Avalon Healthcare Bellingham
Nursing Home Facility
3121 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225
St. Francis Bellingham has proudly served the community of Northwest Washington for 25 years. We offer a safe, friendly environment that residents can call home or enjoy visiting for short-term physical therapy Bellingham.
Operated by Avamere, which runs 41 communities in our directory.
With 105 beds, Avalon Healthcare Bellingham is one of the larger communities in the area, senior care communities in Bellingham average about 35 beds. Larger communities more often keep clinical staff on site around the clock and can offer a wider range of on-site therapy and activities, though some families prefer the quieter feel of a smaller setting.
Federal reporting puts occupancy at about 63% of its licensed beds, so availability is more likely here than at busier communities nearby. That is below the Bellingham average of roughly 78%.
Medicare rates this community 5 out of 5 stars overall, a score based on health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Communities in Bellingham average about 3.7 stars. Its most recent standard health inspection was in December 2025 and recorded 10 deficiencies.
Residents receive about 4.5 hours of nursing care per day on average, including 1.2 hours from a registered nurse. Communities in Bellingham average about 4.1 hours. Nursing staff turnover over the past year was about 52%.
The community is located in Whatcom County, WA.
Inspection record
In its last three standard inspections and any complaint visits, federal inspectors cited 29 problems at Avalon Healthcare Bellingham. 2 findings involved harm to a resident. 7 came from investigating complaints by residents or families.
In the last three years Medicare fined this home once, a total of $32,298.
Findings from the most recent inspection cycle
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Pharmacy Service
Ensure 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.
Show 2 more
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Infection Control
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Infection Control
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
A citation on its own does not mean poor care, and most are corrected within weeks. What matters most is how serious the findings were and whether the same problems keep coming back. When you visit, it is fair to ask the administrator what inspectors found and what has changed since.
Avalon Healthcare Bellingham offers assisted living, nursing home care, and senior living.
Facility details
- Organization type for-profit corporation
- Beds / units 105
- Occupancy 63%
- Nursing hours per resident/day 4.5
- Annual staff turnover 52%
- Last health inspection December 2025
Resident & family reviews
My father was placed there for a month last year over the Holidays. When he went in he had full use of his legs, seldom used a cane, never a walker. He was admitted because of depression, he had just lost his second wife and also had a bladder infection. He was left in his bed or a wheel chair for the majority of the time, they seldom got him up. He waited for help to the bathroom sometimes for 45 minutes. They wouldn't allow him to do this on his own because they said he was a fall risk and he needed a two person assist. My dad feels that because they wouldn't walk with him and didn't start therapy for a few weeks that he sat way too much and his legs deteriorated drastically. He said it wasn't until his last 10 days that they really did any RT. Ever since then his legs haven't been the same. He left using a wheel chair, and was able to move up to a walker because he worked out in the gym so regularly but his legs have never been the same.
by Sally, Dec 2012