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Why trust this guide?
Our editorial team analyzed 16 nursing homes in Milwaukee, WI using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in WI
Avg Overall CMS Rating:2.4/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Milwaukee, WI. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average:3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating:3.1/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Milwaukee, WI. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average:3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating:2.2/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Milwaukee, WI. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average:3.0/ 5
Compare Nursing Homes around Milwaukee (Metro Area)
Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the WI Dept. of Health Services (DHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.
Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.
The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This TableAL (Assisted Living):
Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing.
NH (Nursing Home):
24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs.
SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility):
Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness.
MC (Memory Care):
Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
RC (Respite Care):
Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break.
IL (Independent Living):
Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
ADC (Adult Day Care):
Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
CCRC( (Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)):
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Wisconsin average is: 59.2% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every WI community we track that reports that metric, not just the 16 analyzed for Milwaukee.
About 9.4 miles from the city center, Amethyst Health of Brown Deer is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center on West Dean Road in the Brown Deer area of northwest Milwaukee. Victoria Walley owns the facility, and Brown Deer Health Opco LLC operates it, with Jensen Patrick as the administrator. Families can pay through Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to access short-term rehabilitation stays and longer-term nursing care.
The home has 87 beds and provides skilled nursing, sub-acute care, and rehabilitation. Residents stay an average of 121 days, mostly those coming out of hospital stays for post-acute recovery and those with longer-term care needs. Total nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 13 minutes per resident each day, while nurse aides provide an average of 2 hours and 19 minutes of direct care each day.
The facility’s on-site amenities include a salon and housekeeping services, and it also provides transportation to appointments for residents. Amethyst Health’s walkability score of 28 reflects its residential setting. Most errands and outings require a short drive rather than walking.
Trinity Woods is a thriving intergenerational community, where residents from different backgrounds come together to create a vibrant environment. The community has strong partnerships with local educational and religious organizations like Mount Mary University, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and Milwaukee Catholic Home. It offers a variety of housing options, including independent living, assisted living, and student housing. Residents here can enjoy a range of amenities and activities, such as full-service dining, social events, fitness classes, volunteer opportunities, pastoral care, and weekly Roman Catholic Mass. The community also provides practical conveniences like public wifi, campus security, spa and salon services, underground parking, and more. Wellness services like podiatry care, regular wellness clinics, and memory care programming are also available, ensuring that residents’ health and well-being are taken care of.
Tswv Chao Vang Center is a community-based adult day care center operated by Tswv Chao Vang Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Certified by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as a Nonresidential Community-Based Adult Services Provider, the center has been in operation since May 2019 in Milwaukee County. With six years of operation, the center brings valuable organizational experience to the Milwaukee adult day care landscape with a capacity of 100 participants.
Following a January 2024 inspection that identified five deficiencies related to staff continuing education, training documentation, food safety, water heater temperature, and resident rights training, the center’s most recent inspection in March 2024 confirmed full compliance with zero deficiencies. With a total of five deficiencies compared to a Wisconsin average of 12, and all prior issues resolved during the follow-up visit, the inspection record reflects the community’s commitment to addressing and correcting identified concerns. No complaints or enforcement actions were recorded.
A wide range of social, recreational, cultural, physical, and educational activities is provided, promoting a variety of daily engagement. On-site meals are also available, including breakfast, lunch, and snacks; special diets are also accommodated. Medicaid is accepted, providing more access to older adults with various incomes. With a cultural programming and community-based approach, the center appeals to those who value culturally meaningful activities and social connections.
Tswv Chao Vang Center is a strong option for adults with disabilities in the Milwaukee area seeking a structured, culturally engaged daytime program with inclusive offerings and nutritional support. The center’s payment options, along with its established six-year operating history is a practical advantage for families navigating Medicaid funding and seeking care within their proximity.
Saint John’s on the Lake is an upscale retirement community in Milwaukee, WI, that offers a wide range of care options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. With a variety of beautiful apartments in a nurturing and welcoming environment, the community ensures older adults can live comfortably during their stay. Residents also experience maintenance-free living, with high-quality services, including 24-hour emergency response, maintenance services, and flexible dining options. The community is also committed to improving residents’ quality of life through personalized care plans.
Cultural activities, arts and crafts, and exercises provide residents with more opportunities to explore new interests and gain meaningful experiences. A wellness center, a whirlpool, and a library are among the top-notch amenities provided for residents’ leisure and wellness. Museums, restaurants, and public transportation are also located nearby, ensuring accessibility and convenience. This retirement community strives to help older adults age gracefully, making it a great choice for senior living in Wisconsin.
With a capacity of 50 beds, St. Camillus – Wauwatosa is a skilled nursing community located at 10101 West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Operated by St. Camillus Health Center Inc. and administered by Courtney Wilson, the high-rise community offers private rooms for older adults who require ongoing nursing care in a supportive residential setting.
Additionally, residents receive daily nursing support that includes an average of 1 hour and 12 minutes of registered nurse care, 2 hours and 22 minutes of assistance from nurse aides, and 45 minutes from LPNs/LVNs. This combination provides both clinical oversight and hands-on assistance throughout the day.
The surrounding neighborhood has a Walk Score of 43, allowing access to some nearby services on foot.
Generations Adult Day Center operates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, situated in a single-story facility within a highly walkable urban district. With a Walk Score of 83, the location provides significant pedestrian access to daily amenities. The facility functions on an adult day care model, which involves structured daytime programming for participants who return to their own residences in the evening. This configuration prioritizes community-based support as an alternative to residential placement.
The operational breadth becomes apparent through the program catalog, which encompasses the core Adult Day Center Program, a Caregiver Support Group, an Education Series, Dementia Live, GC Champion, and Invest in our Seniors. The integration of Dementia Live, an experiential program designed to clarify the dementia experience, paired with dedicated caregiver support, indicates a strategic decision to address both the individual with cognitive requirements and the broader support ecosystem outside of operational hours. This dual-focus approach represents a calculated design choice within the adult day service sector.
For Milwaukee families seeking structured social and cognitive engagement for older adults, the center offers a community-based system that addresses the interconnected requirements of the participant and the caregiver. It functions as a structured support interface for those managing long-term care demands.
Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports.
How we're paid:If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Milwaukee, WI
What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Wisconsin?
Assisted living in Wisconsin is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.
Does Wisconsin Medicaid cover nursing home care?
Yes — Wisconsin Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.
What is nursing home care?
Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.
How many nursing homes are listed on this page?
This page features 16 nursing homes in Milwaukee, WI. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
How do I choose the right nursing home in Milwaukee, WI?
Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Milwaukee, WI, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.
What should I look for when visiting nursing homes in Milwaukee, WI?
Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.
If you move into a community through us, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never changes your cost or which options we recommend. Learn more
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