Nursing Homes and Senior Care in New York

Nursing Homes by City in New York

The New York cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 287 cities are listed below the table. Homes in New York average 3.6 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in New York

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

Assisted Living in New York

New York State Department of Health licenses assisted living in New York. License types: Adult Home, Enriched Housing Program, Residence for Adults, Assisted Living Residence (ALR), Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR), Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) and Assisted Living Program (ALP). Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• New York assisted living facility search
• New York assisted living rules
• New York assisted living licensing (New York State Department of Health)

Memory Care Rules in New York

New York's term is "Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR)", a separate license or certification. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• Any residence that advertises or markets itself as serving individuals with special needs, including individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments, must apply to the Department for certification as a special needs assisted living residence; no residence may market itself as providing specialized services to persons with special needs until the Department approves the certificate (10 NYCRR 1001.4(p)).
• The application must include a special needs plan covering a written description of specialized services, staffing levels, staff education and training, work experience of the people providing services, relevant professional affiliations, and environmental modifications (10 NYCRR 1001.5(j)).
• Special needs units must be designed and operated as self-contained household units with their own leisure and dining space; visitors and staff may not regularly pass through a special needs unit to reach other areas (10 NYCRR 1001.13).
• Units must have a delayed-egress system on all exit and other doors that special needs residents could reach, unless the Department approves an alternate method to prevent elopement (10 NYCRR 1001.13).
• The operator must know the general whereabouts of each resident; if a resident is absent and cannot be located, immediate efforts to locate the resident must begin, with immediate notice to law enforcement, the Department's regional office and the resident's family and representative; sufficient staff to supervise residents must be available on all shifts (10 NYCRR 1001.10(n)(5)).
• PRN (as needed) prescription medications for persons with dementia are limited to instances where the physician has determined, after review with residence staff, that there is no alternative (10 NYCRR 1001.10).
• The operator must help special needs residents maintain family ties by assisting family members and representatives to adjust to and stay involved with the resident's placement (10 NYCRR 1001.10(n)(7)).
• The residence's disclosure statement must say whether it has an enhanced or special needs certificate, the maximum number of special needs beds it is approved for, and that it will post current special needs vacancies at least monthly (10 NYCRR 1001.8).
• Disaster and emergency plans must be designed appropriately for residents with dementia (10 NYCRR 1001.14).

• New York memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in New York

New York's Medicaid program is New York State Medicaid. For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an asset limit of $32,396 (SSI-related resource level, household of one, effective January 1, 2026). Residents keep a personal needs allowance of $50.

• Managed Long Term Care (MLTC): in-home care and adult day. Community based long term services and supports such as home care or adult day care, provided through MLTC plans approved by the Department of Health. Three lines of business: MLTC Partial Capitation (18 and older, Medicaid), Medicaid Advantage Plus (18 and older, Medicaid and Medicare) and PACE (55 and older).
• Assisted Living Program (ALP): assisted living and adult day. Serves persons medically eligible for nursing home placement in a less medically intensive setting. Medicaid recipients must have ALP services approved in advance by the Local Social Services District. The program is limited to 4,200 residents (approximately 85% are Medicaid recipients).
• Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Medicaid Waiver. 1915(c) waiver for individuals between age 18 and 64 with a physical disability, or age 65 and older upon application, who come from a nursing facility (transition) or wish to avoid institutionalization (diversion). Administered through Regional Resource Development Centers.

• New York State Medicaid nursing facility coverage
• New York Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in New York

New York State Department of Health inspects nursing homes in New York for CMS. To file a complaint, call 1-888-201-4563 or use the state's complaint page.

• New York nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in New York

New York Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Office of the State 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. Call 1-(855)-582-6769.

• Contact the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in New York

New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) runs New York'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 New York State Department of Health (adult day health care); social adult day services follow New York State Office for the Aging regulations.

• New York aging services: New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)
• Area Agencies on Aging in New York
• Caregiver support in New York: National Family Caregiver Support Program
• New York 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