Birchwood Arbors
State licensed750 1ST ST NE, Forest Lake, MN 55025
Assisted Living
Assisted living & personal care24-hour supervisionMedication management
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Prices not published
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Medicare-certifiedSkilled Nursing
Birchwood Health Care Center
Forest Lake, MinnesotaMedicare inspection record
About Birchwood Health Care Center
Birchwood Health Care Center brings skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to Forest Lake, Minnesota families who need dependable recovery care. Our experienced team focuses on helping patients regain strength and independence through personalized treatment plans designed for each person's unique goals.
Community at a glance
Capacity
100 residents
Location
Forest Lake, MN
Status
Listed in a public registry
Care & services offered
Skilled Nursing
Contact & location
604 1ST STREET NE, Forest Lake, Minnesota 55025
Medicare inspection record
From CMS Care Compare, the federal record every Medicare-certified nursing home is held to. Data as of September 1, 2026. Check it on Medicare.gov
At its most recent standard inspection, on June 12, 2026, state inspectors cited 11 health deficiencies (the Minnesota average is 7.1).
Nurses and nurse aides spend 3 hours 51 minutes with each resident a day, below the Minnesota average of 4 hours 11 minutes.
Medicare fined Birchwood Health Care Center 4 times in the last three years, $139,646 in total.
Staffing
| Measure | This home |
|---|---|
| Nurse and aide time per resident, per day | 3 hours 51 minutesBelow the Minnesota average |
| Registered nurse time per resident, per day | 47 minutesBelow the Minnesota average |
| Nursing staff who left in the past year | 38%Below the Minnesota average |
1 administrator has left the home in the past year.
Inspections
38 health citations in the last three years. Each one is a federal standard inspectors found the home was not meeting.
June 12, 2026 · Standard inspection · 7 citations
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Immediate danger to residents, a few residents (level J)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Jun 11, 2026Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Infection ControlCorrected Jul 28, 2026Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Jul 28, 2026Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Jul 28, 2026Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Jul 28, 2026Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected Jul 28, 2026Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Minimal harm or risk, a pattern (level B)Resident RightsCorrected Jul 28, 2026
May 6, 2026 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Jun 11, 2026
December 19, 2025 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlFrom a complaintCorrected Jan 23, 2026
November 13, 2025 · Complaint investigation · 2 citations+
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Immediate danger to residents, a few residents (level J)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintAlready fixed by Nov 9, 2025Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Jan 9, 2026
April 10, 2025 · Standard inspection · 5 citations+
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected May 27, 2025Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected May 27, 2025Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlCorrected May 27, 2025Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected May 27, 2025Ensure 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.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nutrition and DietaryCorrected May 27, 2025
February 9, 2024 · Standard inspection · 14 citations+
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 11, 2024Have 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.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, widespread (level F)Nursing and Physician ServicesCorrected Mar 11, 2024Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, widespread (level F)Nursing and Physician ServicesCorrected Mar 11, 2024Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, widespread (level F)Nursing and Physician ServicesCorrected Mar 11, 2024Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, widespread (level F)AdministrationCorrected Mar 11, 2024Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Infection ControlCorrected Mar 11, 2024Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlCorrected Mar 11, 2024Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Mar 11, 2024Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 11, 2024Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 11, 2024Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 11, 2024Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 11, 2024Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Mar 11, 2024Post nurse staffing information every day.
Minimal harm or risk, widespread (level C)Nursing and Physician ServicesCorrected Mar 11, 2024
January 10, 2024 · Complaint investigation · 6 citations+
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Residents were harmed, a few residents (level G)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 3, 2024Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 3, 2024Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 3, 2024Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nursing and Physician ServicesFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 3, 2024Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 3, 2024Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 3, 2024
January 4, 2024 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 3, 2024
December 6, 2023 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and ExploitationFrom a complaintCorrected Dec 27, 2023
Fines and payment denials
4 fines totaling $139,646 and 1 Medicare payment denial in the last three years.
- May 6, 2026Payment denial, 14 days
- May 6, 2026Fine: $90,790
- November 13, 2025Fine: $10,519
- February 9, 2024Fine: $29,234
- January 4, 2024Fine: $9,103
About the home, per Medicare
- Ownership
- Non profit - Corporation
- Legal business name
- Senior Care Forest Lake, LLC
- Medicare-certified beds
- 100
- Average residents per day
- 84
- Accepts
- Medicare and Medicaid
- First certified
- December 1, 1974
- Part of a chain
- Lifespark, 4 homes
- Inside a hospital
- No
- Continuing care retirement community
- No
- Resident or family council
- Resident
- Sprinklers in all required areas
- Yes
- CMS Certification Number
- 245200
Location
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604 1ST STREET NEForest Lake, MN 55025
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Questions about Birchwood Health Care Center
How did Birchwood Health Care Center do on its last inspection?+
State inspectors visited on June 12, 2026 and cited 11 health deficiencies, 4 of them from complaint investigations. The Minnesota average is 7.1.
How much nursing care does each resident get at Birchwood Health Care Center?+
Nurses and aides spend 3 hours 51 minutes with each resident per day, including 47 minutes from registered nurses. 38% of nursing staff left over the past year.
Has Birchwood Health Care Center been fined by Medicare?+
Yes. Medicare fined Birchwood Health Care Center 4 times in the last three years, totaling $139,646.
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing?+
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing per benefit period after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay — fully for the first 20 days, then with a daily copay. Long-term custodial stays are generally not covered.
How much does a nursing home cost?+
A semi-private room averages about $7,900 per month nationally; private rooms cost more. Medicaid is the largest payer for long-term nursing home care.
What is the CMS star rating?+
Medicare rates nursing homes 1 to 5 stars on its Care Compare site. We don't repeat those stars here. Each nursing home page shows Medicare's underlying record instead: inspections, staffing and fines, with a link to check it on Medicare.gov.