Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center Ratings and Violations

Nursing facilities play an important role in the U.S. healthcare system. These institutions provide 24/7 access to medical services, ensuring older adults and individuals recovering from certain conditions have the care they need to maintain their quality of life. However, many nursing homes nationwide fail to consistently meet professional standards. These deficiencies can put residents in harm’s way, especially when abuse, neglect, or misconduct occurs. Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center in Pueblo, CO, is one example of a nursing home that has put residents at risk as a result of facility violations.

Victims of nursing home misconduct may have grounds to file civil lawsuits if they suffer significant harm. At the Nursing Home Law Center, we are a team of caring attorneys helping families after nursing home abuse. We know what it takes to build a strong case, fight for fair compensation, and hold the at-fault parties accountable for their actions.

In this guide, we will explore the history of Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center to determine its quality ratings, past deficiencies, and complaints. Then, we will discuss your legal option to sue if you are a victim of (sexual) abuse, neglect, or misconduct at this Pueblo, CO, nursing home.

Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center: Skilled Nursing Facility Profile

Nursing homes across the country are regulated by state entities and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This federal agency publishes information about individual nursing homes on its website. Consumers can find information about location data, past inspection reports, quality ratings, and deficiencies, making it easier to make better care decisions.

Here is some of the latest data about Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center on the CMS website:

Facility Name: Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center (Rock Canyon Healthcare LLC)

Address: 2515 Pitman Pl, Pueblo, CO 81004

CMS Overall Rating: 2 stars (below average)

CMS Health Inspection Rating: 2 stars (below average)

CMS Staffing Rating: 1 star (much below average)

CMS Quality Measures Rating: 5 stars (much above average)

Federal Fines in the Last 3 Years: 4 fines totaling $108,730

Denied Payments by Medicare in the Last 3 Years: 0 payment denials

Cited for Abuse: Yes

SFF: No

About Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center in Pueblo, CO

Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center is a skilled nursing facility located in Pueblo, CO. This nursing home offers short-term rehabilitation and long-term care programs. It has 151 certified beds and is managed by The Ensign Group. The Ensign Group is a for-profit limited liability company and a long-term care corporate group. This nursing home is within a continuing care retirement community, but is not connected to a hospital.

If you become a resident at this nursing facility, you can take advantage of the following services and amenities:

• 24/7 skilled nursing services
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Wound care and healing
• Neurological condition support
• Pulmonary programs
• Memory care
• Alzheimer’s care
• Daily living assistance (eating, bathing, dressing, etc.)
• Discharge planning

• Nutrition planning
• Social excursions
• Recreational activities
• Physical activities
• Religious programs
• Private and semi-private rooms

Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center CMS Ratings, Violations, and Health Care Safety Inspections

One of the most important duties of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is rating individual institutions. The CMS created a five-star rating system for all nursing homes in the United States. Each facility is rated on three main categories: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. These categories are then combined into a final, overall score for the nursing home. The scale for this rating system is as follows:

• One star – Much below average
• Two stars – Below average
• Three stars – Average
• Four stars – Above average
• Five stars – Much above average

Based on this scale, Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center has a wide range of scores. It has the lowest possible staffing score but the highest possible quality measures score. Even so, each category has deficiencies that may have put residents at risk. In the sections below, we will examine the three main categories at the institution to understand why its CMS ratings place it among the poorly rated nursing homes in Colorado.

Health Inspections (Two Stars)

Health inspections are a regular part of nursing home operations. They typically occur annually or every other year and are conducted by state inspectors. However, inspections can also be initiated in response to complaints about a facility.

The most recent health inspection report on this facility, conducted in June 2025, resulted in seven health citations against the nursing home. Since October 2024, two complaint inspections have been performed at the facility. In the last three years, 97 complaints have resulted in health citations. During the same period, five facility-reported issues have had similar outcomes.

Specific violations mentioned in these health inspection reports include the failure to:

• Protect each resident from all types of abuse, such as physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect
• Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident’s ability to function
• Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and improve the resident’s range of motion (ROM) and limited mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason
• Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program
• Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality
• Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident
• Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors
• Provide enough food and fluids to maintain a resident’s health
• Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and that there is sufficient supervision to prevent accidents
• Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees
• Provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube
• Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable
• Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia

• Safeguard resident-identifiable information and maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards
• Honor the resident’s right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights
• Honor the resident’s right to a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely
• Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason
• Provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged
• Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards
• Ensure that medication error rates are not five percent or greater
• Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident’s bathroom and bathing area
• Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities
• Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing
• Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed
• Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders and the resident’s preferences and goals
• Provide activities to meet all residents’ needs
• Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services
• Provide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with a mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident, and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift
• Honor the resident’s right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal, and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances
• Ensure that drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles
• Make sure there is a pest control program to prevent or deal with mice, insects, or other pests

Staffing (One Star)

Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center performed the worst in this category. Staffing is crucial for a well-run nursing home, as a shortage of employees can mean the residents are not receiving the care they need.

