Best Nursing Homes in Kansas

Overview of The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is a 45-bed nonprofit nursing facility in Oberlin, Decatur County, Kansas, offering rehabilitation therapy, memory care, and respite care, as well as programs in caregiver support and home-based services. It is operated by Craig Bartruff under the Good Samaritan Society organization.

CMS rates the facility 2 stars overall — 27.8% below the Kansas average — primarily due to Health Inspection and Quality Measures sub-ratings that fall below state benchmarks. Staffing is the exception: nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 42 minutes per resident per day, ranking 60th out of 141 Kansas skilled nursing facilities and roughly 10% above the state average. Inspection history over the reporting window shows 18.1 deficiencies per year, more than three times the Kansas average of 6.

The inspection record includes two substantiated complaints involving resident abuse — one staff-to-resident incident in February 2024, in which the CNA was suspended and subsequently left — and one substantiated fall-prevention failure are part of the record. The most recent annual inspection in November 2025 cited 7 deficiencies; a December 2025 revisit confirmed full correction with no new findings.

Occupancy stands at 40% — well below the Kansas average of 79.5% — indicating current availability.

The Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin serves residents who require long-term skilled nursing care in rural northwest Kansas, particularly those eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or the Kansas Frail Elderly Waiver. However, families should carefully review the facility’s inspection history and abuse-related findings before making a placement decision.

Overview of Wheatridge Park Care Center

Wheatridge Park Care Center is a 45-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation community in Liberal, Kansas, offering skilled nursing, extended care, short-term rehabilitation, respite care, and memory care. The facility is operated by Liberal SNF Holdco LLC. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

CMS rates the facility 1 star overall — primarily due to its Health Inspection score, which is 62% below the Kansas average. Over seven years of inspection data on file, the facility averaged 15.3 deficiencies per year, compared with a Kansas average of 6.

Two substantiated complaint investigations, in 2014 and 2015, identified failures in fall prevention, medication oversight, and resident care planning. No fines or enforcement actions were documented.

The most recent inspection, in August 2018, found zero deficiencies — a marked contrast to earlier years. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 49 minutes per resident per day, 19% below the Kansas average of 4 hours and 43 minutes, with Quality Measures also trailing the state.

The facility’s occupancy rate tells a different story: at 98%, the facility operates near capacity, well above the Kansas average of 79.5%. The Rehab to Home program targets short-stay post-acute recovery. The facility also provides 24-hour staffing.

Wheatridge Park Care Center is best suited for residents seeking skilled nursing or short-term rehabilitation in Seward County, particularly those prioritizing proximity and immediate availability over star-rating benchmarks.

Overview of Medicalodges Paola

Medicalodges Paola is a 70-bed nursing care facility in rural Paola, Kansas. The home provides rehabilitation and ongoing nursing care for residents needing skilled support. It has an occupancy rate of 90%, suggesting strong community confidence in its services. Residents stay an average of 280 days, including short-term rehabilitation patients and those who settle in for longer-term nursing care.

The facility is administered by Alieu Jallow and owned by Allie Jallow. Daily nursing care averages 4 hours and 32 minutes per resident. That support comes from registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, and other care staff.

Medicalodges Paola accepts Medicare and private pay, providing families with coverage flexibility for rehabilitation stays and ongoing care. The home is in a moderately walkable area, with a Walk Score of 52. Visitors can handle some errands on foot, but many trips still need a short drive.

State inspection records over the past 14 years show recurring problem areas. These were mainly environmental cleanliness, food sanitation, and medication management practices. The facility has submitted correction plans when concerns were found. Follow-up inspections later confirmed improvements, especially in environmental and safety compliance.

Daily life at the facility includes personal care and a dining program with a wide range of menu choices. Special diet preparations are also available for residents. Residents can use social and family spaces to connect with others.

Spiritual services are part of the community as well. Local church members provide regular Bible studies and church services on-site. Transportation services are available for residents attending appointments and community activities. Rehabilitation services and recreational programming add support for recovery and daily quality of life.

Overview of The Nicol Home

Owned by Carter Olson, the Nicol Home is a small nursing home in Glasco, Kansas, that serves residents in a rural setting. The area is car-dependent, so most errands and visits will require driving. With 32 beds, the home has a smaller, more personal scale. The facility has an occupancy rate of 94%, so it’s quite full for its size. It accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay from families looking for options to cover long-term care or rehabilitation.

Residents stay an average of over 2 years. That suggests many residents stay for ongoing nursing care rather than short-term recovery alone. Nursing support averages about 4 hours and 45 minutes per resident each day. That care comes from registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses. The home also has an 8:1 staff-to-resident ratio to provide more individual attention.

Care services include rehabilitation, respite care, and short-term rehab options. Staff is available 24 hours a day. This may suit residents recovering from illness or injury or those who need long-term care with strong daily nursing support.

State inspections show the home has worked on past care-planning and quality concerns. Recent inspection results show compliance with regulatory requirements. They also reflect correction of earlier deficiencies. Families may still want to ask what changed and how staff now track care plans.

For families considering The Nicol Home, the small size may be a main draw. The strong staffing-to-resident ratio is also worth noting. Visiting family should plan to drive because of the rural Kansas location. Still, the quieter setting may suit residents who prefer a close-knit community.

Overview of Medicalodges Kinsley

Owned and operated by Angela Dreiling, Medicalodges Kinsley is a 42-bed nursing facility in Kinsley, Kansas. It accepts Medicare and private pay. For families, those options may help cover rehabilitation or ongoing residential care. The home has an occupancy rate of 57%, which is a moderate level for a facility this size. It may feel less crowded than many fuller nursing homes.

Residents stay an average of 99 days, which suggests both short-term rehab and longer skilled nursing care. Some residents may come after illness, injury, or a hospital stay. Others may need more support before returning home or staying longer. Medicalodges Kinsley provides rehabilitation services, respite care, and short-term rehab programs. These services are offered along with its main residential care role.

Total nursing care averages 6 hours and 57 minutes per resident each day. Registered nurses provide about 58 minutes daily. Nurse aides add another 58 minutes of care. Licensed practical nurses and vocational nurses provide about 31 minutes per day.

State inspections over the past 14 years have found recurring themes. These involved documentation accuracy, emergency preparedness, and food safety practices. The facility has worked to address these areas over time. It has also brought operations into full regulatory compliance.

Daily life includes a dining program with resident choice. The menu includes many regular items and support for special diets. That may help residents who need food limits or personal meal preferences.

The home also has a salon and barbershop, family spaces, and spiritual services. Transportation services are available for residents and their families. The surrounding Kinsley area has a Walk Score of 50. Some errands may be walkable, but most trips still need a short drive.