Find a nursing home

Common questions about nursing homes

• What is a skilled nursing facility?

  A skilled nursing facility (SNF) — what most people call a “nursing home” — is a state-licensed home where registered nurses and aides provide care around the clock. Some residents come for a short rehab stay after surgery or a hospital visit and go home once they recover; others live there long-term when the care they need is more than a family can safely provide at home. Every home you see here is licensed and certified.

• How is a nursing home different from assisted living?

  A nursing home provides 24-hour medical and nursing care for people with serious health or mobility needs — things like wound care, IV medication, or recovery after surgery. Assisted living is for people who are mostly independent but want help with day-to-day tasks such as meals, bathing, or medication reminders; it does not provide round-the-clock nursing. If your family member is being discharged from a hospital and still needs nursing care, a skilled nursing facility is usually the right place to search.

• How do I find a nursing home near a specific hospital?

  Choose the “Near a hospital” option above and start typing the hospital’s name. Pick it from the list, and we’ll show every nursing home close to that hospital, ranked by distance. This is the fastest way to plan a discharge — you can compare homes near the hospital without knowing the local ZIP codes.

• Is it free to search for nursing homes here?

  Yes. Searching, comparing homes, reading reviews, and viewing official ratings are all free for families. There’s no account required and nothing is hidden behind a form. No facility can pay to rank higher or be featured.

• What do the star ratings mean?

  The stars come from Medicare’s official five-star system, which is built from state health inspections, nurse staffing levels, and quality-of-care measures. It’s the same yardstick for every home in the country, so it’s a fair starting point for comparison. Treat it as a summary, not the whole story — it’s worth reading the underlying inspection details and, whenever possible, visiting in person.