | Duluth | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0.74 | 88 | $51,441 |
| Cornerstone Villa | Buhl | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0.65 | 43 | $17,455 |
| Cook Community Hospital C&NC | Cook | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0.00 | 28 | $0 |
| HILLTOP HEALTHCARE REHABILITATION AND SKILLED NURS | Duluth | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.96 | 140 | $168,221 |
| Guardian Angels Health & Rehab Center | Hibbing | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.75 | 65 | $26,481 |
| The North Shore Estates Llc | Duluth | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.62 | 70 | $0 |
| Franciscan Health Center | Duluth | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1.19 | 47 | $0 |
| Aftenro Home | Duluth | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1.00 | 54 | $0 |
| Heritage Manor | Chisholm | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.96 | 65 | $0 |
| BAYSHORE RESIDENCE AND REHABILITATION CENTER | Duluth | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.83 | 140 | $132,398 |
| Benedictine Health Center ⚑ | Duluth | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.80 | 96 | $0 |
| The Waterview Pines LLC | Virginia | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.79 | 83 | $10,036 |
| The Waterview Woods LLC | Eveleth | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.26 | 65 | $55,269 |
⚑ marks a facility CMS cited for abuse.
The overall rating folds together inspections, staffing and quality measures. Inspections carry the most weight.
Staffing hours are the number to read on your own. A five-rated home with thin registered nurse cover is a different place at three in the morning.
Visit before you decide. Go without an appointment. The record here tells you where to look, not what you will find.
| Ownership | Facilities |
|---|---|
| Non profit - Corporation | 8 |
| Non profit - Church related | 3 |
| For profit - Partnership | 3 |
| For profit - Limited Liability company | 1 |
| For profit - Corporation | 1 |
| Government - Hospital district | 1 |
Source: CMS Provider Information (Care Compare), retrieved 3 August 2026.