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Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means it's official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    ​​​​​​Choosing a Nursing Home

    Moving into a nursing home is a big life change. Use these steps to help you choose a nursing home for yourself or a family member:

    • Find nursing homes in your area.
    • Compare the quality of the nursing homes
    • Review survey results
    • Visit the nursing homes with your checklist
    • Choose the nursing home that best meets your needs. 

    Do you have questions about choosing a nursing home or need a checklist for your visits? Review Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home or Other Long-Term Services and Supports.

    In 2016, the Nursing Home Quality Improvement Task Force released recommendations for changing how nursing homes function and improving the quality of life for all residents. Read the task force report recommendations.

    What is a Nursing Home Survey?

    Nursing homes are inspected each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. These surveys help to make sure that nursing homes are following state and federal regulations.

    Surveys usually take several days, are unannounced and happen during the day or night. Survey Teams:

    • Examine how well the nursing home ensures that its residents feel “at home”.
    • Evaluate how well the nursing home provides care to its residents by meeting minimum regulatory standards
    • Use tools to determine the quality of care and quality of life of nursing home residents.

    After a survey is completed, a written report is given to the nursing home. If problems are identified, the surveyors must decide how serious the problems are and the nursing home must submit a plan to correct the problems. Penalties may be given to the facility depending on the seriousness of the problem. You can ask to see a copy of a survey report at any nursing home or you can view the reports on our website.

    Nursing Home Inspection Process

    Where Can I Find Nursing Home Survey Reports and Sanctions?

    Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

    The Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program helps people solve problems they have with long-term care services to improve long-term living for both residents and families.

    Request Assistance from a Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania