Page 19 of Best Nursing Homes in Missouri

Overview of Nazareth Living Center

Nazareth Living Center is a 235-bed skilled nursing and assisted living community in Saint Louis, Missouri, offering skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, respite care, and short-term rehabilitation, with 24-hour staffing across all units. It is operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet St. Louis Province, a nonprofit that has run the facility since 1987.

The facility carries a 2-star overall CMS rating, driven by Health Inspection and Quality Measures scores that are both roughly 30% below the Missouri average. Across 10 inspections since 2020, the facility recorded 51 deficiencies — 46% above the state average. The March 2025 routine survey identified 17 deficiencies, including a 38.71% medication error rate and infection control failures. The July 2025 complaint investigation was substantiated for financial exploitation of a resident, wound-care failures that led to a hospital transfer, and controlled-substance record discrepancies. CMS imposed a $12,000 civil money penalty in October 2023 and a four-day payment denial in March 2025.

Total nursing hours average 4 hours per resident per day, roughly 5% above the Missouri average, though RN-specific hours are 43% below state benchmarks. The facility’s occupancy rate is 40%, compared with Missouri’s average of 66.6%, reflecting current availability across most care levels. The community is part of a continuing care retirement community campus and maintains active resident and family councils; religious services and a full calendar of social and spiritual activities are available on-site.

With a 46-day average length of stay and a payer mix that is 72% private pay, the facility is structured primarily for short-term post-acute and rehabilitative stays in Saint Louis County. However, families considering Nazareth Living Center should also carefully review its recent inspection findings, medication error history, and substantiated complaint investigations before making a placement decision.

Overview of The Ozarks Methodist Manor

Administrator Wayne Rainey oversees the daily services at The Ozarks Methodist Manor, a 154-bed nursing home situated at 205 South College Avenue in Marionville, Missouri. Families managing payment options can clear accounts through conventional insurance channels like Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay. Given the small-town, rural setup, the area has a walkability score of 28 out of 100, which tells visitors they will need a car for virtually all travel and local errands when visiting the campus.

Beds remain about 39 percent occupied, and residents stay for an average of 199 days. This length of stay indicates that the medical team splits its time between permanent residential care and short-term post-hospital rehab. Daily physical needs are handled via a 24-hour staffing framework that averages 4 hours and 1 minute of total nursing care per resident each day, with registered nurses, practical nurses, and nurse aides sharing the shift schedule.

Recent inspection surveys flagged several areas that required correction, specifically regarding infection prevention steps, updated care plan documents, daily staffing level adjustments, and timely reporting rules for serious incidents, which keeps the total citation rate above zero.

Prospective residents can explore an internal layout that features a dedicated health center, a special care memory unit, and dedicated rehabilitation therapy spaces. The community coordinates these clinical tracks with organized group outings, standard daily meals, and shared indoor lounges.

Rocky Ridge Manor is a skilled nursing home in Mansfield, Missouri, that has operated on Highway A for nearly three decades. The 65-bed facility is operated by N & R Of Mansfield, LLC, owned by Denise Lynn Evans, and is administered by Hughie Gibson. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing families several ways to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

The home is 74% occupied. Most residents stay an average of 134 days, including post-acute rehabilitation and ongoing skilled nursing needs.

Clinically, Rocky Ridge Manor offers a full range of nursing and rehabilitation services. Licensed nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 2 minutes of total daily care per resident, with registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses on staff. The home offers physical and occupational therapies. There’s a doctor on staff who works with registered dietitians and provides specialized behavioral and Alzheimer’s care. Hospice services are also available for patients nearing the end of life.

The facility’s amenities and specialized services include a spa specialist, restorative therapy, in-house laundry, a vegetable garden, and free CNA and CMT continuing-education classes for staff. Dining is handled through comprehensive meal services that offer a variety of nutritious options to suit individual preferences. The home provides transportation for residents, and its goal is to maintain a homelike environment within its care setting.

Mansfield’s Walkability Score is 50 out of 100. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but most trips will require a car. The surrounding area is moderately accessible for families, but it’s largely car-dependent.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ state inspections identified issues around reporting and investigation protocols, infection control practices, pain management, care plan documentation, and environmental cleanliness. Families evaluating the facility can ask and clarify these findings during a facility tour.

