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25 Government-Run Nursing Homes in Minnesota

25 of the 338 Medicare-certified nursing homes in Minnesota (7%) are government-run, and all are listed below. 12 of the 25 graded homes earn an A and 0 earn a D or F. Nurse staff turnover runs 36.9%, 5.3 points lower than the 42.2% across all homes there. Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park grades highest at A (96 out of 100).

How government-run homes in Minnesota compare

This group set against every nursing home in Minnesota, from the current CMS release.

Nursing hours per resident per day

4.66

All homes in Minnesota: 4.19

Better than the local average

Nurse staff turnover

36.9%

All homes in Minnesota: 42.2%

Better than the local average

Average ElderGrade score

81.7/100

All homes in Minnesota: 79.4/100

Better than the local average

Grade spread

A
B
C

12 grade A, 8 grade B, 5 grade C,

The best-graded government-run home in Minnesota is Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, MN, grade A, 96/100.

Every government-run nursing home in Minnesota

Showing 1 to 20 of 25, best-graded first.

A

96/100

Sunnyside Care Center

Lake Park, MN · Becker County

CMS 5/530 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
5.07 /day
Staff turnover
29%
Serious cites
0

Sunnyside runs on county money in a small Becker County town, and the numbers show real investment in direct care: 5.07 nurse hours per resident day, roughly a third more than the national average, with staff staying far longer than is typical elsewhere. Twelve deficiencies on the current record is a lot for a 30-bed home, though, and one of them involved actual harm or jeopardy and another was abuse-related, so the inspection history isn't clean. Weekends also run about 12% thinner than weekdays, which matters when falls and emergencies don't schedule themselves. The last survey came in June 2026.

A

94.5/100

Appleton Area Health

Appleton, MN · Swift County

CMS 3/547 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.81 /day
Staff turnover
34%
Serious cites
0

Appleton Area Health runs on city government ownership and 47 certified beds, and the raw numbers are unusual in one respect: total nurse staffing sits at 4.81 hours per resident day, roughly a quarter above the national average of 3.86. That's a real margin, though the CMS staffing star lands at just 1/5, and weekend coverage drops about 18% below the home's own weekday level, so the daily experience isn't as steady as the annual figure suggests. Turnover at 34% is better than the 45.8% national rate. Thirteen deficiencies sit on the current record with none at harm or jeopardy level, one abuse-related, and the last inspection was April 2026.

A

94.5/100

Pelican Valley Health Center

Pelican Rapids, MN · Otter Tail County

CMS 5/528 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
5.11 /day
Staff turnover
28%
Serious cites
0

Pelican Valley Health Center runs on hospital-district ownership in Otter Tail County, which tends to mean steadier budgets than the for-profit chains. The numbers back that up: 5.11 nurse hours per resident day against a national average of 3.86, with weekend staffing dipping about 19% below weekdays, worth asking about if your family visits on Saturdays. Staff turnover sits at 27.5%, well under the 45.8% national figure, so the people caring for residents are more likely to still be there next year. Seven deficiencies on record, none at harm or jeopardy level and none abuse-related, with the last inspection in March 2026. For 28 beds, that's a clean record.

A

93/100

Grand Village

Grand Rapids, MN · Itasca County

CMS 5/582 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.20 /day
Staff turnover
37%
Serious cites
0

Grand Village is county-owned, which matters less than what the numbers show. Its 4.20 nurse hours per resident day sit about 9% above the national average, and weekend staffing dips only 7% below weekdays, a modest gap that suggests the place doesn't hollow out on Saturdays and Sundays, which is where a lot of homes quietly struggle. Staff turnover of 37.2% is meaningfully below the national 45.8%, so the people caring for residents tend to stick around. The inspection record shows 21 deficiencies with none at the harm or jeopardy level, though one is abuse-related. CMS rated staffing and quality measures 5 out of 5; inspections came in at 3. The last survey was May 2025, so the picture is current.

