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Why trust this guide?
Our editorial team analyzed 139 nursing homes in AL using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in AL
Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the AL Dept. of Public Health (ADPH), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.
Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our 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.
HC (Home Care):
Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community):
A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
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.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
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 Alabama average is: 53.1% 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.
$14.9M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$8.6M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
57.5%*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$9.2M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$2.9M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
31.7%*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
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Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each nursing home is ranked against every other AL nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 139 on this page. See how we rank facilities
East Glen provides nursing home, skilled nursing, and memory care in Birmingham, Alabama. Skilled nursing includes licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Memory care is provided in a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. The community may be a good fit for a resident who needs ongoing nursing support or a supervised memory care setting.
East Glen has 108 beds, with private and semi-private rooms. A resident can choose a single room or share with another resident. Physical therapy and rehabilitation services are available within the community, so therapy can take place on site. The salon also allows residents to receive salon services without leaving the facility.
Family meals have their own setting. A private family dining room gives residents a designated space to eat with family members. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 15 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands-on nursing time allocated to each resident.
Payment options include Medicare for skilled care after a hospital stay, Medicaid for families whose savings may not cover a long stay, and private pay. Stephanie Howard serves as the administrator.
Memory care, nursing home care, assisted living, and skilled nursing share one license at Altoona Health & Rehab in Altoona, AL. Licensed nursing is present at every hour, which is the sort of coverage an infusion line needs when it runs past the end of a shift. Bathing, dressing, and medication management are what assisted living picks up instead.
Whether a resident might wander is the question memory care answers, and the answer is a secured setting and somebody watching. Care that continues in the same place suits needs that grow.
Fifty beds put this at the smaller end. Nursing time per resident holds at 4 hours 47 minutes a day. Care is paid for with Medicare, Medicaid, or private funds.
Rehabilitation services can be had through the community, and Infusion Therapy appears among the named programs, for residents whose treatment runs that way. Linda Bigelow is the administrator.
Overview of Oakwood-North Baldwin‘s Center for Living
Oakwood-North Baldwin’s Center for Living provides nursing home care and memory care in Bay Minette, AL. Nursing home care gives residents ongoing nursing supervision and assistance with health needs, while memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone who may be at risk of wandering. The memory care setting is suited to a resident living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia who needs structured oversight.
The community has 75 beds. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 52 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily nursing staff time assigned to each resident. Payment options include Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, allowing families to consider public coverage or direct payment based on their circumstances.
Plantation Manor Retirement Community offers an enhanced and hassle-free lifestyle for its residents. The community is where life-enriching daily activities happen, contributing to a purposeful living for its residents. Offering assisted living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services– many have praised the home for its full support and assertiveness in assisting its residents. Plantation Manor is where seniors thrive.
Plantation Manor offers comprehensive services to boost a speedy recovery. A list of their points of excellence includes wound care, support services, and therapy (occupational, speech, and physical). Other essential services include ADLs, medication management, healthy and nutritious meals served daily, recreational activities, and specialized programs.
Memory care, respite, nursing home care, hospice care, and skilled nursing are what The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek runs in Alabaster, AL. The last two carry licensed nursing on the premises. Supervision is what memory care means, and it is a full-time post that no household can staff by itself.
Hospice care answers the day when improvement stops being the goal. Respite is often the first time anyone has asked the caregiver whether they can keep this up. A week away is the answer, with a date on it.
Short Stay Rehabilitation and Complex Medical Care are the two programs this home names. The first describes trouble measured in weeks; the second, trouble that needs a nurse’s judgment daily. There is room here for 198 residents.
Each resident is allotted 3 hours and 59 minutes of nursing across a day. Medicare and Medicaid cover eligible care, and private pay covers what is not eligible. Antonio Alonso is the administrator, and this suits a resident whose needs change except the need to stay at one address.
Northway Health and Rehabilitation LLC provides the comfortable and carefree lifestyle that seniors want and deserve. The facility offers a range of services, including skilled nursing, rehabilitation, rapid recovery, and memory care. Their team of highly trained nurses and certified therapists renders a myriad of clinical capabilities, including pain management, fall prevention, wound management, swallowing disorders, and cardiac recovery, to name a few. In Northway Health and Rehabilitation LLC, they understand the importance of healthy and delicious meals, and that’s why they offer an eclectic mix of cuisine options to their residents. The facility also provides amenities such as WiFi, laundry, and a beautician, ensuring that residents have everything they need. Moreover, their common areas are crafted to be pleasant and welcoming, making it easy for seniors to find respite from the challenges of aging.
