Nursing Homes and Senior Care in District of Columbia

Nursing Homes by City in District of Columbia

Every District of Columbia city with a CMS-certified nursing home. Homes in District of Columbia average 4.8 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in District of Columbia

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in District of Columbia.

Assisted Living in District of Columbia

DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (Community Residence Facilities Branch) licenses assisted living in District of Columbia. License types: Assisted Living Residence (ALR).

• District of Columbia assisted living rules
• District of Columbia assisted living licensing (DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (Community Residence Facilities Branch))

Memory Care Rules in District of Columbia

Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• The resident agreement must include the specific nature of any special care the ALR holds itself out to provide, such as specialty in Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease (D.C. Code § 44-106.02).
• Staff training includes recognizing the signs and symptoms of dementia and caring for the cognitively impaired with such behaviors as wandering, repetitive questions, and confusion (D.C. Code § 44-107.02).
• After the first year of employment, and at least annually thereafter, each staff member completes at least 12 hours of in-service training, including four hours covering cognitive impairments in accordance with the District's dementia training for direct care workers requirements (D.C. Code § 44-107.02).
• On an annual basis, the assisted living administrator completes 12 additional hours of training on cognitive impairments approved by a nationally recognized organization with expertise in dementia, such as the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (D.C. Code §§ 44-107.01 and 44-107.02).
• Assisted Living Residences, skilled nursing facilities, home care agencies and hospices with residents or participants with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia must provide initial dementia training of at least 8 hours to direct service staff, administrative staff and other covered staff; new hires begin within 90 days and finish within 120 days of hire, and training is complete only after the staff member passes an evaluation (D.C. Code § 7-744.02).
• Each facility or program must establish procedures for ongoing staff support in the care of persons with dementia, including on-site mentoring programs (D.C. Code § 7-744.02).
• The design of services and environment should acknowledge that a significant number of residents may have some form of cognitive impairment, and should offer a balance between choice and safety in the least restrictive setting (D.C. Code § 44-101.01).

• District of Columbia memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in District of Columbia

District of Columbia's Medicaid program is DC Medicaid (Department of Health Care Finance). For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of Special Income Standard (SIS): 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate, $2982.00 (2026). Spend Down: Medically Needy income (MNIL) $856.90 for individuals and $902.00 for a household of 2 or more for 2026. and an asset limit of $4,000 for one person or $6,000 for a married couple.

• Elderly and Persons with Physical Disabilities (EPD) Waiver: in-home care, adult day, assisted living and respite. For DC residents age 65 or older, or 18 to 64 with a physical disability, who would otherwise require nursing home care. Requires a Prescription Order Form from a DC Medicaid provider and a face-to-face level-of-need assessment by Liberty Healthcare. Services include the Adult Day Health Program, Assisted Living Facilities, case management, personal care aide services, respite services, homemaker and chore aide services, PERS, and Services My Way. DACL's Medicaid Services Enrollment Unit helps with applications: (202) 724-5626.

• DC Medicaid (Department of Health Care Finance) nursing facility coverage
• District of Columbia Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in District of Columbia

DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration inspects nursing homes in District of Columbia for CMS.

• District of Columbia nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in District of Columbia

District of Columbia Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care.

• Contact the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in District of Columbia

DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) runs District of Columbia's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through Caregiver Programs (DC Department of Aging and Community Living).

• District of Columbia aging services: DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL)
• Area Agencies on Aging in District of Columbia
• Caregiver support in District of Columbia: Caregiver Programs (DC Department of Aging and Community Living)
• District of Columbia adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions