During the Omicron period, nearly one in four nursing home residents lived in facilities that recorded at least one confirmed COVID-19 case. Staffing strain persisted, with 10.2% of nursing homes reporting staffing shortages on the CMS Payroll-Based Journal in 2022. Median total nurse staffing reached 3.5 hours per resident day in 2021 as quality measures flagged preventable harm such as new or worsened pressure ulcers.
Key Takeaways
- 1.39 million Medicare beneficiaries received care from a skilled nursing facility in 2022 in the U.S., reflecting the scale of SNF usage among Medicare-covered populations
- 1.7 million people in the U.S. lived in nursing homes in 2015 (0.4% of the total population), according to CDC estimates
- 15,600 nursing homes operated in the U.S. in 2022, based on the count of certified nursing facilities reporting to CMS
- 10.2% of U.S. nursing homes reported staffing shortages in 2022, measured as facilities with reported staffing shortfalls on the CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ)
- 23.8% higher staffing levels for total nurse staffing were associated with better performance in a 2023 systematic review of long-term care staffing and outcomes
- 3.5 hours per resident day of total nursing staff (RN+LPN+NA) in U.S. nursing homes in 2021 (median across facilities), using CMS PBJ staffing data
- $52,000 median annual out-of-pocket cost for nursing home care for a typical household in the U.S. (2023 estimate), based on Genworth Cost of Care survey data
- 6.5% 30-day hospital readmission rate for nursing home residents in the U.S. (2021 measure), using CMS readmission measures for post-acute care
- 19.2% of nursing home residents experienced moderate to severe pain in 2021, from CMS Quality Measure reporting (MDS-based measure)
- 3.8% of residents had an indwelling catheter in 2022 on average across U.S. nursing facilities, using CMS quality measures derived from MDS
- 28% of U.S. nursing homes reported having a deficiency at the time of survey in 2022 (CMS survey deficiency reporting summary)
- 65% of nursing facilities reported they had a formal antimicrobial stewardship program in 2020 (U.S.), per a peer-reviewed national survey
- 71% of nursing homes had at least one resident receiving antipsychotics in 2019 (MDS-based analysis), indicating prevalence of off-label use risk
- 8.0% of U.S. nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623) employment in 2024 was part of temporary help services support arrangements
- 18.0% of nursing home staff reported high levels of turnover intention (U.S. survey; intention-to-leave prevalence)
In 2022, millions relied on U.S. nursing homes, but staffing and quality challenges persisted.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size9 stats
01
1.39 million Medicare beneficiaries received care from a skilled nursing facility in 2022 in the U.S., reflecting the scale of SNF usage among Medicare-covered populations
02
1.7 million people in the U.S. lived in nursing homes in 2015 (0.4% of the total population), according to CDC estimates
03
15,600 nursing homes operated in the U.S. in 2022, based on the count of certified nursing facilities reporting to CMS
04
2.0 million residents were in U.S. nursing homes in 2022 (snapshot of certified nursing facility residents), as reported in CMS facility and resident data
05
2.6 million Medicare Part A post-acute stays included SNF use in 2022 (count of SNF-covered stays), from CMS claims/utilization data summaries
06
7.4% of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries used a skilled nursing facility after a hospitalization in 2022, based on CMS utilization analytics
07
23% of nursing facility residents are self-pay/other coverage (U.S.), from CMS nursing facility resident mix data
08
1.5 million Medicare-certified nursing home beds in the U.S. (2022), based on CMS certified bed capacity reporting
09
3.1 days was the median length of stay for Medicare SNF stays in 2022 (claims-based), from CMS post-acute utilization tables
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In 2022 the U.S. skilled nursing market was driven by large-scale demand with 1.39 million Medicare beneficiaries receiving care in skilled nursing facilities and 15,600 nursing homes serving 2.0 million residents, showing a broad and sustained need at both the payer and facility level.
02 · Category
Workforce & Staffing6 stats
01
10.2% of U.S. nursing homes reported staffing shortages in 2022, measured as facilities with reported staffing shortfalls on the CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ)
02
23.8% higher staffing levels for total nurse staffing were associated with better performance in a 2023 systematic review of long-term care staffing and outcomes
03
3.5 hours per resident day of total nursing staff (RN+LPN+NA) in U.S. nursing homes in 2021 (median across facilities), using CMS PBJ staffing data
04
31% of nursing home workers report experiencing workplace violence at least once in the prior 12 months (U.S.), from 2022 NIOSH survey findings
05
1 in 5 nursing home workers report considering leaving their job within the next year (U.S.), from the 2023 NCHS/NCBS workforce wellbeing survey
06
21% of nursing homes used outsourced medical director services in 2022 (industry survey estimate), reflecting staffing model changes
Interpretation
Workforce & Staffing Interpretation
In the Workforce and Staffing category, nursing homes continue to face major staffing challenges, with 10.2% reporting staffing shortfalls in 2022 and 31% of workers experiencing workplace violence, while higher nurse staffing levels are still linked to better long-term care performance.
03 · Category
Cost & Economics1 stats
01
$52,000median annual out-of-pocket cost for nursing home care for a typical household in the U.S. (2023 estimate), based on Genworth Cost of Care survey data
Interpretation
Cost & Economics Interpretation
In the U.S., the median annual out-of-pocket cost for nursing home care is about $52,000 for a typical household in 2023, underscoring how high the cost burden is in the Cost and Economics category.
