Best Nursing Homes in Joplin, MO

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 4 nursing homes in Joplin, MO using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in MO
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Joplin, MO our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in Joplin, MO.
4 homes
Other senior care options in Joplin:
Avg Overall CMS Rating: 3.0/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Joplin, MO. 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: 2.7/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Joplin, MO. 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: 3.7/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Joplin, MO. 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 Joplin (Metro Area)

Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the MO Dept. of Health & Senior Services (DHSS), 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 Table 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. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
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 Missouri average is: 54.9% 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.
Westgate
NH
MC
SNF
Joplin
120
Facility 120
MO AVG 96
Rank #87 / 450
90.8%
Facility 90.8%
MO AVG 66.5%
Rank #30 / 407
+36%
3.65
Facility 3.65
MO AVG 3.74
Rank #129 / 268
+5%-2%
$0
Facility $0
MO AVG $76.9k
Rank #1 / 276
20
Facility 20
MO AVG 36.5
Rank #70 / 274
3.3
Facility 3.3
MO AVG 5.7
Rank #32 / 274
1109-
77
Facility 77
MO AVG 46
Rank #53 / 545
Misty Caldwell
$9.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $9.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG $7.4M
Rank #57 / 251
$4.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG $3.9M
Rank #85 / 251
43.9%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 43.9%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG 54.9%
Rank #214 / 251
265877
Communities of Wildwood Ranch
NH
SNF
Joplin
120
Facility 120
MO AVG 96
Rank #87 / 450
85.8%
Facility 85.8%
MO AVG 66.5%
Rank #68 / 407
+29%
4.21
Facility 4.21
MO AVG 3.74
Rank #65 / 268
-25%+13%
$0
Facility $0
MO AVG $76.9k
Rank #1 / 276
13
Facility 13
MO AVG 36.5
Rank #31 / 274
2.2
Facility 2.2
MO AVG 5.7
Rank #7 / 274
1103-
77
Facility 77
MO AVG 46
Rank #53 / 545
John Cascone
$11.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $11.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG $7.4M
Rank #41 / 251
$5.6MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $5.6MFiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG $3.9M
Rank #38 / 251
50.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 50.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG 54.9%
Rank #156 / 251
265848
Joplin Gardens
NH
HOS
SNF
Joplin
92
Facility 92
MO AVG 96
Rank #215 / 450
85.9%
Facility 85.9%
MO AVG 66.5%
Rank #65 / 407
+29%
3.32
Facility 3.32
MO AVG 3.74
Rank #180 / 268
-70%-11%
$0
Facility $0
MO AVG $76.9k
Rank #1 / 276
21
Facility 21
MO AVG 36.5
Rank #76 / 274
3.5
Facility 3.5
MO AVG 5.7
Rank #54 / 274
-79-
48
Facility 48
MO AVG 46
Rank #261 / 545
N & R Of Joplin, LLC
$5.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $5.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG $7.4M
Rank #149 / 251
$3.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $3.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG $3.9M
Rank #130 / 251
62%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 62%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
MO AVG 54.9%
Rank #58 / 251
265853

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every MO community we track that reports that metric, not just the 4 analyzed for Joplin.

Westgate

3130 John Duffy Dr, Joplin, MO 64804-1569
Overview of Westgate

Westgate is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility that provides long-term care, memory support, and rehabilitation services. Located in a walkable urban area, the building stays busy with a 91% occupancy rate that runs well ahead of the Missouri state average. On the business side, the operation is financially stable, posting a $1.1 million profit and a 10% margin. The facility utilizes its own staff for the vast majority of its operations, keeping its reliance on outside contract labor down to just 7% of total hours.

Public health databases show an uneven clinical track record paired with localized personnel challenges. Total direct nursing time averages 3 hours and 24 minutes per resident daily, with strong practical nurse coverage offset by registered nurse hours that trail state benchmarks by 18%. Over a six-year tracking window, the property compiled 20 deficiencies, averaging 3.3 per year, which outpaces the state baseline.

However, its most recent inspection in January 2026 flagged a serious deficiency involving a substantiated complaint of staff-to-resident physical abuse, resulting in the immediate termination of the employee. Past oversight files also note a July 2025 resident rights violation alongside older, corrected issues with fall tracking, room change notices, and infection control. Clinical charts show mixed metrics; the facility scores well on depression management, but permanent residents face higher-than-average rates of physical functional decline and major injury falls.

Prospective residents reviewing local extended care or memory support options can consult these state monitoring summaries to analyze the facility’s day-to-day operations. Since the official tracking profiles show strong local utilization and a lower overall citation count alongside thin daily registered nurse hours, weak post-acute safety scores, and a recent high-severity abuse termination, the data highlights a stable business navigating serious clinical oversight needs.

