The Willows at Howell
1500 Byron Road, Howell, MI 48855
Howell, Michigan · CMS verdict
The Willows at Howell's CMS overall star rating stands at 5 of 5, above the Michigan state average (3.2) and reflecting above-average quality by the federal five-star measure.
The rating and the PlainElderCare Index below summarize federal inspection, staffing, and outcome data, they measure specific, documented dimensions of this facility, not a holistic verdict on the care your family member would receive. Visit in person, talk with staff and current residents' families, and weigh your family member's specific needs before choosing.
The Willows at Howell in Howell, Michigan holds a CMS overall rating of 5 of 5 stars and a PlainElderCare Quality & Compliance Index of 78 of 100 (grade C). The 56-bed facility operates where a semi-private nursing-home room in Michigan runs a median of $11,254 per month. Figures are from CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Quality & Compliance Index (thinner bed book)
At 56 certified beds, this facility sits in the lower U.S. bed tercile (≤80). A transparent composite of this facility's CMS Care Compare sub-ratings and its federal inspection record. It complements, and does not replace, the official CMS overall rating of 5 of 5 stars. How this is calculated.
How the 78 is built
Each segment is a dimension's weighted points toward the score, summing to 78.
Weights: health inspections 30%, staffing 25%, quality measures 25%, inspection record 20%; any dimension CMS has not published drops out and its weight redistributes (no silent deflation). Inspection record is benchmarked against all rated US nursing homes. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
The Willows at Howell's thinner certified-bed book
Quality ratings
On Care Compare (data as of April 2026), The Willows at Howell carries an overall CMS quality rating of 5 out of 5 stars. That figure rolls up three sub-ratings tracked separately: health inspection (4/5), staffing (4/5), and quality measures (5/5).
What each sub-rating measures
The health inspection rating reflects on-site surveyor findings from the last three cycles. The staffing rating compares case-mix-adjusted nurse hours per resident day to national benchmarks, and quality measures aggregate 15 clinical indicators including pressure ulcers, falls with injury, and long-stay antipsychotic use.
Size and setting
Located in Howell, Michigan, this facility operates 56 certified beds with an average daily census of roughly 55 residents - an occupancy rate of about 98%. The facility is classified under for profit - corporation ownership, a designation that can influence staffing patterns, reinvestment decisions, and admissions policy. At roughly 98% occupancy, this facility is running near full capacity, worth confirming current bed availability directly before visiting.
Same-ownership peers
Within Michigan, The Willows at Howell is one of 192 for profit - corporation nursing homes CMS rates. Its 5-star overall rating sits above the for profit - corporation-segment average of 2.9 stars, ahead of roughly 82% of same-ownership peers in the state. Peer comparisons within the same ownership type are more apples-to-apples than a state-wide average, since for-profit, non-profit, and government operators tend to differ systematically in staffing and reinvestment.
Inspection record
On the regulatory side, federal and state surveyors have documented multiple deficiencies at this facility (20 total). CMS has levied no enforcement penalties over the equivalent window. This is a high deficiency count relative to most facilities; requesting the full survey report directly is the only way to see whether these are concentrated in one area or spread across the facility's operations.
Where these figures come from
Figures above come from CMS Nursing Home Compare (Care Compare, data as of April 2026) with state cost medians from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey. See our methodology for vintage.
How The Willows at Howell's upper-tercile stars compare to Michigan
CMS five-star sub-ratings (0–5) for this facility against the Michigan facility-weighted average. Source: CMS Care Compare.
Bar = this facility's rating · vertical marker = Michigan state average. Higher is better on all four CMS measures.
Where The Willows at Howell ranks in Michigan
Among the 420 CMS-rated nursing homes in Michigan, The Willows at Howell’s 5-star overall rating is higher than 75% of them. The bars show how all Michigan homes spread across the CMS 1-to-5 scale; this facility’s band is highlighted.
107 Michigan homes share this 5-star rating. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Facility details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Beds | 56 |
| Residents | 55 |
| Ownership | For profit - Corporation |
| County | Livingston |
| Penalties | 0 |
| Deficiencies | 20 |
Source: CMS Care Compare Nursing Homes (data as of April 2026)
What do families ask most?
What is the quality rating for The Willows at Howell? ▾
CMS rates The Willows at Howell at 5 out of 5 stars overall. The three sub-ratings behind that number: health inspection 4/5, staffing 4/5, quality measures 5/5.
How much does a nursing home cost per month in Michigan? ▾
CareScout's 2025 survey puts Michigan's median semi-private nursing home rate at $11,254 per month ($135,050 per year), with private rooms averaging $11,969 per month.
What services does The Willows at Howell offer? ▾
The Willows at Howell is a skilled nursing facility with 56 beds with approximately 55 current residents. It operates under for profit - corporation ownership. The facility has recorded 20 deficiencies and 0 penalties in CMS inspections.
Does The Willows at Howell have any deficiencies or penalties? ▾
The Willows at Howell has multiple deficiencies (20 total) and 0 penalties recorded by CMS. A count this high is above what most facilities post; ask the facility directly for its plan of correction on the largest findings.
What are the alternatives to a nursing home in Michigan? ▾
In Michigan, alternatives include assisted living ($5,818/mo), home health aides ($6,626/mo), and adult day care ($3,250/mo).
Keep reading
Also see the Michigan elder-care overview and highest-rated states. Provider ID: 235707.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.