Hey everyone, let’s dive into the latest nursing home data for February 2025. As always, I like to take a look at the numbers and see what’s changed from the previous month, and even take a peek back at the bigger picture over the last decade. Think of this as a friendly chat about the state of nursing homes, with a focus on what it all means for residents and their families.
The Big Picture: Slight Shrinkage
First, let’s talk about the overall number of nursing homes. In February, we saw a slight dip. There were 14,782 nursing homes across the country, with a total of 1,577,969 beds. That’s 10 fewer homes and 1,453 fewer beds than in January. Now, these numbers might seem small, but it’s part of a longer-term trend. If we go back to January 2014, there were 15,653 homes and 1,664,730 beds. So, over the past decade, we’ve seen a gradual decrease in both the number of facilities and the total bed count – that’s about 871 fewer facilities and nearly 87,000 fewer beds nationwide.
What does this mean for you? Well, it could mean a few things. Fewer beds could mean fewer choices, and potentially longer waiting lists for some facilities, especially in high-demand areas. It also underscores the importance of doing your research and planning ahead when considering nursing home care. This shrinkage is happening despite our aging population, which suggests that more seniors might be seeking alternative care options like assisted living or home-based care. For families weighing options, it’s worth exploring the full spectrum of senior care, not just traditional nursing homes.
Occupancy: Holding Steady
Occupancy rates are a good indicator of how full nursing homes are. In February, the national average occupancy rate was 77.9%, exactly the same as in January. This suggests that, overall, the demand for nursing home beds is relatively stable. Don’t get too caught up in tiny month-to-month fluctuations; those are often just due to reporting quirks.
It’s worth noting that a 77.9% occupancy rate means roughly 348,000 beds remain unfilled across the country. This might seem surprising given the aging population, but it reflects several factors: the growth of alternative care options, geographic mismatches (too many beds in some areas, not enough in others), and possibly affordability challenges. For families, this means you might have more negotiating power in some markets than you’d expect.
CMS Star Ratings: A Mixed Bag
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses a five-star rating system to help people evaluate nursing homes. Let’s be honest, it’s not a perfect system, but it’s a useful starting point. In February, we saw some movement in these ratings.
393 nursing homes saw their overall rating go up, while 338 saw theirs go down. As of February 2025, here’s the star rating:
- 5 Stars: 2,754 facilities
- 4 Stars: 2,493 facilities
- 3 Stars: 2,841 facilities
- 2 Stars: 3,162 facilities
- 1 Star: 3,423 facilities
- Not Yet Rated: 144 facilities
Looking at these numbers differently, about 35% of nursing homes have a 4 or 5-star rating (what we might consider “above average” or “much above average”), while about 44% have a 1 or 2-star rating (“much below average” or “below average”). The remaining 19% fall into the “average” 3-star category.
It is interesting to compare last month’s numbers:
- 5 Stars: 2,518 facilities
- 4 Stars: 2,584 facilities
- 3 Stars: 2,916 facilities
- 2 Stars: 3,115 facilities
- 1 Star: 3,508 facilities
- Not Yet Rated: 141 facilities
What jumps out immediately is the significant increase in 5-star facilities (236 more) and the decrease in 1-star facilities (85 fewer). This is a positive trend! We also see small decreases in 3-star and 4-star categories, suggesting some movement both up and down the rating scale.
It’s good to see more homes improving their ratings, but it’s also clear that a significant number of facilities are still struggling to achieve higher ratings. What does this mean? When looking for nursing homes last month, you would have had many fewer 5-star options to pick from. This month’s data shows improvement.
For families searching for care, remember that star ratings are just one piece of the puzzle. A facility with a lower overall rating might excel in areas that matter most to your loved one. Always dig into the specific components of the rating – health inspections, staffing, and quality measures – to understand where a facility shines and where it needs improvement.
Inspections: Slow but Steady (Hopefully)
CMS is supposed to conduct health inspections of nursing homes every year. Unfortunately, things have been lagging behind since the pandemic. The February data shows 50 new inspections, which is something, but there are still many homes with inspection results that are over a year old.
Why are inspections important? They’re a crucial way to ensure that nursing homes are meeting safety and quality standards. Delays in inspections mean potential problems might not be caught as quickly.
If you’re considering a nursing home that hasn’t been inspected recently, don’t hesitate to ask the administration about their internal quality control processes. Good facilities maintain rigorous standards even when inspectors aren’t around. You can also request to see their internal audit results or quality improvement plans. Transparency on these matters is often a good sign.
Staffing Levels: A Critical Look
Staffing is probably the most important factor when it comes to quality of care in a nursing home. More staff generally means more attention for residents. The Department of Health and Human Services has been pushing for more registered nurse (RN) time per resident.
Here’s what the February numbers show for average hours per resident per day:
- Registered Nurses (RNs): 0.665 hours (the same as last month; up from 0.650 last year)
- Nursing Aides: 2.320 hours (up slightly from 2.310 last month; and up from 2.260 last year)
- Total Staff: 3.848 hours (the same as last month, up from 3.790 last year)
While we see a slight increase in nursing aide and overall staffing hours compared to last year, the RN hours have remained the same from January, although up slightly from last year. It’s a small positive step. It demonstrates how important it is to ask about staffing levels, especially RN staffing, when you’re evaluating a nursing home.
To put these numbers in perspective, 0.665 RN hours translates to about 40 minutes of RN time per resident per day. The total staffing of 3.848 hours means residents receive, on average, just under 4 hours of direct care daily from all nursing staff combined. Experts often recommend minimum staffing levels of 4.1 hours per resident day, so we’re still falling short of ideal care levels nationally.
When visiting facilities, pay attention to how busy the staff seems. Are call buttons being answered promptly? Do staff members appear rushed or stressed? These observations can tell you a lot about whether a facility is adequately staffed, regardless of what the official numbers say.
What Does It All Mean?
The nursing home landscape is constantly shifting. It’s important to stay informed. Here’s my advice:
1. Plan ahead. The decrease in the number of homes and beds emphasizes the importance of planning ahead when considering nursing home care. 2. Dig deeper than the star ratings. While the CMS star ratings are a helpful tool, dig deeper. Look at inspection reports, staffing data, and talk to current residents and their families if you can. 3. Advocate for better care. The data on lagging inspections and the push for increased RN staffing show that advocacy is still needed. 4.Consider location carefully. With fewer facilities nationwide, the nearest nursing home might not be the best fit. Be prepared to look beyond your immediate area, especially if you’re seeking high-quality care.
5. Visit at different times. Numbers don’t tell the whole story. Visit prospective nursing homes during different shifts and on weekends to see how consistently they maintain their standards of care.
6. Trust your instincts. Data points like star ratings are helpful, but your personal impressions matter too. How does the facility feel? Do residents seem engaged and well-cared for? Does staff interact warmly with residents?
This data is just a snapshot, but it highlights some important trends. The key takeaway? Stay informed, ask questions, and be proactive in your search for quality nursing home care.
Remember, behind all these numbers are real people – both the seniors receiving care and the dedicated staff providing it. The best nursing homes create communities where residents can thrive, not just exist. As you navigate this process for yourself or your loved ones, keep that human element front and center.