Best Nursing Homes in Missouri

The Pines Post-Acute Rehabilitation and Retirement Center is a nursing home in Kirksville, MO, offering skilled nursing and rehabilitation. The community has a warm and welcoming environment that aims to keep older adults comfortable and safe. High-quality services, including 24-hour care, well-balanced meals, and recreational opportunities, are also provided to improve residents’ quality of life. Focusing on residents’ holistic wellness, personalized care plans are also provided based on their unique needs and preferences.

Mascots, celebrations, and light exercises encourage residents to live actively and make friends. Thoughtfully furnished common areas and cozy living spaces also ensure residents can rest and interact with their surroundings comfortably. Residents also experience a laid-back lifestyle, as it is ideally set in the quiet residential area of Kirksville. As one of the best options for senior living in Missouri, this nursing home ensures older adults can thrive in retirement.

Blue Springs Wellness & Rehabilitation is a 120-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Blue Springs, Jackson County, Missouri, operated by Blue Springs Wellness & Rehabilitation LLC with Carl Emerson as administrator. The facility provides healthcare, rehabilitation, and social services for short-term and long-term residents, with 24-hour staffing and a physician on staff.

Staffing shows consistent gaps below state benchmarks. Registered nurse coverage is 23 minutes/day, 18% below the Missouri average. Licensed practical nurse hours are 29 minutes/day, 29% below average. Certified nurse aide staffing is 1 hour 36 minutes/day, 31% below average.

Weekend total nursing is 2 hours 12 minutes/day, 28% below average, with weekend RN coverage at 17 minutes/day, 15% below average. Physical therapist hours are 3 minutes/day, 50% above average.

Quality measures for long-stay residents present a mixed picture. Hospitalizations reach 2.41 per 1,000 days, 16% worse than the Missouri average. Emergency department visits are 1.82 per 1,000 days, 23% better than average.

The facility is located in a moderately walkable area (walk score 68). Meals are nutritionally balanced and accommodate medical and faith-based requirements. Rehabilitation services and respite care are available. The facility operates continuously.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Regulation and Licensure, conducts inspections for all long-term care providers in the state.

Families should ask for clarification on the elevated hospitalization rate (16% worse than state average), and information on short-stay rehabilitation outcomes before placement.

Overview of James River Nursing and Rehabilitation

James River Nursing and Rehabilitation is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility at 3550 East Battlefield, Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, operated by Jrnrc Ops Inc under the administration of Kelsey Long. The facility provides short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and respite care for Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents.

The most significant finding in the recent inspection record is a November 2025 complaint investigation that revealed systemic problems with basic hygiene and staff scheduling. Prior complaint investigation in July 2024 identified 18 deficiencies across multiple categories. A health inspection in July 2024 found 7 deficiencies. The September 2022 health inspection documented failures to post daily nurse staffing information prominently and deficiencies in food storage protocols.

The facility remains subject to ongoing compliance monitoring.

LPNs provide 48 minutes/resident/day, 17% above the average of 41 minutes. Registered Nurses provide only 21 minutes/resident/day, 25% below the average of 28 minutes. Certified Nursing Aides provide 2 hours 15 minutes/resident/day, 3% below average. Weekend nursing total drops to 2 hours 35 minutes/resident/day, 15% below the average of 3 hours 3 minutes.

Weekend RN coverage falls to 12 minutes/resident/day, 40% below the average of 20 minutes. Physical therapy is minimal at 1 minute/resident/day, 50% below the average of 2 minutes.

The payroll ratio of 43.9% to revenue falls well below the 60-71% range considered adequate for Missouri SNFs.

Long-stay hospitalization rates are concerning at 3.61/1,000 resident days, 74% worse than the average of 2.08/1,000 days. Pressure ulcer rates in high-risk long-stay residents stand at 7.8%, 56% worse than the average of 5.0%. Long-stay emergency department visits are 1.92/1,000 resident days, 18% better than average. Falls with major injury affect 3.3% of long-stay residents, 18% better than the average of 4.0%.

Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination rates for long-stay residents reach 99.7% and 100% respectively, both significantly above average. Short-stay residents show discharge functional ability in 60.8% of cases, 13% better than the average. Short-stay re-hospitalization is 27.2%, 8% worse than the average of 25.3%.

CMS rates the facility 3 stars overall, placing it 14.1% above the Missouri average. Health Inspection is rated 3/5, marginally above average. The standout strength is Staffing, rated 5/5 and 38.9% above average. Quality Measures are rated 5/5, 43.4% above state average.

The facility provides 24-hour staffing with licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants on site. Therapeutic services include rehabilitation services and physical therapy. Resident amenities include a communal dining space, activity area, outdoor courtyard with gazebo, therapy gym, and salon services.

James River Nursing and Rehabilitation holds a A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and occupies a highly walkable neighborhood with a walk score of 94.

Occupancy is strong at 83%, 25% above the Missouri average, with 64.4% of current residents on Medicaid.

The facility has been in operation for 26 years and maintains 120 licensed beds. No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the past three years.

Families evaluating James River should scrutinize the November 2025 complaint findings regarding shower frequency and staffing adequacy and assess weekend RN coverage.

Capitol River Wellness & Rehabilitation is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility at 1221 Southgate Lane in Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, operated by Jefferson City Wellness & Rehabilitation LLC and administered by Sheila Barks-Distler. The facility accepts Medicare and provides 24-hour staffing with a physician on site, rehabilitation services, and respite care.

Registered Nurse coverage at 25 minutes daily falls 11% below Missouri’s average of 28 minutes, while Licensed Practical Nurse hours at 1 hour 4 minutes/day exceed the average by 56%. Certified Nurse Aide staffing at 2 hours 32 minutes/day runs 9% above the benchmark of 2 hours 19 minutes. Physical Therapy hours are notably strong at 4 minutes/resident daily, double the average. The critical vulnerability emerges on weekends: RN coverage drops to 13 minutes/day, 35% below the average of 20 minutes.

Long-stay residents experience 1.54 hospitalizations/1,000 days (26% better than average 2.08) and 1.93 ED visits per 1,000 days (18% better than average 2.35). Short-stay re-hospitalization rates are 17.5%, placing the facility 31% ahead of the average of 25.3%. Short-stay ED visit rates are 6.4%, 52% better than the average of 13.4%. Discharge functional ability for short-stay residents; 63.6% at or above expected self-care capacity, exceeds the average of 53.7% by 19%.

Successful return to home or community from skilled nursing is 43.5%, 14% below the average of 50.6%.

Falls with major injury present a significant concern. The facility reports 3.6% of short-stay residents experience falls with major injury, substantially worse than the average of 0.8%.

Reviewers described meals as poorly prepared and unappetizing, with multiple residents reporting difficulty consuming facility-provided food.

Capitol River Wellness & Rehabilitation provides comprehensive skilled nursing care with rehabilitation focus. The facility operates on a 24-hour basis with physician oversight and offers rehabilitation services, respite care, and Medicare-covered short-term post-acute care. Nutritionally balanced meals are prepared on-site to accommodate medical and faith-based dietary requirements. The facility maintains on-site physical therapy services and supports activities of daily living assistance through its nursing and aide staff.

Residents have access to common dining areas and social gathering spaces within the 120-bed community, which benefits from a walk score of 67 providing moderate access to nearby hospitals, pharmacies, shopping, and dining establishments in the Jefferson City area.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Regulation and Licensure, conducts annual inspections and unannounced surveys of all long-term care providers. Families should request Capitol River’s complete inspection record, deficiency history, and citation details directly from the facility or the state licensing authority.

Families should ask about weekend RN protocols and request detailed documentation of fall prevention measures and major injury incident investigation.

Overview of Sunnyview Nursing Home & Apartments

Sunnyview Nursing Home & Apartments is a 28-bed skilled nursing facility in Trenton, Grundy County, Missouri, administrated by Penny Buswell and privately owned. The facility serves Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents with an average length of stay of 341 days and current occupancy of 33.9%.

Sunnyview offers skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, and therapeutic services including physical, occupational, and speech pathology. The facility maintains on-site nurse aide training, mental health services, and an active resident council.

Nursing staffing exceeds Missouri state benchmarks in most categories. Total nursing care averages 4 hours 28 minutes per resident per day, 18% above state average and ranking 47th among 276 Missouri facilities. Licensed Practical Nurse hours of 53 minutes per day exceed state average by 29%, and Certified Nursing Aide hours of 2 hours 52 minutes per day are 24% above benchmark. Registered nurse coverage of 21 minutes per day is 25% below state average, and weekend registered nurse presence of 12 minutes per day is 40% below benchmark.

Quality of care metrics reveal significant clinical challenges. Falls with major injury occur in 7.4% of long-stay residents, 84% worse than Missouri’s benchmark of 4.0%. Urinary tract infection rates of 5.9% are 115% worse than state average of 2.7%. Functional decline reaches 25.0, 29% worse than state average.

Walking ability decline affects 26.5% of residents, 28% worse than state average. Long-stay hospitalization rates of 3.26 per 1,000 days are 57% worse than state benchmark. Positive measures include pneumococcal vaccination at 99.4% and influenza vaccination at 97.8%, both significantly better than state.

Financial performance shows operational stress. The facility reported a $260,600 operating loss in fiscal 2024 against $5.2 million revenue. Payroll represents 76.8% of revenue, the 17th highest percentage statewide. Occupancy of 33.9% remains critically low.

Regulatory compliance reveals serious deficiencies. Nine inspections since 2019 identified 45 citations including 2 critical violations for abuse or neglect. Four complaint investigations between April 2023 and October 2025 documented critical failures.

April 2023 documented failure to timely report sexual abuse. A resident with Alzheimer’s disease and severe cognitive impairment reported he had been raped. August 2023 documented inappropriate sexual comments toward a resident with severe cognitive impairment. September 2024 identified environmental deficiencies.

September 2025 documented failure to update care plans following resident elopement.

October 2025 resulted in a critical citation for abuse or neglect, the facility’s second critical citation in six years. Federal penalties totaled $36,000, with $17,000 assessed in September 2025.

CMS ratings are 1/5 overall, 2/5 for health inspection, 5/5 for staffing, and 1/5 for quality measures.

Families should review the facility’s protocols for reporting abuse, environmental remediation, and fall and infection prevention measures before considering placement.

Overview of Medicalodges Butler

Medicalodges Butler is a 105-bed skilled nursing facility at 103 East Nursery, Butler, Bates County, Missouri, operated by Medicalodges, Inc. and administered by Misty Brooks. The facility provides skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and dementia and memory care services for Medicare and private-pay residents.

Emergency department visit rates stand at 36.2% of short-stay residents, 170% worse than the average of 13.4%. Falls with major injury during stay affect 2.5% of short-stay residents, 225% worse than the average of 0.8%. Re-hospitalization occurs in 28.8% of short-stay residents discharged, 14% worse than average. Ability to care for self at discharge is achieved in 42.9% of residents, 20% worse than the average of 53.7%.

Hospitalization rates are 1.69/1,000 resident days, 19% better than the Missouri average. Successful return to home or community for short-stay residents is 56.3%, 11% better than average.

Registered Nurses provide 36 minutes/resident/day, 29% above the Missouri average of 28 minutes, representing meaningful clinical strength. Licensed Practical Nurses provide 45 minutes/resident/day, 10% above average. Certified Nursing Aides provide 2 hours 27 minutes/resident/day, 6% above average. Total nursing care reaches 4 hours 19 minutes/resident/day, 14% above the average of 3 hours 48 minutes, ranking 60th among 256 Missouri facilities.

Weekend nursing maintains 3 hours 16 minutes/resident/day, 7% above average. Weekend RN coverage is 18 minutes/resident/day, 10% below the average of 20 minutes.

Long-stay falls with major injury occur in 7.8% of residents, 92% worse than the Missouri average of 4.0%. High-risk long-stay residents with pressure ulcers affect only 1.5%, 70% better than the average of 5.0%. Pneumococcal vaccination reaches 100% of long-stay residents, 17% better than average. Influenza vaccination reaches 96.8%, 7% better than average.

Long-stay emergency department visits are 2.01/1,000 resident days, 14% better than average.

Since 2019, the facility has received 4 health inspections from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Regulation and Licensure with 12 total citations, substantially below the average of 36.5. All citations are moderate severity; the facility has zero critical or serious violations.

The July 2022 health inspection revealed deficiencies in food safety practices and water-borne pathogen prevention. The March 2024 health inspection cited nutrition, environmental, and resident rights issues. The June 2025 complaint investigation found a pharmacy citation. The trajectory of citations/inspection has remained low and stable.

CMS rates the facility 4 stars overall, placing it 52.1% above the Missouri average. Health Inspection is rated 4/5, 37.9% above average. Staffing is rated 4/5, 85.2% above average. Quality Measures are rated 2/5, 28.3% below average.

Occupancy is 66.3%, ranking 166th out of 262 Missouri facilities and slightly below average. Current census includes 54.3% Medicaid, 8.6% Medicare, and 37.1% private pay or other residents.

Average length of stay is 422 days.

No civil money penalties were reported in the past three years.

Medicalodges Butler offers 24-hour nursing staff, rehabilitation services, and on-site state-approved nurse aide training. Resident amenities include dining accommodations, activities programming, and an active resident council where residents meet regularly to discuss facility policies and quality of life.

