Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Missouri

Nursing Homes by City in Missouri

The Missouri cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 242 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Missouri average 3.4 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Missouri

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

Assisted Living in Missouri

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation licenses assisted living in Missouri. License types: Residential Care Facility, Residential Care Facility*, Assisted Living Facility and Assisted Living Facility**. Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Missouri assisted living facility search
• Missouri assisted living rules
• Missouri assisted living licensing (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation)

Memory Care Rules in Missouri

Missouri's term is "Alzheimer's Special Care Unit or Program"; it isn't a separate license, but rules apply to facilities that offer dementia care. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• An "Alzheimer's special care unit" or "Alzheimer's special care program" is any licensed facility, home health agency, adult day care center, hospice or adult foster home that locks, secures, segregates or provides a special program or special unit for residents with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, and that advertises, markets or otherwise promotes itself as providing specialized Alzheimer's or dementia care services (RSMo 198.505).
• The facility must disclose to its licensing department the form of care or treatment that distinguishes the unit or program, and deliver a copy of that disclosure to the patient and the patient's next of kin, designee or guardian at admission (RSMo 198.510).
• The disclosure form covers the unit's philosophy and mission, placement, transfer and discharge criteria, assessment and care planning, staff training and continuing education, physical environment and design features, frequency and types of resident activities, family involvement and support programs, costs of care and additional fees, and safety and security measures (RSMo 198.510).
• The facility must give an informational document approved by the Department of Health and Senior Services on selecting an Alzheimer's special care unit or program to anyone seeking information about or placement in the unit (RSMo 198.515).
• In an assisted living facility that cares for any resident with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, employees providing direct care get at least 3 hours of orientation training on mentally confused residents, including communicating with persons with dementia, behavior management and creating a safe, secure and socially oriented environment; other employees with daily contact get at least 1 hour; dementia-specific training must be part of ongoing in-service curricula (19 CSR 30-86.047(63)).
• Dementia training must be presented by an individual qualified by education, experience or knowledge in the care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia (19 CSR 30-86.047(64)).
• An assisted living facility that accepts or retains a resident with a physical, cognitive or other impairment that prevents safe evacuation with minimal assistance must have sufficient staff present and awake 24 hours a day to assist in evacuation, include an individualized evacuation plan in the resident's service plan, give residents the opportunity to explore the facility and, if appropriate, its grounds, and use a personal electronic monitoring device for any resident whose physician recommends one (RSMo 198.073.6; 19 CSR 30-86.045).

• Missouri memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Missouri

Missouri's Medicaid program is MO HealthNet. For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an asset limit of $6,220.50 after Division of Assets (Vendor Care resource maximum, effective 07-01-26). Residents keep a personal needs allowance of $50.

• Aged and Disabled Waiver: in-home care, adult day and respite. For individuals aged 63 or over who would require nursing home care without these services. Services: homemaker, chore, respite, home delivered meals and adult day care. Home and Community Based Services monthly income limit $1,737 (effective 01-01-26); resource maximum $6,220.50 after Division of Assets (effective 07-01-26).
• Structured Family Caregiving Waiver: in-home care. For individuals ages 21 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer's or a related disorder who wish to live at home and would otherwise require a nursing facility.
• Adult Day Care Waiver: adult day. Continuous care and supervision of a disabled adult aged 18 to 63 in a licensed adult day care setting.
• Agency Model - RCF/ALF Personal Care (State Plan): assisted living. Personal care, advanced personal care and authorized nurse visits for eligible Residential Care Facility or Assisted Living Facility residents. All HCBS programs require Medicaid enrollment and a nursing facility level of care.

• MO HealthNet nursing facility coverage
• Missouri Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Missouri

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation inspects nursing homes in Missouri for CMS. To file a complaint, call 1-800-392-0210 or use the state's complaint page.

• Missouri nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Missouri

Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 800-309-3282.

• Contact the Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Missouri

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services runs Missouri's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through National Family Caregiver Support Program. Adult day services are licensed or certified by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation.

• Missouri aging services: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services
• Area Agencies on Aging in Missouri
• Caregiver support in Missouri: National Family Caregiver Support Program
• Missouri 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