Overview of Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau

Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau is a 120-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility operated by Cape Girardeau Operations, LLC, at 365 South Broadview Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. At 66 percent occupancy aligned with Missouri’s state average, the facility has some availability. Accepted are Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, with a mix of short-term rehabilitation and long-term care averaging 46 days of stay length.

The facility is scored 1 star by CMS, 62 percent below Missouri’s average, driven by a health inspection sub-rating running 65.5 percent below the state mean. Quality measures are the one above-average sub-rating at 43.4 percent above state figure. Across 13 inspections since 2022, the facility recorded 44 total citations including 2 critical and 5 serious findings. A substantiated immediate jeopardy citation was issued in June 2025 after staff performed CPR on a resident with a documented DNR order; a $82,000 federal fine and a 19-day payment denial followed in May 2025, bringing total fines to $150,000 across four penalties in the past three years. Nurse hours run 3h 53m per resident daily, essentially aligned with Missouri’s average.

A community re-entry program, a certified dietitian, landscaped grounds and courtyards, and a beauty salon and barber shop are among the amenities. Alzheimer’s and dementia care is a confirmed program.

Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau serves in Cape Girardeau County a mix of post-acute rehabilitation and long-term care patients.

Overview of Cameron Nursing Center

Cameron Nursing Center is a 120-bed nursing home at 801 Euclid Ave in Cameron, Missouri. Operated by 801 Opco Llc and owned by Cynthia Hunter, it accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have numerous routes to afford short-term rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care.

The home is currently at 63 percent occupancy with an average stay duration of 93 days, indicating a blend of rehabilitation admissions and longer-term residents. Daily nursing support averages 2 hours 54 minutes per resident, with registered nurses, nurse aides, and LPNs on staff 24/7. Rehabilitation services exist on-site, and a doctor is available to residents, lessening the need for outside medical appointments. The facility handles health care and dietary management in-house. Cameron sits on a moderately walkable street (Walk Score 55), where families can run some errands on foot and have convenient access by car for others.

State inspections have noted areas demanding attention. These include environmental standards, infection control practices, and care documentation.

When considering Cameron Nursing Center, families may find it beneficial to ask detailed questions during a tour about how it maintains safety standards and resident care quality.

Maple Grove Wellness & Rehabilitation is a 144-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Fenton, St. Louis County, Missouri, administrated by Jodie Pate and privately owned. The facility provides skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and respite care serving Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents with an average length of stay of 643 days, indicating a primarily long-term care population.

Total nursing care averages 2 hours 46 minutes/resident/day, 27% below the average. Registered nurse coverage of 8 minutes/day is critically deficient at 71% below average. Certified Nursing Aide hours are 21% below benchmark. Weekend registered nurse presence of 7 minutes/day is 65% below average.

Staff-to-resident ratio of 1.45 to 1 is 15% worse than state norms. Contractor staffing comprises 8.7% of total hours, predominantly Licensed Practical Nurses.

Pressure ulcer prevention is effective at 3.5% of high-risk residents affected (31% better than state). Urinary tract infection rates of 0.6% are 77% better than state. However, long-stay hospitalization rates of 4.33/1,000 days are 108% worse than benchmark of 2.08. Low-risk residents with incontinence at 23.4% are 29% worse than state.

Antipsychotic use at 32.0% is 46% worse than average. Pneumococcal vaccination for long-stay residents reaches only 59.5% (30% worse than state), and influenza vaccination is 24% worse than state. Short-stay vaccination rates are critically deficient with pneumococcal at 7.0% and influenza at 11.4%.

The facility reported a $941,000 operating loss in fiscal 2023 (profit margin of negative 14.5%) against $6.5 million revenue. Payroll represents 69.2% of revenue, above sustainable levels. Occupancy is 61.2%, below average.

Six inspections since December 2022 identified 44 citations including one serious violation and 39 moderate citations. Citations/inspection average 7.33, exceeding Missouri’s average. No federal penalties were imposed.

June 2025 complaint investigation documented a serious pharmacy deficiency with actual patient harm. Multiple residents with diabetes did not receive ordered insulin injections. A Licensed Practical Nurse, running late on medication pass, withdrew morphine sulfate and lorazepam intended for one resident, entered another resident’s room, called out the wrong resident’s name, and when that resident aroused, administered both medications without confirming identity. The nurse was terminated the next day.

Complaint investigations in March 2025 and July 2024 documented additional infection control and quality of care deficiencies. The cumulative inspection record demonstrates systemic failures in pharmacy operations, medication administration safety, infection control, and vaccination administration.

