As the U.S. faces a steady decline in skilled nursing capacity and growing staffing shortages, finding a facility that meets your loved one’s specific medical needs often requires looking beyond your local area.
Here, we’re breaking down the latest nursing homes statistics, including bed availability, staffing, location, and trends in care.
When the right facility is hours or even states away, REVA provides safe, attentive air ambulance flights to help your loved one reach the care they need.
Reach out to us any time to arrange your air ambulance. We’re here to make this transition easier for your family.
Overview of Nursing Homes in the U.S.
How many nursing homes are there in the U.S.?
As of 2022, there were approximately 14,700 nursing homes in the United States.
How many people live in nursing homes in the U.S.?
As of 2022, approximately 1.2 million people lived in nursing homes across the United States.
How many certified beds are in U.S. nursing homes?
As of 2022, there were approximately 1.6 million licensed beds in U.S. nursing homes.
What is the average occupancy rate for nursing homes in the U.S.?
The average occupancy rate for nursing homes in the United States is approximately 79%.
Trends & Industry Changes
How many nursing homes have closed since the COVID-19 pandemic?
Since 2020, nearly 891 nursing homes have closed across the United States, displacing more than 31,000 residents.
Has nursing home staffing instability increased since 2020?
Nursing home staffing instability increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from roughly 14–15% in 2019 to over 20–21% at its peak around 2022, an increase of about 40%.
How did nursing home staffing instability change from 2020 to 2023?
From 2020 to 2023, nursing home staffing instability rose from about 15% in 2020 to a peak of around 20–21% in 2022, before declining slightly to roughly 18–19% in 2023, remaining above pre-pandemic levels.
How has nursing home capacity changed in recent years?
National nursing home operating capacity has declined by about 5% between 2019 and 2024, resulting in nearly 4,000 fewer beds available each day for new patients.
How much did the nursing home workforce grow in 2025?
In 2025, nursing facilities added approximately 40,700 jobs, averaging about 3,400 new workers per month.
How have nursing home occupancy rates changed from 2020 to 2024?
Nursing home occupancy rates dropped sharply during the pandemic and have gradually recovered. Rates fell from 81% in 2020 to 67% in 2021, then rose to 72% in 2022, 75% in 2023, and 77% in 2024, still slightly below pre-pandemic levels.
Nursing Home Residents & Coverage
How many nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid?
Medicaid covers a majority of nursing home residents, paying for approximately 6 out of every 10 residents (63%) in U.S. nursing homes.
How many nursing home residents are covered by Medicare?
Approximately 14% of nursing home residents in the United States are covered by Medicare.
How many adults age 65 and older live in nursing home facilities?
About 4.5% of adults age 65 and older in the United States live in nursing home facilities.
Nursing Home Workforce & Staffing
How many nursing home workers are still needed to return to pre-pandemic staffing levels?
U.S. nursing homes still need more than 130,000 workers to return to pre-pandemic staffing levels.
How many nursing homes in the U.S. have staffing shortages?
About 94% of nursing homes in the United States report significant staffing shortages.
How many nursing homes have staffing-related deficiencies?
About 90% of nursing homes are understaffed and operating about 25% below expected staffing levels.
What are the average nurse staffing hours per resident per day?
In 2023, nursing facilities provided an average of 3.77 nursing staff hours per resident per day.
What percentage of the nursing home workforce is made up of LPNs or LVNs?
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) make up about 13% of the nursing home workforce.
How many LPNs and LVNs work in nursing homes?
About 170,000 Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) work in nursing homes.
Ownership & Structure of Nursing Homes
What percentage of nursing homes are for-profit, nonprofit, or government-owned?
In the United States, about 73% of nursing homes are for-profit, 20% are nonprofit, and the remaining 7% are government-owned.
How many nursing homes are part of a chain?
Approximately 66% of nursing homes in the United States (about two-thirds) are part of a corporate chain, reflecting the widespread consolidation of long-term care facilities.
How many nursing homes are in urban versus rural areas?
Approximately 28% of nursing homes are located in rural areas, while the remaining 72% are in urban areas, where populations are larger and demand for care is higher.
How many nursing homes are placed in the Special Focus Facility program?
The Special Focus Facility (SFF) program is limited to about 88 nursing homes nationwide at any given time, targeting facilities with a history of serious quality and compliance issues.
Quality, Safety & Deficiencies
What percentage of nursing homes are cited for serious deficiencies each year?
The share of nursing homes cited for serious deficiencies has increased over time, rising from 17% in 2015 to 27% in 2025, with a slight decline between 2024 and 2025.
What percentage of nursing homes receive penalties due to resident harm or substandard care?
In 2023, more than 20% of nursing homes in the United States received penalties for resident harm or substandard care.
How many nursing homes have infection control deficiencies?
In 2022, more than 40% of nursing homes in the United States received at least one infection-control citation.
What are the most common deficiencies found in nursing homes?
