How many people live in nursing homes? As of 2024, there were around 1.2 million residents in nursing homes across the United States. The states with the highest numbers of residents in certified nursing facilities were, by far, California and New York, with over 99,000 and 98,000 residents, respectively. On the other hand, Alaska had the lowest number of nursing home residents. Occupancy rates and recovery The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted nursing home occupancy rates nationwide. Prior to the pandemic, the median occupancy rate for skilled nursing facilities hovered around 80 percent. However, this figure plummeted to 67 percent by 2021. As of July 2024, occupancy rates for certified nursing homes have begun to recover, reaching 77 percent. This gradual increase suggests a slow but steady return to pre-pandemic levels. Quality concerns and financial penalties Despite the crucial role nursing homes play, quality issues persist in some facilities. In 2024, Aspen Point Health and Rehabilitation in Missouri faced 208 substantiated complaints, the highest number nationwide. Financial penalties for serious violations can be severe, as evidenced by the 1.41 million U.S. dollar fine imposed on Siesta Key Health And Rehabilitation Center in Florida over a three-year period. These cases underscore the ongoing challenges in maintaining high standards of care across the industry.

Which state has the most nursing homes? As of July 2024, there were a total of 14,827 certified nursing facilities in the United States, 1,184 of which could be found in the state of Texas, the highest number of all states. In second place was California, with 1,164 nursing homes.

Alaska had the smallest number of nursing homes in the U.S. as of 2014. Alaska had just ** nursing homes that year. This number is still an increase in the number of nursing homes Alaska has had in previous years. Among all U.S. states Alaska also had the highest cost for a private room in a nursing home in 2018.

Nursing homes overview

Nursing homes are healthcare facilities that offer a higher level of care than could be provided through home care or assisted living. Nursing homes in the U.S. offer a variety of health care services for residents. As of 2015, a majority of U.S. nursing homes offered skilled nursing as part of their health programs. The largest sector of nursing home employment is nursing assistants. Nursing assistants provide a majority of the direct patient care in nursing homes in the U.S.

U.S. nursing home facilities

The number of nursing homes in the U.S. has gradually declined in recent years. Despite declining numbers overall, the number of nursing homes owned by for-profit entities has increased. Given the decline in the number of nursing homes in the U.S. in recent years one may expect the number of nursing home beds to have declined. However, the number of nursing home beds in the U.S. has remained relatively stable.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (CEU6562310001) from Jan 1990 to Jul 2025 about nursing homes, nursing, health, education, establishment survey, services, employment, and USA.

The CMS Program Statistics - Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility tables provide use and payment data for skilled nursing facilities.

For additional information on enrollment, providers, and Medicare use and payment, visit the CMS Program Statistics page.

These data do not exist in a machine-readable format, so the view data and API options are not available. Please use the download function to access the data.

Below is the list of tables:

MDCR SNF 1. Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities: Utilization, Program Payments, and Cost Sharing for Original Medicare Beneficiaries, by Type of Entitlement, Yearly Trend MDCR SNF 2. Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities: Utilization, Program Payments, and Cost Sharing for Original Medicare Beneficiaries, by Demographic Characteristics and Medicare-Medicaid Enrollment Status MDCR SNF 3. Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities: Utilization, Program Payments, and Cost Sharing for Original Medicare Beneficiaries, by Area of Residence MDCR SNF 4. Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities: Utilization, Program Payments, and Cost Sharing for Original Medicare Beneficiaries, by Type of Entitlement and Covered Days of Care MDCR SNF 5. Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities: Utilization, Program Payments, and Cost Sharing for Original Medicare Beneficiaries, by Type of Facility and Bedsize MDCR SNF 6. Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities: Distribution of Medicare Covered Skilled Nursing Facility Days, by State of Provider and Major Resource Utilization Groups (RUG)-III (versions 2013-2018 only)

In 2024, the average number of certified nursing facility beds per facility in the United States was *** beds. However, the average number of certified nursing beds in facilities ranged from ** to *** beds, depending on the state. In 2024, nursing homes in Alaska had the least amount of beds, whereas New York had the most.

The compendium contains figures and tables presenting data on all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes in the United States as well as the residents in these nursing homes. A series of graphs and maps highlights some of the most interesting data, while detailed data are available in accompanying tables.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Education and Health Services: Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) in California (SMU06000006562310001SA) from Jan 1990 to Jun 2025 about nursing homes, nursing, health, education, CA, services, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Education and Health Services: Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) in New York (SMU36000006562310001) from Jan 1990 to Jun 2025 about nursing homes, nursing, health, education, NY, services, employment, and USA.

Introduction

Nursing Home Care Statistics: Nursing home care is an essential service that provides long-term medical and personal assistance to elderly individuals who cannot live independently due to physical or cognitive impairments. As the global population ages, there is an increasing demand for skilled nursing services within long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. This demographic shift places substantial pressure on healthcare systems and the infrastructure supporting long-term care.

These facilities face numerous challenges, including staff shortages, escalating operational costs, and the continual need to enhance the quality of care provided. Nonetheless, government programs like Medicaid remain a critical funding source, ensuring that individuals who need assistance have access to necessary care.

These statistics offer an in-depth analysis of the nursing home care sector, highlighting the key factors influencing the market. It explores the financial landscape, regulatory developments, and demographic changes that shape the industry. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of nursing home care, delivering valuable insights for industry professionals and stakeholders.