A

93/100

Mn Veterans Home-Luverne

Luverne, MN · Rock County

CMS 5/585 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
5.24 /day
Staff turnover
21%
Serious cites
0

Nurse staffing at the state veterans home in Luverne runs 5.24 hours per resident per day, roughly a third more than the national average of 3.86, and weekend coverage stays within about 10% of weekday levels, a gap that trips up plenty of homes. Staff turnover is 20.9% against a national 45.8%, so the people providing that care tend to stick around. The trade-off sits in the inspection record: nine deficiencies, including one at the harm level and three tied to abuse. That's worth asking about directly, even with a recent March 2026 inspection and a four-star health inspection rating behind it.

A

91/100

Field Crest Care Center

Hayfield, MN · Dodge County

CMS 5/535 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
5.29 /day
Staff turnover
37%
Serious cites
0

Field Crest is a 35-bed city-owned home in Hayfield, and the numbers suggest it runs with more staff than most places its size. At 5.29 nurse hours per resident day, it sits about 37% above the national average of 3.86, and weekend staffing only dips about 5% below its own weekday level, a small gap compared to what many homes show. Turnover runs 36.8%, better than the 45.8% national figure, which matters for whether you see the same faces on repeat visits. Its record shows one deficiency total, none at the harm level and none abuse-related, with a February 2026 inspection. City ownership and that thin deficiency history together point to a stable, closely watched building.

A

91/100

Parkview Home

Belview, MN · Redwood County

CMS 3/530 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.07 /day
Staff turnover
29%
Serious cites
0

Parkview Home runs on a city/county budget in a town of about 400 people, and its staffing reflects that kind of stability: 4.07 nurse hours per resident day, roughly 6% above the national average, with turnover at 29.2% against a national 45.8%. Weekends thin out about 9% below weekday coverage, which is worth asking about if your family member needs more help on Saturdays and Sundays. The trouble sits on the inspection side, 20 deficiencies on the current record, including one at the harm level and two tied to abuse, plus a $14,521 fine. That mix of strong daily care and serious paperwork problems is what pulls the overall picture down.

A

89.5/100

Green Pine Acres Nursing Home

Menahga, MN · Wadena County

CMS 5/565 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.77 /day
Staff turnover
30%
Serious cites
0

Green Pine Acres is city-owned, which is unusual, and it shows in the staffing numbers. At 4.77 nurse hours per resident per day, it runs about a quarter above the national average, and its staff actually stick around, 30.4% turnover against a national 45.8% means fewer unfamiliar faces on the floor. Weekends do thin out, roughly 17% below weekday coverage, so that's worth asking about directly. Seven deficiencies sit on the current record with none at the harm level, though two are abuse-related, and the last inspection was in January 2026. The quality measure score is the soft spot; staffing and inspections are where this home is strongest.

A

89/100

Viking Manor Nursing Home

Ulen, MN · Clay County

CMS 5/545 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.42 /day
Staff turnover
12%
Serious cites
0

Viking Manor runs on a city-owned model in a small Clay County town, and the numbers show a stable operation. Nurse staffing sits at 3.42 hours per resident day, about 11% under the national average, and weekends dip roughly 13% below its own weekday coverage, so ask how that plays out on a Saturday. What stands out is the workforce: 12.2% annual turnover against a national 45.8% means people tend to stay. Inspections back that up: a 5/5 health inspection rating, five deficiencies on record with none at harm level and none abuse-related, and the most recent inspection in June 2025.

A

88.5/100

Mn Veterans Home-Mpls

Minneapolis, MN · Hennepin County

CMS 3/5341 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
6.21 /day
Staff turnover
n/a
Serious cites
0

The state-run Veterans Home in Minneapolis carries 341 beds and a nurse staffing level of 6.21 hours per resident day, roughly 61% above the national average of 3.86. That's a genuinely high figure, though weekend coverage drops about 11% below its own weekday pace. On its current record: 21 deficiencies, with 2 at the harm or jeopardy level and 1 flagged as abuse-related. The last inspection was April 2025, recent enough to reflect present conditions. High staffing is a real strength here, but the harm-level and abuse-related findings are the kind that matter more than any average. The quality measure rating of 4 out of 5 tracks with better clinical outcomes, yet the deficiency history is what pulls the overall picture down.