The most common deficiencies in U.S. nursing homes are related to infection control, food safety, and care planning for residents:
- Failure to provide and implement proper infection prevention and control programs (5,743 citations; 6.4%)
- Issues with food sourcing, storage, preparation, and service standards (5,205 citations; 5.8%)
- Failure to develop and implement comprehensive, measurable care plans for residents (3,747 citations; 4.2%)
Nursing Home Abuse & Resident Safety
How many nursing home residents experience abuse each year?
Approximately 5 million nursing home residents experience abuse each year.
What percentage of nursing home residents experience physical abuse?
About 24.3% of nursing home residents experience at least one instance of physical abuse during their stay.
Geographic Distribution of Nursing Homes
Which states have the most nursing homes?
The following states have the most nursing homes in the US, together accounting for nearly 16% of all nursing homes nationwide:
- Texas: 1,177 facilities
- California: 1,162 facilities
Which states have the fewest nursing homes?
States with the fewest nursing homes include:
- Washington, DC: 17 facilities
- Alaska: 29 facilities
- Delaware: 43 facilities
Which states have the biggest nursing home staffing shortages?
States with the highest levels of nursing home staffing shortages include:
- Alaska: 80%
- Minnesota: 64%
- Maine: 59%
- Kansas: 58%
- Washington: 56%
- Wyoming: 56%
How does the number of nursing home residents vary by state?
| State | Number of Nursing Home Residents |
| California | 101,134 |
| New York | 99,192 |
| Texas | 87,711 |
| Florida | 74,768 |
| Ohio | 67,366 |
| Pennsylvania | 67,306 |
| Illinois | 62,038 |
| New Jersey | 41,563 |
| Indiana | 36,120 |
| Michigan | 35,755 |
| North Carolina | 35,329 |
| Missouri | 34,837 |
| Massachusetts | 33,117 |
| Georgia | 31,173 |
| Virginia | 28,554 |
| Tennessee | 24,844 |
| Louisiana | 23,580 |
| Maryland | 23,030 |
| Alabama | 21,635 |
| Kentucky | 21,413 |
| Minnesota | 20,226 |
| Iowa | 19,924 |
| Connecticut | 19,521 |
| Wisconsin | 17,668 |
| Oklahoma | 16,939 |
| South Carolina | 16,756 |
| Arkansas | 16,672 |
| Kansas | 15,033 |
| Colorado | 14,959 |
| Mississippi | 14,778 |
| Washington | 14,010 |
| Arizona | 11,931 |
| Nebraska | 9,771 |
| West Virginia | 9,531 |
| Oregon | 6,924 |
| Rhode Island | 6,821 |
| Nevada | 5,969 |
| New Hampshire | 5,933 |
| Utah | 5,767 |
| New Mexico | 5,551 |
| Maine | 5,043 |
| South Dakota | 4,864 |
| North Dakota | 4,500 |
| Idaho | 4,393 |
| Delaware | 3,914 |
| Hawaii | 3,397 |
| Montana | 3,288 |
| Vermont | 2,424 |
| District of Columbia | 2,052 |
| Wyoming | 1,961 |
| Alaska | 749 |
Reach The Right Care Facility with A REVA Air Ambulance
When your loved one needs care that isn’t available locally, REVA bridges the gap.
Our air ambulance teams provide attentive, in-flight care while your loved one to the most trusted nursing homes and care facilities across the U.S. and worldwide.
Contact REVA anytime to arrange your air ambulance. We’re here whenever you need us.
Sources
- National Center for Health Statistics. “Nursing Home Care.” February 6, 2026.
- American Health Care Association. “Fast Facts.”
- Priya Chidambaram. “A Look at Nursing Facility Characteristics in 2025.” KFF. December 17, 2025.
- Sparkco. “How Skilled Nursing Facilities Can Avoid $5,000 CMS Penalties.” July 30, 2025.
- Julie Rivers, MBA, CSA. “Nursing Home Abuse Statistics.” Nursing Home Abuse Center.
- Amie Clark. “Nursing Home Statistics in 2026.” TheSeniorList. December 21, 2025.
- Elizabeth Gregerson. “States with the lowest, highest nursing home staff shortages.” Becker’s Hospital Review. September 27, 2024.
- Gruber Law Offices LLC. “Life in Care: Nursing Home Longevity Trends.”
- Pete Welch. “Ownership of Skilled Nursing Facilities: An Analysis of Newly-Released Federal Data.” ASPE.
- US Department of Health and Human Services. “Special Focus Facility Program Nursing Homes, 2013–2022.” October 24, 2025.
- KFF. “Certified Nursing Facility Occupancy Rate.”
- A. Minhas. “U.S. number of residents in certified nursing facilities as of 2025, by state.” Statista. March 3, 2026.
- Micah Segelman, PhD. “Changes in Nursing Home Staffing Instability Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.” JAMDA. November 2025.
- University of Rochester Medecine. “Decline in U.S. Nursing Home Capacity Since COVID-19: Rural Areas Hit Hardest.” January 16, 2026.
- AHCA. “Report: Nursing Homes Making Significant Progress with Workforce.” January 28, 2026.
- Nightingale Crossett. “Skilled Nursing Facility Occupancy Trends in 2026.” January 8, 2026.