More related reading
04 · Category
Quality & Outcomes20 stats
01
6.5% 30-day hospital readmission rate for nursing home residents in the U.S. (2021 measure), using CMS readmission measures for post-acute care
02
19.2% of nursing home residents experienced moderate to severe pain in 2021, from CMS Quality Measure reporting (MDS-based measure)
03
3.8% of residents had an indwelling catheter in 2022 on average across U.S. nursing facilities, using CMS quality measures derived from MDS
04
14.5% of residents had a new or worsened pressure ulcer in 2022 (CMS MDS pressure ulcer quality measure), indicating avoidable harm rates
05
11.1% of nursing home residents had a urinary tract infection in 2022, based on CMS quality measure reporting
06
7.4% of nursing home residents had antipsychotic medication dose increases in 2022, a CMS measure used as a quality indicator
07
10% of nursing homes were cited for infection control deficiencies after complaint surveys in 2022 (CMS survey and certification data), indicating persistent compliance risk
08
5.2% average rate of staffing-related deficiencies in nursing homes during 2022, from CMS survey deficiencies reporting
09
27% of nursing home residents were classified as having moderate or severe cognitive impairment in 2019 (MDS-based estimate), from peer-reviewed analysis using national minimum data
10
24% of nursing home residents were receiving physical restraints in 2020 in a nationally representative analysis, highlighting restraint use prevalence
11
25% reduction in all-cause readmissions associated with nurse-led transitional care interventions in a 2022 meta-analysis (relative risk estimate range reported)
12
16.8% of nursing home residents received rehabilitation therapy services in 2022, based on CMS MDS therapy utilization measures
13
9.6% of nursing home residents required high-intensity therapy in 2022 (CMS MDS-based measure), indicating more therapy-intensive resident profiles
14
4.0% of nursing home residents experienced worsening activities of daily living (ADL) in 2022 (CMS MDS measure)
15
6.7% of nursing home residents had received a fall-related injury in 2022 (CMS MDS-based measure)
16
1.3% of nursing home residents had a pressure ulcer that was Stage 3 or higher in 2022 (CMS MDS pressure ulcer severity measure)
17
2.5% of nursing home residents received a feeding tube in 2022 (CMS MDS measure), indicating prevalence of tube feeding
18
1 in 4 nursing home residents (25%) were in a facility that had at least one resident with confirmed COVID-19 infection during the Omicron period (U.S.), 2022 survey period
19
19.8% of nursing home residents in the U.S. had a pressure ulcer during the study period (national minimum data set-based cohort study, reported as prevalence)
20
27.4% of nursing home residents in the U.S. had a urinary tract infection (UTI) during the study period (minimum data set-based prevalence estimate, peer-reviewed)
Interpretation
Quality & Outcomes Interpretation
Across the Quality and Outcomes measures, nursing home residents still face avoidable clinical harms and treatment risks, with rates such as 14.5% for new or worsened pressure ulcers and 19.2% reporting moderate to severe pain in 2021, even as other indicators like a 6.5% 30-day hospital readmission rate highlight ongoing care challenges.
05 · Category
Industry Trends8 stats
01
28% of U.S. nursing homes reported having a deficiency at the time of survey in 2022 (CMS survey deficiency reporting summary)
02
65% of nursing facilities reported they had a formal antimicrobial stewardship program in 2020 (U.S.), per a peer-reviewed national survey
03
71% of nursing homes had at least one resident receiving antipsychotics in 2019 (MDS-based analysis), indicating prevalence of off-label use risk
04
3.7% of nursing home residents were newly started on antipsychotics in 2019 (MDS-based cohort analysis), per peer-reviewed study
05
45% of nursing homes reported having a falls prevention program meeting evidence-based criteria in 2021 (survey-based industry statistic)
06
1,200 U.S. nursing facilities participated in the CMS Innovation Center accountable care initiatives involving nursing home partnerships during 2020–2023 (reported participation counts)
07
1,000+ U.S. nursing homes expected to close by 2025 (industry forecast; count forecast)
08
18% of nursing homes implemented at least one telehealth capability by 2023 (survey-based adoption rate)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across U.S. nursing homes, industry trends in care quality and prescribing practices remain highly variable, with 28% reporting survey deficiencies in 2022 while 65% had formal antimicrobial stewardship programs in 2020 and 71% of residents received antipsychotics in 2019, underscoring the gap that facilities must close to strengthen evidence-based practice.
06 · Category
Workforce & Capacity2 stats
01
8.0% of U.S. nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623) employment in 2024 was part of temporary help services support arrangements
02
18.0% of nursing home staff reported high levels of turnover intention (U.S. survey; intention-to-leave prevalence)
Interpretation
Workforce & Capacity Interpretation
For the Workforce and Capacity picture, staffing stability looks like a key pressure point because 18.0% of nursing home workers reported high turnover intention and only 8.0% of employment in 2024 was tied to temporary help services support arrangements.
report visual · Key figures
How big is nursing home use—and what share of residents face key care pressures?
SNF use is widespread (millions of residents and Medicare-covered stays), while quality and staffing pressures show up in notable shares of nursing homes and residents.
2.0
2.0 million residents were in U.S. nursing homes in 2022 (snapshot of certified nursing facility residents), as reported
2.6
2.6 million Medicare Part A post-acute stays included SNF use in 2022 (count of SNF-covered stays), from CMS claims/util
10.2%
10.2% of U.S. nursing homes reported staffing shortages in 2022, measured as facilities with reported staffing shortfall
19.2%
19.2% of nursing home residents experienced moderate to severe pain in 2021, from CMS Quality Measure reporting (MDS-bas
14.5%
14.5% of residents had a new or worsened pressure ulcer in 2022 (CMS MDS pressure ulcer quality measure), indicating avo
11.1%
11.1% of nursing home residents had a urinary tract infection in 2022, based on CMS quality measure reporting
source-verifieddata.cms.gov · cms.gov2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). Nursing Home Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-home-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "Nursing Home Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nursing-home-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "Nursing Home Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-home-statistics.
Sources & references
46 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+33 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)