Families across the nation entrust nursing homes with the health and dignity of their loved ones. Finding the right facility is not just about numbers; it's about ensuring your family member receives the care and attention they deserve.
To support families as they consider their options, Newsweek has partnered with respected global data research firm Statista to create our third annual ranking of America's Best Nursing Homes.
The rankings are based on five data sources, including performance data, peer recommendations, management of the COVID-19 situation and accreditations from The Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. For the first time, resident satisfaction data for nursing homes, based on National Safety Goals from The Joint Commission and Google Scores, has been added to the scoring model.
We hope this ranking is helpful in making elder care choices for yourself or your family.
For the first time, this ranking includes nursing homes with 100-149 beds, in addition to nursing homes with more than 150 beds like in previous years.
LICENSING
If your facility was listed in the ranking, click here to learn more about the licensing options.
METHODOLOGY
America's Best Nursing Homes 2024 highlights the nation's top 750 nursing homes out of 12,273 analyzed. The rankings are based on five data sources: performance data, peer recommendations, management of the COVID-19 situation, resident satisfaction and accreditations. Nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest number of facilities, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS, 2023) were considered in the study. Included are single branches of nursing homes with at least 100 certified beds, which are not part of the Specialty Focus Facility (SFF) program.
Statista used Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data to determine the performance of nursing homes. For peer recommendations, Statista invited thousands of medical experts (registered nurses, nursing home managers and administrators, licensed practical nurses / licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, therapists and physicians) to an online survey. Additionally, experts from all over the U.S. could participate in the survey of the America's Best Nursing Homes by State on newsweek.com. Email verification was required and self-recommendation was not possible. The survey data was collected from June to July 2023. Statista and Newsweek calculated a COVID-19 score for each facility, using CMS data, to identify nursing homes which have had the best possible response and protocols during the pandemic. For the first time, resident satisfaction data for nursing homes, based on National Safety Goals from The Joint Commission and Google Scores, has been added to the scoring model. As an additional element, accreditations from The Joint Commission (TJC) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) have been included in the scoring model (where available).
The overall rating is the weighted average of the performance data score 35%, the reputation score 35%, the COVID-19 score 18%, the resident satisfaction score 7% and the accreditation score 5%. The best 750 nursing homes are awarded with a rank in their own state, resulting in 25 individual lists for nursing homes with 100-149 beds and for nursing homes with more than 150 beds.
The rankings are comprised exclusively of nursing homes that are eligible regarding the scope described in this document. A mention in the ranking is a positive recognition based on peer recommendations and publicly available data sources at the time. The ranking is the result of an elaborate process which, due to the interval of data collection and analysis, is a reflection of the last 12 months only. Furthermore, events preceding or following the period August 21, 2022 – August, 21, 2023, and/or pertaining to individual persons affiliated/associated to the facilities were not included in the metrics. The results of this ranking should not be used as the sole source of information for future deliberations. The information provided in this ranking should be considered in conjunction with other available information about nursing homes or, if possible, accompanied by a visit to a facility. The quality of nursing homes that are not included in the rankings is not disputed.
Download the methodology overview here.
Download the extended methodology here.