The goal of Oak Knoll Health and Rehabilitation LLC is to create a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle for every resident. The community exudes warmth and character. The range of services offered includes skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and rapid recovery, as well as clinical capabilities such as pain management, stroke recovery, cardiac recovery, IV therapy, palliative care, and much more. Their team is well-trained and dedicated to providing the highest level of care. The residents here are kept active and engaged in various activities. In addition to exceptional care and jam packed calendar, there are convenient and delicious dining options that provide nutritious meals for seniors. Overall, Oak Knoll Health and Rehabilitation’s compassionate team of professionals provides a welcoming and supportive backdrop where every resident can thrive and enjoy their golden years to the fullest.
Acts Retirement Services has run Westminster Village – Spanish Fort for 47 years now, out of a three-story building at 500 Spanish Fort Blvd in the Bridgehead neighborhood of Spanish Fort, Alabama. Joseph Meadows is the Executive Director. This isn’t a single-purpose nursing home. It’s part of a continuing care retirement community, which means nursing home care, assisted living, memory care, hospice, home care, and independent living all live under the same organization.
Don’t expect to walk to much because the Walk Score is 27. That is somewhat walkable at best, and most errands here mean getting in a car.
Average length of stay runs about 107 days, closer to four months than a permanent placement, and the community accepts both Medicare and private pay, the two payment paths that fit a short-term rehab stay best. Nursing staff provide close to 5 hours of total nursing care per resident each day. On-site, residents have access to licensed therapists, a nurse practitioner wellness center, and round-the-clock medical oversight, plus respite care and short-term rehab for people who need a defined recovery window rather than an open-ended stay.
Occupancy sits at 65% in a 60-bed building with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options. Residents also have an Active Resident Council, a standing group that meets to weigh in on policy and daily life rather than just live with whatever’s decided for them. State inspections here have tended to focus on routine areas like dietary and food service and resident rights and protections, the kind of themes that come up across nursing homes broadly.
Nearly five decades in the same location, paired with a rehabilitation-heavy care model and a resident group with an actual say in how things run, makes Westminster Village read less like a long-term holding facility and more like a structured stop on the way back to independence for a lot of residents.
Four care types are written up at Coosa Valley Health and Rehab in Glencoe, AL. Memory care, nursing home care, skilled nursing, and respite care are the four. Round-the-clock staffing appears as a service in its own right, so the licensed cover is a claim the home makes explicitly rather than one a reader infers. Memory care means a locked door and supervision, for someone at risk of wandering.
Relief measured in days is what respite offers, a short stay covering the time a family’s regular caregiver is away. Ongoing nursing, supervised memory care, or that relief are the three reasons families look.
Short-term rehabilitation is available as well. Memory Support Care and Short Term Rehab are the named programs, which line up with the rehabilitation and memory care on offer.
Paying is done with Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay. Carrie Taylor has the administrator’s job, and 4h 25m of hands-on nurse time attends each resident daily.
Overview of Northside Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
Tina Taylor owns Northside Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, a 115-bed care community at 700 Hutchins Avenue in Gadsden, Alabama. The building functions with a 78 percent occupancy level, and residents stay for an average of 156 days. This operational timeline shows that the floor staff balances permanent residential care with short-term post-hospital therapy turnarounds. For stay expenses, the financial department takes standard private pay, traditional Medicare, and state Medicaid.
The layout includes a large gym for physical therapy routines and daily activities, which supports a 24-hour nursing team that delivers roughly 4 hours and 43 minutes of direct, hands-on attention to each resident daily. This crew organizes regular clinical schedules, short-term rehabilitation, and temporary respite care. For visitors, the surrounding neighborhood is car-dependent, so family members will need a vehicle to get back and forth.
State health surveys for this property have previously noted compliance issues involving infection control protocols, documentation practices, and food safety standards. Reviewing these specific reports with the administration is a practical way to check on their daily quality control and safety systems before you make any final decisions.
Prospective families can contact the admissions office directly to find out about open beds or to discuss the required registration steps.
Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports. Rank badges compare each home against other nursing homes in the same state — never against assisted living, memory care, or independent living communities.
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 Alabama
What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Alabama?
Assisted living in Alabama 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 Alabama Medicaid cover nursing home care?
Yes — Alabama 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 139 nursing homes in Alabama. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
How do I choose the right nursing home in Alabama?
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 Alabama, 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 Alabama?
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
Nursing Homes in Alabama at a glance
Avg Overall CMS Rating:2.9/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Alabama. 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:3.5/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Alabama. 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:2.8/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Alabama. 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
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