Choosing Where to Go for Nursing Home Care

It’s expected that by the end of the year 3.3 million elderly Americans will be living under nursing home care. This means that of people aged 65 and older, 1 in 7 will live in nursing home care, while 1 in 5 of those over the age of 85 will live under nursing home care. For the millions of Americans requiring such care, it’s important that they know where the best nursing homes in the country are located.

This past January, 3,036 of the nation’s nursing homes received the highest possible rating of 5 stars from the United States’ government. Residents of larger states might not have the best luck finding a quality nursing home, despite the number of choices. For example, Tennessee has over 300 nursing homes, although only about a sixth of those nursing homes received 5 stars from the US government.

California has the most 5-star nursing homes with a staggering 312. Rounding out the top five are Pennsylvania with 160, Illinois with 156, Florida with 141, and Ohio with 137.  5-star ratings are given to nursing homes which excel in State-conducted health inspections, nursing and physical therapy staffing, and quality of medical care.

When choosing a nursing home, you should put the quality of the home at the forefront of your search. Make sure you’re getting your top dollar when it comes to paying for care, as sending a loved one away doesn’t come cheap. If it makes sense to send your loved one further away for better care, make sure it’s at least to a facility you can trust.