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.
Clara City Care Center is city-owned and small, 48 beds, which in a lot of towns means everyone knows someone who's stayed there. The federal numbers tell a rougher story. Inspectors have cited 12 deficiencies on the current record, three of them at the harm or jeopardy level, and the most recent inspection was April 2026. Staffing sits well below the national average, and so do the health inspection results, while the quality measures look more ordinary. That split matters: how a place scores on paper for resident outcomes can look fine even when the hands-on care and the survey record don't. One fine, $13,260. Worth asking the administrator directly what's changed since the last visit.
Fairway View Neighborhoods is city-owned, and the staffing shows it: 4.84 nurse hours per resident day, about a quarter above the national average, with turnover at 28.1% against a national 45.8%. Weekends run roughly 13% thinner than weekdays, so care can look different depending on when you visit. The harder reading comes from inspections, a two-star health inspection rating, nine deficiencies on record including one at the harm level and two tied to abuse, with the most recent inspection in May 2025. Quality measures sit at one star. Strong staffing is real here, but the inspection record is what a family should ask about directly.
Bigfork Valley Communities runs on unusually deep staffing for a 40-bed hospital-district home, 6.04 nurse hours per resident day against a national average near 3.86. Turnover sits at 26.7%, well under the 45.8% national figure, so the people caring for residents tend to stay. Weekend coverage dips about 19% from weekday levels, which is worth asking about directly. The inspection record shows 10 deficiencies, none tied to harm or abuse, and the most recent survey was in December 2025. Quality measures land mid-range, which is the one area where the numbers don't stand out.
The state-run veterans home in Fergus Falls runs leaner than most on staffing churn, 27.2% turnover against a national 45.8% means the aides and nurses who show up tend to stick around, and 5.17 nurse hours per resident day sits well above the 3.86 average. Weekends dip about 10% below weekday coverage, so that cushion isn't perfectly flat.
The trouble is inspections. Five deficiencies on record, including two at the harm or jeopardy level and two tied to abuse, plus a $23,520 fine. The most recent inspection came in May 2026, so the record is current. Strong staffing and quality scores, real problems on the health side.
New Richland Care Center runs on a city-government budget with 45 certified beds, and the numbers show real strain. Staff turnover hit 79.3% against a national average of 45.8%, that's most of the workforce cycling out in a year, and it lines up with a 1-out-of-5 staffing rating. Inspectors cited 21 deficiencies on the current record, including four tied to abuse and one serious enough to put a resident in harm's way, plus a $79,694 fine. The last inspection was March 31, 2026, so the record is recent, not stale. One family-facing note: government ownership doesn't automatically mean better care here.
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?