Life Care Center of Hilo
944 West Kawailani Street, Hilo, HI 96720
5 out of 5 in Medicare’s overall rating
Summary
Life Care Center of Hilo is a nursing home in Hilo, Hawaii, in Hawaii County. According to Medicare (CMS), it has 252 certified beds and it cares for an average of 230 residents a day. It is certified by Medicare and Medicaid since 1993. It is a privately owned, for-profit home. It belongs to Life Care Centers of America, an organization with 194 nursing homes. It reported to Medicare that it has a unit for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias (68 beds). Residents’ families have an organized family council, a good way to learn what life is like there. It has 5 out of 5 stars in Medicare’s overall rating. The closest hospital with an emergency room is Hilo Benioff Medical Center, about 2.9 miles away in a straight line.
What it offers
- Alzheimer's and dementia unit or beds
- Yes, 68 beds
- Resident council
- Yes, residents have an organized council
- Family council
- Yes, families have an organized council
- Residents on the day of the last inspection
- 227 (176 on Medicaid and 11 on Medicare), on December 1, 2023
- Owners (organizations)
- Sak Jr LLC (25%); Sbk LLC (25%)
Public data from CMS — Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Form 671), 2nd quarter of 2026, CMS — Nursing Homes: Provider Information, CMS — Ownership, September 30, 2026. Confirm the details when you call.
Medicare ratings
Medicare (CMS) rates certified nursing homes from 1 to 5 stars. Life Care Center of Hilo has 5 out of 5 in the overall rating.
- Overall
- 5/5
- Health inspections
- 4/5
- Staffing
- 4/5
- Quality measures
- 5/5
- Long-stay residents
- 5/5
- Short-stay residents (rehab)
- 5/5
Star ratings are a useful reference, not a final verdict: it’s best to visit, meet the staff and ask your questions. Source: CMS, September 1, 2026.
Key facts
- Ownership
- For-profit (corporation)Part of Life Care Centers of America (194 nursing homes)
- Certification
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Resident or family council
- Resident council
- Certified since
- June 1, 1993
- CMS certification number (CCN)
- 125040
What certification means. A certified nursing home meets the federal requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to receive payments from Medicare, as a skilled nursing facility, or from Medicaid, as a nursing facility. Federal rules require it to have enough nursing staff 24 hours a day, and the state agency inspects it without advance notice. Medicare covers only short stays for skilled care (nursing or therapy), usually after an inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days, for up to 100 days per benefit period. For long stays, ask whether your family member qualifies for Medicaid.
Services and features
Life Care Center of Hilo hasn’t shared information about its services, prices, languages or availability yet. When you call, ask who they serve, what the rate includes, whether any staff speak Spanish and whether they have an opening now. Use our checklist.
Questions to ask when you call
Marisol’s tip: a ten-minute call clears up a lot. Keep these questions handy and write down the answers so you can compare with other places.
- Do you have a bed available now, and for what kind of stay: rehab after the hospital or long-term care?
- Do you accept Medicaid from admission, or only after a period of private pay? Do you take my relative’s Medicare plan?
- Is there staff who speaks Spanish on every shift, including nights?
- What therapies do you offer (physical, occupational, speech), and how many days a week?
- How do you keep the family informed, and when is the care plan meeting?
- What are the visiting hours, and can several family members visit at once?
Location and what’s nearby
The map loads as you scroll.
- Address
- 944 West Kawailani Street, Hilo, HI 96720Hawaii County
- Closest hospital with an emergency room
- Hilo Benioff Medical Center1190 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo · 2.9 miles in a straight line · source: CMS Hospital General Information
Ask which hospital they send residents to and who goes with them.
Medicare inspections
Like every certified nursing home, Life Care Center of Hilo gets regular inspections that the state carries out on Medicare’s behalf. We show you the public summary so you have the full picture. Each place can tell you how it works and what improvements it has made: it’s a good conversation to have during your visit.
- Last standard inspection
- July 2, 2026 · 8 deficiencies cited
- Fines (last 3 years)
- 1 · $8,492
See the full reports on Medicare Care Compare. Source: CMS, September 1, 2026. Do you run this nursing home? Add your information so families can learn about your work.
Who to call in Hawaii
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman
- Hawaii Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii State Department of Health). A free, confidential service that advises residents and families of nursing homes and assisted living and helps resolve concerns with the facility.(888) 229-2231 · Official website
- Free Medicare counseling (SHIP)
- Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program (Hawaii SHIP). They explain what Medicare covers and how to compare plans, without selling insurance.(888) 875-9229 · Official website
- Medicaid (Med-QUEST (QUEST Integration))
- Hawaii Department of Human Services – Med-QUEST Division. Long-term care programs: QUEST Integration – long-term services and supports (LTSS).(800) 316-8005 · Official website
- Licensing and inspections
- Hawaii State Department of Health – Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA), Medicare Section.Look up a license
- Services for older adults
- Hawaii Executive Office on Aging – Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).(808) 643-2372 · Official website
- Eldercare Locator (nationwide)
- A free national line that connects you with your local Area Agency on Aging.(800) 677-1116 · Official website
Contact information checked against official sources on October 15, 2026. These are free public services; hogaresparamayores.com is not affiliated with them.
Official data and sources
- CMS — Nursing Homes: Provider Information, updated September 30, 2026
See a mistake? Let us know and we’ll fix it. Being listed in an official registry doesn’t mean hogaresparamayores.com knows or recommends the place.
Frequently asked questions
Does Life Care Center of Hilo accept Medicaid?
Where is Life Care Center of Hilo located?
What is Life Care Center of Hilo’s Medicare rating?
What hospital is near Life Care Center of Hilo?
How much does Life Care Center of Hilo cost?
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