How to compare nursing homes
Reviewed by the KELN editorial team
Last updated:
There is no single best nursing home for everyone. The best nursing homes for one family are the ones that meet a resident's care needs, are close to visitors, and have a solid record.
A simple checklist
- Make a shortlist by city on KELN. Note the overall and health inspection stars.
- Check staffing. Higher nurse hours per resident and lower turnover are generally better.
- Look at fines. Repeated or large fines can signal serious problems.
- Note ownership and chain. Some families prefer to know who operates a home.
- Confirm Medicare and Medicaid certification matches how care will be paid for.
- Visit at different times of day, including a meal time.
- Read inspection reports on Medicare.gov Care Compare.
Questions to ask
See staffing and what to ask for a list of questions.