Nursing homes: a guide for families
Nursing homes provide 24-hour supervision and nursing care. This guide explains short and long stays, how they are paid for, and how to check inspection records.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026
General information only. This guide is not medical, legal or financial advice. Talk with a physician, and with an elder-law or financial professional where money or legal papers are involved, about your own situation.
What a nursing home provides
A nursing home is a residential setting with nurses and aides on duty at all hours. Medicare describes long-term care in a nursing home as help with daily activities for people who cannot be cared for at home.
- Nursing care and help with medicines
- Help with bathing, dressing, eating and moving around
- Therapy services in many homes
- Meals and housekeeping
Short-term rehab and long-term stays
Some people stay for a few weeks of rehabilitation after a hospital stay; others live in a nursing home long term because they need care around the clock. The same building often serves both, so ask which kind of stay a home is set up for.
How stays are paid for
How a stay is paid for depends on why the person is there. Medicare can cover a limited skilled nursing stay after a qualifying hospital stay. Long-term stays are paid privately, through long-term care insurance, or by Medicaid for people who qualify.
Reading ratings and inspection reports
Nursing homes that take Medicare or Medicaid are inspected, and the results are public. Medicare's Care Compare shows star ratings, staffing levels and inspection findings, so you can see what inspectors found and when.
- Look at the most recent inspection and whether problems were corrected
- Compare staffing information with other homes nearby
- Treat star ratings as a starting point, not the whole picture
Questions to ask
Ask these on a visit, and write the answers down.
- How many nurses and aides are on duty during the day, at night and on weekends?
- How is a resident's care plan made, and how often is it reviewed with the family?
- How does the home handle a change in condition or a trip to the hospital?
- Which services cost extra? Ask for the list in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Medicare can cover a limited stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay, when daily skilled care is needed. It does not pay for long-term custodial care, which is help with daily tasks. Medicaid may cover long-term nursing home care for people who qualify under their state's rules.
Medicare's Care Compare tool shows star ratings, staffing information and inspection results for nursing homes that take Medicare or Medicaid. Ratings are one input; a visit and your own questions matter too.
Every state has a long-term care ombudsman program that helps residents and families with questions and complaints about care. The service is free.
Sources
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