Here are some deficiencies related to staffing at this Pueblo, CO, nursing home:

• 130.3 average residents per day, compared to the state average of 72.2 and the national average of 84.3, indicating a need for a larger nursing staff
• 2 hours and 58 minutes of total nurse staff hours per resident per day, compared to the Colorado average of 3 hours and 42 minutes and the national average of 3 hours and 54 minutes
• 33 minutes of registered nurse hours per resident per day, compared to the state average of 51 minutes and the national average of 41 minutes
• 44 minutes of licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse hours per resident per day, compared to the national average of 52 minutes

• 1 hour and 41 minutes of nurse aide hours per resident per day, compared to the state average of 2 hours and 11 minutes and the national average of 2 hours and 21 minutes
• 2 hours and 35 minutes of total nursing staff hours per resident per day on the weekend, compared to the Colorado average of 3 hours and 15 minutes and the national average of 3 hours and 25 minutes
• 21 minutes of registered nurse hours per resident per day on the weekend, compared to 37 minutes in Colorado and 28 minutes nationally
• A total nursing staff turnover rate of 50.9%, compared to the state average of 49.4% and the national average of 46.4%

Quality Measures: Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care (Five Stars)

This category assesses the quality of services provided at the nursing home. Although five stars is a very good score from the CMS, there are still numerous deficiencies worth mentioning. Let’s start with the short-stay measures:

• 4.25% of short-stay residents experienced new or worsened pressure ulcers, compared to the national average of 2.32%, indicating a pattern of nursing home wound care issues
• 44.44% of short-stay residents were at or above an expected ability to move around at discharge, compared to the national average of 50.5%
• 4.29% of healthcare providers were up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, compared to the national average of 7.1%
• 37.32% of short-stay residents successfully returned to their home or community, compared to the national average of 50.57%
• 8.73% of short-stay resident infections resulted in hospitalization, compared to the national average of 7.12%, demonstrating a failure to address infection control in nursing homes

Some deficiencies have put residents at risk in the long-term care programs at this institution as well, such as:

• 1.71 hospitalizations per 1,000 long-stay resident days, compared to the Colorado average of 1.34
• 22.2% of long-stay residents received antipsychotic medication, compared to the state average of 18.8% and the national average of 14.4%, raising questions about the facility’s improper use of chemical restraints
• 1.1% of long-stay residents have had a catheter inserted and left in their bladder, compared to the state average of .9%, demonstrating concerns about nursing home catheter-associated infections
• 30% of long-stay residents experienced new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence, compared to the state average of 23.2% and the national average of 20.2%
• 6.3% of long-stay residents lost too much weight, compared to the Colorado average of 5.2% and the national average of 5.4%, which could be a sign of the nursing home’s failure to provide adequate nutrition
• 8% of long-stay residents had symptoms of depression, compared to the state average of 7.2%, raising questions about the probability of nursing home psychological abuse
• 15.8% of long-stay residents received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication, compared to the state average of 11.2%, alluding to a potential issue with nursing home medication policy failures

Residents’ Legal Rights Following Abuse or Neglect at Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center

Nursing homes are supposed to be places of care, respite, and safety for adults with medical needs. For this reason, state and federal laws grant residents certain rights that the staff must uphold, including:

• The right to receive high-quality care
• The right to maintain a dignified existence
• The right to be treated with respect
• The right to self-determination in medical care
• The right to file administrative complaints without fear of reprisal

Various laws in Colorado and the United States protect all these rights and others. A violation of these rights, or any other form of misconduct that causes harm, can open the nursing home and its staff up to a civil lawsuit. If you are a victim of misconduct or mistreatment at this Pueblo nursing home, you can pursue legal action to recover fair compensation and hold the at-fault parties responsible for your legal damages.

A Colorado nursing home abuse lawyer from our firm can help you fight for a settlement to cover the following economic and non-economic losses:

• Lost income – Employees who are injured or recovering from surgery may spend time in a nursing home, and if they suffer further harm due to misconduct or negligence, they can apply for lost wages during their claim
• Medical expenses – If the harm you suffered resulted in medical costs like emergency room visits, surgical procedures, pain medications, assistive devices, rehabilitation, or therapy, these expenses can be included in your settlement
• Future medical bills – If a licensed medical professional testifies about your need for ongoing treatment, future medical expenses can increase your case value
• Emotional distress – The psychological impact of the incident can increase your compensation package, especially for conditions like anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and suicide ideation
• Pain and suffering – Abuse may lead to physical pain from your injuries, affecting the final value of your claim
• Disability and disfigurement – If you experience permanent alterations to your appearance or abilities, they may be considered a non-economic loss in your lawsuit
• Loss of enjoyment of life – An inability to experience joy the same way after the incident may increase the size of your settlement
• Punitive damages – Additional compensation may be awarded in a case involving gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or institutional cover-ups

How Nursing Home Law Center Can Help Protect Nursing Home Residents

When a facility that is supposed to provide care harms you, holding the responsible parties accountable is crucial. Navigating the claims process on your own can be challenging, but the Nursing Home Law Center can increase your chances of securing compensation so you can focus on recovery.

A Pueblo nursing home neglect attorney can provide the following legal services during the claims process:

• Conducting an investigation of Rock Canyon to uncover wrongdoing
• Gathering evidence of negligence, such as witness statements, medical records, and surveillance footage
• Assessing all legal damages to pursue maximum compensation
• Protecting your rights under state and federal statutes
• Negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement
• Litigating in civil court if a settlement cannot be reached

When our attorneys provide legal assistance to survivors of nursing home misconduct, we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means you owe no legal fees unless we win your claim, and payment is deducted right from the settlement. Additionally, you can take advantage of a free consultation to ask questions about senior living rights, what constitutes appropriate treatment, and signs of abuse in older patients.

If you or a family member has suffered at the hands of this Pueblo, CO, nursing home, contact us today at 800-926-7565 or complete the online form to schedule a free consultation.

All content undergoes a thorough legal review by our experienced attorneys.

Jonathan Rosenfeld is a leading Chicago nursing home injury lawyer with 25 years of experience focused on elder abuse litigation. Recognized for his dedication, he has received recognition from Illinois Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates, and Super Lawyers.