Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Pennsylvania

Nursing Homes by City in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 316 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Pennsylvania average 3.9 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Pennsylvania

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

Assisted Living in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Human Services Licensing (BHSL) licenses assisted living in Pennsylvania. License types: Personal Care Home, Assisted Living Residence, Assisted Living Residence with special care designation and Secured Dementia Care Unit (Personal Care Home). Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Pennsylvania assisted living facility search
• Pennsylvania assisted living rules
• Pennsylvania assisted living licensing (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Human Services Licensing (BHSL))

Memory Care Rules in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's term is "Special Care Unit (Assisted Living Residence, special care designation); Secured Dementia Care Unit (Personal Care Home)", a separate license or certification. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• A licensed assisted living residence may submit an application and a $150 application fee requesting special care designation; if it meets the requirements, it is issued a license indicating special care designation (55 Pa. Code 2800.11(f)).
• The legal entity must apply to the Department at least 60 days before opening a special care unit, and the Department will inspect and approve the unit before operation (55 Pa. Code 2800.239). Personal care homes must likewise notify the Department at least 60 days before opening a secured dementia care unit, and the Department will inspect and approve it before operation (55 Pa. Code 2600.239).
• Each resident needs a medical evaluation within 60 days before admission documenting a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia and the need to be served in the unit, plus a written cognitive preadmission screening within 72 hours before admission (55 Pa. Code 2800.231; 2600.231).
• Residents of an assisted living special care unit for Alzheimer's disease or dementia are assessed quarterly for the continuing need for the unit; personal care home secured dementia care unit residents are assessed annually (55 Pa. Code 2800.231(e); 2600.231(f)).
• When a residence holds itself out as providing services or housing for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, it must disclose its philosophy and mission, physical environment and design features, the frequency and types of activities, security measures, staff dementia training, family support programs, and its assessment and service planning process (55 Pa. Code 2800.231(h)).
• The resident contract must include a disclosure of services, admission and discharge criteria, change in condition policies, special programming and costs and fees (55 Pa. Code 2800.231(g); 2600.231(h)).
• Assisted living special care unit direct care staff must have 8 hours of initial training within the first 30 days of hire and a minimum of 8 hours of annual training related to dementia care and services, in addition to the 16 hours of annual training required for all direct care staff (55 Pa. Code 2800.236).
• Personal care home secured dementia care unit direct care staff must have 6 hours of annual training related to dementia care and services, in addition to the 12 hours of annual training required for all direct care staff (55 Pa. Code 2600.236).
• Locked or delayed-egress doors require written approval from the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Health or the local building authority, and electronic or magnetic locks must release on fire alarm, power failure or keypad override (55 Pa. Code 2800.233).
• Gross motor, self-care, social, craft, sensory and memory enhancement, and outdoor activities must be offered at least weekly to residents of a special care unit for Alzheimer's disease or dementia (55 Pa. Code 2800.237).
• Each resident in a special care unit is considered a resident with mobility needs for direct care staffing purposes (55 Pa. Code 2800.238).

• Pennsylvania memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is Medical Assistance (Medicaid); long-term services and supports through Community HealthChoices (CHC). For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of For non-money payment (NMP) categories, the limit is 300 percent of the federal benefit rate (FBR). For 2026, the individual income limit is $2,982. For medically needy only (MNO) categories, the limit is $2,550 (semi-annual net income). and an asset limit of If your income is below or equal to 300 percent of the FBR (currently $2,982), the resource limit is $2,000 with an additional $6,000 resource disregard. If your income is above 300 percent of the FBR, the resource limit is $2,400.. Residents keep a personal needs allowance of $60.00 per month.

• Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver: in-home care and respite. For people age 21 or older who have both Medicare and Medicaid, or who receive long-term supports through Medicaid, and meet nursing facility level of care. Services listed include Personal Assistance Services, Respite, Home Delivered Meals and Daily Living Services.
• Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE): adult day and in-home care. Pennsylvania's PACE program. Must be age 55 or older, meet the level of care needs for a skilled nursing facility or a special rehabilitation facility, meet the financial requirements or be able to pay privately, and reside in an area served by a LIFE provider.

• Medical Assistance (Medicaid); long-term services and supports through Community HealthChoices (CHC) nursing facility coverage
• Pennsylvania Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Nursing Care Facilities inspects nursing homes in Pennsylvania for CMS. To file a complaint, call 1-800-254-5164 or use the state's complaint page.

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

Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Pennsylvania 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 717-783-8975.

• Contact the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Aging runs Pennsylvania's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program. Adult day services are licensed or certified by Pennsylvania Department of Aging (Older Adult Daily Living Centers, 6 Pa. Code Chapter 11).

• Pennsylvania aging services: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
• Area Agencies on Aging in Pennsylvania
• Caregiver support in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program
• Pennsylvania 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