A

87/100

Mn Veterans Home Silver Bay

Silver Bay, MN · Lake County

CMS 4/554 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.97 /day
Staff turnover
n/a
Serious cites
0

Minnesota Veterans Home - Silver Bay runs a 54-bed government-owned home where nurse staffing sits at 4.97 hours per resident day, roughly 29% above the national average of 3.86. That's a real margin, though weekend coverage drops about 17% below the home's own weekday level, so care thins out on Saturdays and Sundays. The inspection record shows six deficiencies, including one at the harm or jeopardy level and one tied to abuse. Those carry weight even with strong star ratings and a recent April 2026 inspection, and the federal government is the owner here, not a chain.

A

85.5/100

Whispering Creek

Janesville, MN · Waseca County

CMS 5/535 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.11 /day
Staff turnover
39%
Serious cites
0

Whispering Creek is city-owned, small at 35 beds, and it runs a tight ship. Nurses provide 4.11 hours of care per resident per day, about 7% above the national average, and the health inspection record is spotless at the top CMS rating, with five total deficiencies and none involving harm, jeopardy, or abuse. Staff turnover of 38.5% beats the national 45.8%, which matters for residents who need consistent faces. The one thing to ask about is weekends: staffing drops roughly 19% below the home's own weekday level, so if your family member needs more help on Saturdays and Sundays, that's the gap worth a direct question.

B

83.5/100

Fairview Care Center

Dodge Center, MN · Dodge County

CMS 3/546 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.87 /day
Staff turnover
n/a
Serious cites
0

Fairview Care Center in Dodge Center is county-owned and small, 46 certified beds, and its nurse staffing sits right at the national average, 3.87 hours per resident day, though weekends run roughly 11% lighter than weekdays. The staffing and quality measure ratings both land at 4 out of 5, and the last inspection was recent, January 14, 2026. What pulls the picture down is the inspection record: 26 deficiencies currently on file, one of them serious enough to involve harm or jeopardy to a resident, and four tied to abuse. That combination, solid day-to-day care numbers sitting alongside a heavy survey history, is the whole story here, and it's worth asking the administrator directly how those abuse-related findings were resolved.

B

82/100

Heritage Living Center

Park Rapids, MN · Hubbard County

CMS 3/548 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.87 /day
Staff turnover
49%
Serious cites
0

Heritage Living Center is county-owned and holds 48 beds in Park Rapids, and the numbers behind its grade are mostly steady. Nurse staffing sits at 3.87 hours per resident day, essentially level with the national average, though weekends run about 9% thinner than weekdays, worth asking about if your family member needs care on Saturdays and Sundays. The inspection record is stronger than average, with a recent visit in August 2025 and nine deficiencies, but two of those stand out: one at the harm or jeopardy level and one abuse-related. Staff turnover of 48.9% edges past the national 45.8%, so expect some churn among caregivers.

B

81.5/100

Mahnomen Health Center

Mahnomen, MN · Mahnomen County

CMS 2/532 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.24 /day
Staff turnover
n/a
Serious cites
0

Mahnomen Health Center is city/county-owned with 32 certified beds, and its nurse staffing runs 4.24 hours per resident day, roughly 10% above the national average of 3.86. Weekend coverage dips about 10% below its own weekday level, so the extra hands aren't evenly spread across the week. On inspections, the record shows a 2/5 star rating, 15 deficiencies (none at harm or jeopardy level, but 3 tied to abuse), and one fine of $12,534. The last inspection was March 11, 2026, so the picture is current. Quality measures and staffing both rate 4/5, which is what holds the overall score up despite the inspection history.

B

81.5/100

Cook Hospital & Care Center

Cook, MN · St. Louis County

CMS 4/528 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.46 /day
Staff turnover
n/a
Serious cites
0

Cook Community Hospital C&NC is a small, government-run unit inside a hospital district in St. Louis County, and its record splits in two directions. Inspectors gave it four stars and the last visit was recent, in May 2026, but the current file still carries 11 deficiencies, two of them serious enough to involve harm or jeopardy, plus one tied to abuse. Staffing is the sharper problem: the federal rating there sits at the bottom of the scale, well below what most homes report, while the quality measure score lands at two stars. For a 28-bed home, that combination matters more than the size suggests. If you're considering it, ask directly how nurse coverage works on evenings and weekends.