This dataset provides information gathered in 1973 from facilities providing nursing care to their residents. Nursing homes, their staff, and residents were surveyed. Data from the facility questionnaire include services offered, type of ownership, total number of beds, total number of residents, whether facility participated in Medicare and Medicaid, 1972 admissions, discharges, and deaths, number of patients receiving specific services and treatments, number of physicians, staff hours and payroll, and expenses. The resident questionnaire generated information on each resident's age, race, marital status, date of admission, prior living arrangements, reason for admission, diagnosis, chronic conditions, services received, medication, assistance with daily activities, frequency of doctor visits, and source of payment. The staff questionnaire data include sex, race, occupation, hours worked per week, salary, and education.

The 2004 National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS), conducted between August and December of 2004, was reintroduced into the field after a five-year break, during which time the survey was redesigned and expanded to collect many new data items. All nursing homes that participated in the NNHS had at least three beds and were either certified (by Medicare or Medicaid) or had a state license to operate as a nursing home. The redesigned survey was administered using a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) system and included a supplemental survey of nursing assistants employed by nursing homes, the National Nursing Assistant Survey (NNAS), which was sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (APSE).

The National Nursing Home Survey provides information on nursing homes from two perspectives-that of the provider of services and that of the recipient of care. Data about the facilities include characteristics such as size, ownership, Medicare/Medicaid certification, services provided and specialty programs offered, and charges. For recipients, data were obtained on demographic characteristics, health status and medications taken, services received, and sources of payment.

Data for the survey were obtained through personal interviews with facility administrators and designated staff who used administrative records to answer questions about the facilities, staff, services and programs, and medical records to answer questions about the residents.

The total number of nursing home facilities that participated in NNHS is 1,174 and the total number of nursing assistants that participated in the National Nursing Assistant Survey is 3,017.

As of September 27, 2020, there were around 125 COVID-19 deaths per 1,000 residents in nursing homes in Massachusetts. This statistic illustrates the rate of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes in the United States as of September 27, 2020, by state.

The Nursing Home Cost Report (RHCF) is a uniform report completed by New York nursing homes to report income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and statistics to the Department of Health (DOH). Under DOH regulations (Part 86-2.2), nursing homes are required to file financial and statistical data with DOH annually. The data filed is part of the cost report and is received electronically through a secured network. This data is used to develop Medicaid rates, assist in the formulation of reimbursement methodologies, and analyze trends.

The CMS Program Statistics - Medicare Providers summary tables provide data on institutional (i.e., hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospices, etc.) and non-institutional (i.e., physicians, nonphysicians, specialists, and suppliers) providers. For additional information on enrollment, providers, and Medicare use and payment, visit the CMS Program Statistics page. These data do not exist in a machine-readable format, so the view data and API options are not available. Please use the download function to access the data. Below is the list of tables: MDCR PROVIDERS 1. Medicare Providers: Number of Medicare Certified Institutional Providers, Yearly Trend MDCR PROVIDERS 2. Medicare Providers: Number of Medicare Certified Inpatient Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility Beds and Beds Per 1,000 Enrollees, Yearly Trend MDCR PROVIDERS 3. Medicare Providers: Number of Medicare Certified Facilities, by Type of Control, Yearly Trend MDCR PROVIDERS 4. Medicare Providers: Number of Skilled Nursing Facilities and Medicare Certified Hospitals, and Number of Beds, by State, Territories, Possessions and Other Areas MDCR PROVIDERS 5. Medicare Providers: Number of Medicare Certified Providers, by Type of Provider, by State, Territories, Possessions, and Other Areas MDCR PROVIDERS 6. Medicare Providers: Number of Medicare Non-Institutional Providers by Specialty, Yearly Trend MDCR PROVIDERS 7. Medicare Providers: Number of Medicare Non-Institutional Providers, by State, Territories, Possessions, and Other Areas, Yearly Trend

The purpose of this data collection was to provide a current sampling frame for two portions--nursing and related-care homes and facilities for the mentally retarded--of the Institutional Population Component of the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey. Data include type of ownership of facility, number of beds, age group served, types of persons served, and descriptions of facilities (i.e., skilled nursing home, intermediate care facility, licensed but not certified nursing home, long-term care wing/unit of a licensed hospital, related care facility, and foster home).

The Nursing Home Cost Report (RHCF) is a uniform report completed by New York nursing homes to report income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and statistics to the Department of Health (DOH). Under DOH regulations (Part 86-2.2), nursing homes are required to file financial and statistical data with DOH annually. The data filed is part of the cost report and is received electronically through a secured network. This data is used to develop Medicaid rates, assist in the formulation of reimbursement methodologies, and analyze trends.

In 2017, around 54.1 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes in Florida suffered from depression. This statistic illustrates the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes in the United States with depression in 2017, by state.

The Nursing Home Cost Report (RHCF) is a uniform report completed by New York nursing homes to report income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and statistics to the Department of Health (DOH). Under DOH regulations (Part 86-2.2), nursing homes are required to file financial and statistical data with DOH annually. The data filed is part of the cost report and is received electronically through a secured network. This data is used to develop Medicaid rates, assist in the formulation of reimbursement methodologies, and analyze trends.

The Nursing Home Cost Report (RHCF) is a uniform report completed by New York nursing homes to report income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and statistics to the Department of Health (DOH). Under DOH regulations (Part 86-2.2), nursing homes are required to file financial and statistical data with DOH annually. The data filed is part of the cost report and is received electronically through a secured network. This data is used to develop Medicaid rates, assist in the formulation of reimbursement methodologies, and analyze trends.