Nursing Homes

View the most recent results of government surveys of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.

This summary information identifies particular types of problems found in the nursing home. Unless you know the exact name of the nursing home, you may find it easier to search by giving city or county name only. This allows you to review the survey results of all of the nursing homes in the city or county you identify. This web page of the federal Health Care Financing Administration has other useful information, including links to frequently asked questions and a guide for choosing a nursing home.

Nursing Homes are facilities that provide nursing or convalescent care for three or more persons unrelated to the licensee. A nursing home provides long term care of chronic conditions or short term convalescent or rehabilitative care of remedial ailments, for which medical and nursing care are indicated. Most of the residents are older adults who need long term care. Some residents are admitted for short stays of convalescent or rehabilitative care following hospitalization.

All nursing homes must be licensed in accordance with North Carolina State law by the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation Licensure Section (919) 733-1610. There are over 300 nursing homes in North Carolina (list of Nursing Homes).

The Division of Health Service Regulation regulates the number and location of nursing homes within North Carolina through the Certificate of Need program. Nursing homes that wish to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement must be certified in accordance with federal law. These certification inspections are conducted by the Division of Health Service Regulation Certification Section (919) 733-7461. The Division of Health Service Regulation also has a Complaints Investigation Branch which investigates regulatory complaints within nursing homes (919) 733-8499. Facilities that violate licensure rules or the certification standards can be subject to sanctions, including fines. The Division of Health Service Regulation also maintains the North Carolina Nurse Aide I and Health Care Personnel Registry. This new on-line site is designed to assist individuals and facilities who wish to access the Nurse Aide I and Health Care Personnel Registry databases for pre-employment verification of an applicant's credentials.

In addition to the licensure and certification requirements, nursing homes must also honor the Nursing Home Patient's Bill of Rights. These rights are designed to promote and protect the well-being of nursing home residents. While the Division of Health Service Regulation is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance within nursing homes, the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates on behalf of nursing home residents and provides a variety of services and assistance to nursing home residents, families, and providers.

Funding options for nursing home care include: private funding, long-term care insurance, Medicare, and in large part Medicaid. Paying for nursing home care is a major concern for many families as well as the government. Residents and their families pay a substantial part of the cost, which in 1993 averaged about $2,800 per month. Historically, Medicaid has paid for about half of the total cost of nursing home care, with Medicare and private long term care insurance paying but a fraction of the cost. Concerned about the growth of the Medicaid program, there is interest in identifying and supporting ways for individuals and families to accept greater financial responsibility for the cost of long term care. The role of private long term care insurance was discussed in a recent publication of the Division of Aging and Adult Services, Increasing Personal Responsibility for Long Term Care through Private Long Term Care Insurance. There is also interest in alternatives to nursing home care. One such program is the Medicaid Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults (CAP-DA).

People have many questions about nursing home care. We have tried to address some of the most frequently asked questions, but you may have others to ask staff of the Ombudsman Program.

Last updated: January 5, 2009