The facility maintains physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology services. Walk Score of 54 reflects moderately walkable surroundings. CMS ratings are 1/5 overall, 2/5 for health inspection, 1/5 for staffing, and 2/5 for quality measures.

The serious pharmacy deficiency and medication error resulting in patient hospitalization, combined with the facility-wide failure to administer ordered medications and critical nursing staffing shortages, represent substantial patient safety concerns.

Families should carefully review pharmacy procedures and medication oversight protocols before considering placement.

Overview of New Mark Rehab and Healthcare Center

New Mark Operator LLC and administrator Devan Bestgen oversee the day-to-day operations at New Mark Rehab and Healthcare Center, located at 11221 North Nashua Drive in Kansas City, Missouri. The administrative desk processes accounts through traditional payment paths, working with private funds, Medicaid, and Medicare. Family members checking the local grid will find a highly pedestrian-friendly neighborhood scoring 94 out of 100 for walkability, which means you can complete simple errands or walk to nearby spots without needing a car.

Records show that the 199-bed facility stays around 81 percent full, with resident stays averaging about 131 days. This regular operating timeline points to a schedule that balances temporary post-hospital rehab tracks with extended residential care placements. To monitor active medical treatments, the 24-hour shift layout delivers an average of 3 hours and 8 minutes of total nursing care per resident each day, split up among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides.

Regular review documents from the Department of Health and Senior Services note that inspectors have examined routine resident care protocols, staff supervision habits, and everyday safety operations, keeping the building’s overall citation rate above zero.

Prospective individuals can explore the physical therapy rooms, short-term recovery setups, and shared dining halls. The everyday program emphasizes structured meal choices alongside an open snack bar where residents and guests can grab a bite between breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Warrenton Manor is a skilled nursing home in Wright City, Missouri, providing services such as comprehensive post-acute rehabilitation or longer-term nursing care. The facility is operated by N & R Of Warrenton, Inc., owned by Brandon Bysor. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families multiple ways to access coverage. With 120 beds and a 74% occupancy rate, the home operates to support individualized attention.

Residents stay for an average of 98 days, including short-term rehabilitation stays and residents transitioning to longer-term placement. From a clinical standpoint, the home has a full range of rehabilitation services, including short-term rehab, respite care, and on-site medical support with a doctor on staff and 24-hour nursing coverage. Residents recovering from surgery, an acute illness, or a hospital stay who need structured nursing support and therapy services will find this facility a good fit.

Total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 9 minutes per resident daily, so there’s substantial hands-on support throughout the day. The home also provides dialysis and IV therapy services, so residents won’t have to leave the facility for specialized care. The van is available to residents who need to attend appointments and community outings.

Amenities available on-site include complete dining services with meals to accommodate individual preferences, beauty and barber services, housekeeping and laundry support, and on-site pharmacy services. The home also supports religious and community involvement, and families can participate. Its location in the Wright City area has a walkability score of 34; the setting is best for residents who prefer a quieter, more rural environment where most trips are by transportation rather than on foot.

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.

Located on Boones Lick Road in Saint Charles, Missouri, Lewis & Clark Gardens is a 142-bed skilled nursing facility operated by N & R Of St Charles, LLC under the ownership of Melissa Yates, with Amanda Marsten serving as administrator. The home has been operating for 31 years and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families several options for covering rehabilitation and long-term care costs. Operating at 60% occupancy, the facility serves residents who stay an average of 135 days. The surrounding area has a Walk Score of 87, so it’s highly walkable and convenient for family visits and nearby errands.

Rehabilitation services are a major focus of the community’s care program. Residents have access to short-term rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician services, and 24-hour nursing support. Behavioral health services, Alzheimer’s care, dietitian support, and hospice care are also available. Residents receive an average of 4 hours and 4 minutes of nursing care each day from registered nurses, nurse aides, and LPN/LVN staff.

State inspections conducted by the Department of Health and Senior Services have identified concerns regarding allegation reporting, investigative procedures, personal care, bathing assistance, wound care, and food service practices. Families considering the home should review recent inspection findings and ask how these areas are monitored and managed.

Residents receive meals tailored to their dietary needs and personal preferences. The facility also features a fenced courtyard, seasonal resident garden, beauty and barber services, an ice cream parlor, and a home-like environment. With more than three decades of operation and a walkable location in Saint Charles, Lewis & Clark Gardens has been an established part of the local community.