Families enrolling short-stay residents for rehabilitation should request detailed explanations of the elevated emergency department visit rates and falls injury rates.

Sunset Home is a 60-bed nursing home at 1201 South Polk in Maysville, Missouri, operated by N & R of Maysville, LLC in DeKalb County. The facility has availability at 56 percent occupancy, below Missouri’s 66.6 percent average. Accepted are Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, averaging 153 days stay length, geared toward long-term skilled nursing care. Resident transportation to medical appointments exists.

The facility is rated 1 star by CMS, 62 percent below Missouri average, driven by below-average health inspection and staffing sub-ratings. Quality measures run modestly above state average. Across 5 inspections since 2023, the facility recorded 34 total citations, 1 serious and 33 moderate, with no critical findings, recent fines, and recent payment denials. Nurse hours run 3h 48m per resident daily, aligned with Missouri’s average.

Sunset Home suits long-term Medicaid residents in rural DeKalb County needing ongoing skilled nursing care.

Overview of Sunrise Nursing & Rehabilitation

Sunrise Nursing & Rehabilitation is a 152-bed skilled nursing facility operated by 600 Opco LLC at 600 East Sunrise Drive in Raymore, Cass County, Missouri. Welcomed are Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, with most of 134 residents on long-term stays averaging 130 days. The facility operates near capacity at 88 percent occupancy, well above Missouri’s 66.6 percent average.

CMS rates the facility 1 star, 62 percent below Missouri average, driven by below-average health inspection and staffing sub-ratings. Quality measures are the one positive sub-rating, running 43.4 percent above state average. Across 6 inspections since 2021, the facility totaled 42 total, including 2 critical findings, with a substantiated immediate jeopardy citation in May 2023 involving resident-to-resident abuse resulting in serious injury. A $10,000 federal fine was issued in April 2024, with no payment denials. Nurse hours run 2h 37m per resident per day, 31 percent below Missouri average.

An active resident council and residents group exist.

The facility serves long-term Medicaid residents in Raymore, in Cass County south of Kansas City.

Overview of Life Care Center of Bridgeton

Life Care Center of Bridgeton is a 91-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at 12145 Bridgeton Square Drive in Bridgeton, Missouri. Operated by Bridgeton Operations LLC, a privately held partnership, in St. Louis County, the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. A resident mix of both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care is supported. The average stay length is 53 days, reflecting meaningful short-stay volume alongside longer-term residents.

CMS scores the facility 3 stars, 14.1 percent above the Missouri average. The quality measures sub-rating is the clearest strength, running 43.4 percent above the state average, a signal of above-average clinical outcomes for long-stay residents. Staffing runs modestly below the Missouri average at the RN level, though total nurse hours reach 3h 54m per resident daily, roughly 3 percent above the state figure. At 79 percent occupancy which is above Missouri’s 66.6 percent average, the facility typically has some availability.

Amenities include a fine dining program, landscaped grounds and courtyards, a beauty salon and barber shop, and an Alzheimer’s and dementia care program. More services include a community re-entry program and patient and family education program.

The mix of above-average quality measures, a 53-day average stay, and dedicated dementia programming fits residents seeking short-term post-acute rehabilitation or memory care placement in the Bridgeton area of St. Louis County.

Lincoln Community Care Center is an 80-bed skilled nursing facility at 205 Timberline Drive in Lincoln, Missouri. At 69 percent occupancy in line with Missouri’s 66.6 percent average, the facility has some availability. It’s operated by governmental entity Lincoln Community Nursing Home District, serving Benton County since 1972. Welcome are Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, averaging a stay length of 447 days reflecting a predominantly long-term Medicaid population.

CMS scores the facility 3 stars, 14.1 percent above Missouri’s average. Staffing is the defining positive sub-rating at 85.2 percent above Missouri’s average, nurse hours reach 4h 9m per resident daily, ranked 84th out of 276 Missouri skilled nursing facilities. Across 4 inspections since 2020, the facility recorded 15 total citations, including a substantiated immediate jeopardy finding in October 2023 tied to COVID-19 infection control failures involving improper cohorting of positive and negative residents; a $14,000 federal fine followed. The IJ was removed after corrective actions; no further enforcement recorded.

Amenities include outdoor courtyards, a recreation room, live entertainment, and an onsite beautician. Sub-acute care is a program alongside skilled nursing and dementia care.

Operated as a community-owned facility, Lincoln Community Care Center is built for long-term Medicaid skilled nursing and dementia care in rural Benton County.