Mt Baker Care Center

Name: Mt Baker Care Center
Address: 2905 CONNELLY AVENUE, Bellingham, WA, 98225, US
Telephone: 3607344181

2905 Connelly Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 · Whatcom County · 70 certified beds · avg 57 residents/day · certified since Apr 1, 1991

Part of chain: REGENCY PACIFIC MANAGEMENT (27 facilities, chain avg rating 3.9★)

5/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

4.45

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★★★★★5/5 · CMS overall rating: 5/5

The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.

All citations in the current public record (20)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
May 12, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft to the proper authorities quickly enough, or did not report the results of its investigation. · from a complaint
Jan 7, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · from a complaint
Jul 2, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility gave residents unnecessary mind-altering (psychotropic) medications, or used drugs in a way that restrained residents by dulling their ability to think, move, or function.
Jul 2, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines.
Jul 2, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.
Jul 2, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents' medications free from unnecessary drugs. Residents should only take medicines they truly need, at the right dose, for a clear reason.
Jul 2, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Apr 12, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own.
Apr 12, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not reassess a resident after a significant change in their condition, such as a sudden decline in health. A full new assessment is required when a resident's condition changes in a major way.
Apr 12, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines.
Apr 12, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide enough food and fluids to keep residents healthy, such as preventing unplanned weight loss or dehydration.
Apr 12, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide care that took into account residents' past trauma or their cultural backgrounds. Care is supposed to be sensitive to what residents have lived through and where they come from.
Apr 12, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Apr 3, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. · from a complaint
Mar 4, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · from a complaint
Jan 7, 2023	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not employ enough qualified food and nutrition staff, including a qualified dietician, to properly run its food service.
Jan 7, 2023	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards.
Jan 7, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not accurately assess a resident's health and needs. Assessments are the foundation for all the care a resident receives.
Jan 7, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication.
Jan 7, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide or arrange dental services for its residents. Nursing homes are responsible for making sure residents can get dental care.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections stayed about the same across the last two inspection cycles (6 → 5).

Year	Citations	Worst severity that year
2023	5	F
2024	8	E
2025	5	D
2026	2	D

Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.

Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)

No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	Washington avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	4.45	4.24	3.95	top 26% in Washington; top 24% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	1.16	0.91	0.69	top 18% in Washington; top 10% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	3.93	3.69	3.50	top 24% in Washington; top 25% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.98	0.67	0.48	top 11% in Washington; top 6% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	41.0	45.1	45.8	top 39% in Washington; top 39% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	22.2	45.4	42.9	top 9% in Washington; top 17% in the U.S.

Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 5.00, RN 1.30, weekend 4.41. Staffing rating: 5/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 5/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 5/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Limited Liability company

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Clay, James	Individual	Direct Ownership Interest	NOT APPLICABLE	07/28/1998
Davis, Odita	Individual	Direct Ownership Interest	NOT APPLICABLE	07/28/1998
Clay, James	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	11/11/2003
Merl INC	Organization	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	12/01/2014
Nightingale Healthcare LLC.	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	12/01/2012
Nightingale Healthcare LLC.	Organization	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/03/2025
Premere Rehab LLC	Organization	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/2023
Reis-Elbara, Catherine	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	04/01/2014
Reis-Elbara, Catherine	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	04/01/2014
Sekeramayi, Floyd	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/2025
Sekeramayi, Floyd	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	01/01/2025
Thomas, Catherine	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/02/2018

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"When abuse or theft is suspected, who do you notify, how fast, and how do you inform the family?"
"How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
"What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
"Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
"How do you prevent bedsores for residents who can't move themselves, and how often are at-risk residents repositioned?"
"How often is each resident's medication list reviewed, and who decides when a drug can be reduced or stopped?"
"Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
"How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection	Flags
Highland Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia	0.9 mi	Bellingham, WA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Rock Hill Health & Rehabilitation	2.6 mi	Bellingham, WA	★★☆☆☆	1/5
Avalon Healthcare Bellingham	4.1 mi	Bellingham, WA	★★★★★	4/5
Alderwood Park Health and Rehab of Cascadia	4.7 mi	Bellingham, WA	★★★★★	4/5
North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation	6.9 mi	Bellingham, WA	★★☆☆☆	1/5	abuse
Soundview Rehabilitation and Health Care INC	15.8 mi	Anacortes, WA	★★☆☆☆	2/5	abuse
Christian Health Care Center	17.4 mi	Lynden, WA	★★★★★	5/5
Life Care Center of Skagit Valley	17.9 mi	Sedro Woolley, WA	★★★☆☆	3/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Bellingham →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 505376.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Mt Baker Care Center

2905 Connelly Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 · 3607344181

Health inspection rating 5/5 · CMS overall 5/5· Fines (3y): $0

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "When abuse or theft is suspected, who do you notify, how fast, and how do you inform the family?"
☐ "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
☐ "What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
☐ "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
☐ "How do you prevent bedsores for residents who can't move themselves, and how often are at-risk residents repositioned?"
☐ "How often is each resident's medication list reviewed, and who decides when a drug can be reduced or stopped?"
☐ "Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
☐ "How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 505376 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)