Contact Westgate

Overview of Communities of Wildwood Ranch

Joplin #1, Inc. and owner John Cascone employ administrator Cynthia Thomas to run Communities of Wildwood Ranch, a 120-bed nursing home located at 3222 South John Duffy Drive in Joplin, Missouri. Financial billing processes smoothly through standard avenues, clearing resident expenses via Medicare, Medicaid, and private payments. For those visiting or staying at the facility, the local neighborhood has a walkability score of 77 out of 100, which means the area is highly pedestrian-friendly, allowing guests to manage everyday tasks and neighborhood walks entirely on foot.

Rosters report a 93 percent occupancy level, while resident stays average 69 days. This shorter timeline indicates an operational setup focused heavily on short-term physical rehabilitation loops and post-hospital recovery rather than multi-year residential stays. To monitor continuous care targets and therapy sessions, the 24-hour staffing schedule delivers an average of 4 hours and 9 minutes of direct nursing care per resident each day, with registered nurses, practical nurses, and nurse aides splitting the daily unit coverage.

Past survey folders note that state inspectors cited specific procedural items requiring corrections, specifically regarding medication administration routines, fall prevention steps, and compliance with general staffing and notification rules, keeping the property’s overall citation rate above zero.

Prospective representatives can evaluate the on-site physical therapy programs and short-term recovery setups to see how the nursing teams manage daily functional goals. The indoor design pairs these clinical rehabilitation tracks with regular social activity programs, common lounge spaces, and standard daily dining options.

Contact Communities of Wildwood Ranch

Overview of Joplin Gardens

Conveniently set in the neighborhood of Joplin, MO, Joplin Gardens is a compassionate senior living community, offering excellent long-term care services. The community provides round the clock doctors and care teams on-site to make sure residents have access to the services they need to thrive and maintain their health. Snug and spacious accommodations are also offered to make sure residents have a comfortable living space for resting and relaxation.

With access to physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, residents are bound to maintain their optimal functionality to enjoy their independence. Housekeeping and laundry services are also offered to make sure residents have less chores to worry about and more time for the things they enjoy. At Joplin Gardens, residents are empowered to enjoy a fulfilling living experience.

Contact Joplin Gardens

Overview of Aspire Senior Living Joplin

In Joplin’s Southwood Forest neighborhood, Aspire Senior Living Joplin operates as a single-story nursing home at 2218 W 32nd Street. The facility handles memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing; it is not Medicare or Medicaid CMS-certified but does work within Missouri’s state system: MO HealthNet waivers, Supplemental Nursing Care program, Structured Family Caregiving Waiver (for dementia), and Medicare Savings Program coverage where applicable. Private payment is an option. Missouri’s Department of Health provides the regulatory framework, not federal CMS.

Walk Score 32 captures a somewhat walkable area, with some errands doable on foot, most requiring transport. The facility is 3.6 miles from downtown, positioned near Landmark Hospital of Joplin, dining options, and banking services. The building is single-story with shared room housing. This infrastructure positions residents for manageable navigation if mobility is limited.

The care model emphasizes 24-hour nursing with specialized memory care and rehabilitation programming. Daily structure includes stretching exercises, social gatherings, and recreational games aimed at engagement and cognition. Meals are dietitian-planned with dietary accommodations built in.

Transportation is provided; on-site medical services are available. Each resident receives a personalized care plan. The facility maintains this operational posture within a state-regulated framework for residents who qualify for Missouri Medicaid or who pay privately.

The facility’s reliance on state-level regulatory frameworks rather than federal CMS certification defines its current operational and financial landscape for prospective residents.

Contact Aspire Senior Living Joplin

Ranking Methodology

How we rank these nursing homes

Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports.

  • CMS data
  • 5 weighted categories
  • Updated quarterly
Full methodology

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Care Quality
  • 20%
    Staffing
  • 20%
    Regulatory
  • 20%
    Operational
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Care Quality 35%

The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.

  • Includes
  • Overall Rating
  • Health Inspection
  • QM Rating
  • Long-Stay QM
  • Short-Stay QM
02

Staffing Adequacy 20%

The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.

  • Includes
  • Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
  • RN vs State
  • Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
  • RN Turnover
03

Regulatory & Safety Record 20%

Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • Citations
  • Citations/Inspection
  • Severe Citations
  • Fines
  • Accreditations
04

Operational & Financial Stability 20%

Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy vs State
  • Avg Length of Stay
  • Revenue
  • Payroll %
  • Years in Operation
  • Admin Tenure
05

Environment & Accessibility 5%

Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • BBB Rating
No paid rankings Facilities cannot pay to influence placement.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Joplin, MO

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Missouri?

Assisted living in Missouri 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 Missouri Medicaid cover nursing home care?

Yes — Missouri 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 4 nursing homes in Joplin, MO. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right nursing home in Joplin, MO?

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 Joplin, MO, 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 Joplin, MO?

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.