B

80/100

North Shore Health

Grand Marais, MN · Cook County

CMS 4/537 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.59 /day
Staff turnover
72%
Serious cites
0

North Shore Health runs on more nursing hours per resident than most homes in the country, 4.59 a day against a national average of 3.86, and its most recent inspection, in May 2026, turned up eight deficiencies with none causing harm and none tied to abuse. Those are real strengths, and the county hospital district that owns it isn't under pressure to squeeze margins the way a for-profit chain might be. The catch is retention: 71.8% annual turnover, well above the 45.8% national figure, meaning a large share of the staff delivering those hours is new. Weekend coverage also slips about 14% below weekday levels, so ask how weekends and nights actually run.

B

78.5/100

Johnson Memorial Hospital & Home

Dawson, MN · Lac Qui Parle County

CMS 3/556 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
4.42 /day
Staff turnover
46%
Serious cites
0

Johnson Memorial Hospital & Home runs on a hospital district's budget in a county of about 1,400 people, and it shows in the staffing numbers, 4.42 nurse hours per resident per day, roughly 14% above the national average. Inspectors have been in recently and left 11 deficiencies, one of them serious enough to reach harm or jeopardy, with nothing tied to abuse. The gap worth noticing is between the staffing score and the quality measure score: nurses are present, but the outcomes CMS tracks don't reflect it, and weekend coverage drops about 17% below the home's own weekday level. Turnover sits at 45.8%, dead even with the national figure.

B

78.5/100

North Star Manor

Warren, MN · Marshall County

CMS 4/545 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
5.04 /day
Staff turnover
55%
Serious cites
0

North Star Manor runs on strong nurse staffing: 5.04 hours per resident day, roughly a third more than the national average, and its most recent inspection in August 2025 turned up five deficiencies, none causing harm or tied to abuse. That combination is why inspectors gave it top marks. Two things pull in the other direction. Weekend staffing drops about 18% below its own weekday level, so coverage thins exactly when families tend to visit. And turnover sits at 54.5%, well above the 45.8% national figure, meaning many of the people providing that generous staffing are still learning the building. The city owns it, which may explain the stable funding behind the hours.

B

72/100

Parkview Manor Nursing Home

Ellsworth, MN · Nobles County

CMS 1/537 bedsGovernmentMedicaid
Nurse hours
3.37 /day
Staff turnover
24%
Serious cites
0

Parkview Manor is a city-owned home in Ellsworth with 37 beds, and its nurse staffing sits about 13% under the national average at 3.37 hours per resident day, though weekends dip only 8% below its own weekdays, which is steadier than many places manage. Turnover is the standout: 24% against a national average near 46%, meaning the people caring for residents tend to stay. The tradeoff shows up in the clinical picture. Twenty-one deficiencies are on record, none at harm or jeopardy level and none abuse-related, but the inspection rating sits at 2 out of 5 and quality measures at just 1 out of 5.

Frequently asked questions

How many government-run nursing homes are there in Minnesota?
There are 25 government-run Medicare-certified nursing homes in Minnesota, 7% of the 338 nursing homes there.
Are government-run nursing homes better staffed?
In Minnesota they average 4.66 total nursing hours per resident per day, against 4.19 for all nursing homes in Minnesota, a difference of +0.47 hours. Staff turnover averages 36.9% against 42.2%.
Which government-run nursing home grades best in Minnesota?
Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, MN, grade A, 96 out of 100.
Does being government-run mean a nursing home is safe?
No. Of the 25 graded government-run homes in Minnesota, 12 grade A and 0 grade D or F.
Do government-run nursing homes in Minnesota accept Medicaid?
25 of the 25 are certified to accept Medicaid. See Medicaid and nursing homes.

Before you shortlist in Minnesota