Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Wisconsin

Nursing Homes by City in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 191 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Wisconsin average 4.2 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

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

Assisted Living in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) licenses assisted living in Wisconsin. License types: Adult Family Home (AFH), Community-Based Residential Facility (CBRF) and Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC). Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Wisconsin assisted living facility search
• Wisconsin assisted living rules
• Wisconsin assisted living licensing (Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance (DQA))

Memory Care Rules in Wisconsin

• A CBRF's license lists the client groups it serves; client groups include individuals "With irreversible dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease" (Wis. Admin. Code DHS 83.02(16)(b)).
• Training "shall be specific to the client group served and shall include the physical, social and mental health needs of the client group," covering characteristics of the client group, activities, safety risks, environmental considerations, disease processes, communication skills and nutritional needs; it must be completed within 90 days after starting employment (DHS 83.21(2)).
• All employees must be trained in recognizing, preventing, managing and responding to challenging behaviors, including elopement, aggressive behaviors and resident supervision, within 90 days after starting employment (DHS 83.21(3)).
• The administrator and resident care staff must receive at least 15 hours per calendar year of continuing education, including client group related training (DHS 83.25).
• At least one qualified resident care staff must be on duty and awake if any resident needs 24-hour supervision, including residents "who are at risk of elopement, who have dementia" (DHS 83.36(1)(b)3.).
• A CBRF may not admit or retain a person whose ambulatory or cognitive status is not compatible with its license class; Class C facilities may serve residents who are not mentally or physically capable of responding to a fire alarm and exiting without help (DHS 83.27(2)(a), DHS 83.04(2)).

• Wisconsin memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Medicaid program is Wisconsin Medicaid (Elderly, Blind, or Disabled Medicaid). For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of $2,982.00 (Institutions Categorically Needy income limit, effective 1/1/2026) and an asset limit of $2,000.00 for a group size of 1 (SSI-Related asset limit). Residents keep a personal needs allowance of $55.00 (Institutions Personal Needs Allowance, effective 7/1/2024).

• Family Care: adult day, in-home care, assisted living and respite. Members must be at least 18, a frail elder or an adult with a disability, eligible for Medicaid and functionally eligible under the Long-Term Care Functional Screen, with a long-term care condition expected to last more than 90 days. Apply through the local aging and disability resource center (ADRC). DHS states the wait list ended with the 2015 statewide expansion.
• IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct): adult day, in-home care, assisted living and respite. Self-directed program. Participants must be at least 18, enrolled in Medicaid, functionally eligible, and live in a home, apartment, adult family home, or residential care apartment complex.
• Family Care Partnership. Combines health and long-term support services in home and community settings; offered only in some counties (PACE/Partnership Geographic Service Region Map, P-01789).
• Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). For older adults in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha counties; helps with health care, long-term care, and prescription drugs.

• Wisconsin Medicaid (Elderly, Blind, or Disabled Medicaid) nursing facility coverage
• Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance, Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care inspects nursing homes in Wisconsin for CMS. To file a complaint, call 800-642-6552 or use the state's complaint page.

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

Wisconsin Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Wisconsin Board on Aging and 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 1-800-815-0015.

• Contact the Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care, Ombudsman Program

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources runs Wisconsin's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through National Family Caregiver Support Program; Alzheimer's Family and Caregiver Support Program. Adult day services are overseen by Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance (certifies adult day care centers under Wis. Admin. Code DHS 105.14).

• Wisconsin aging services: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources
• Area Agencies on Aging in Wisconsin
• Caregiver support in Wisconsin: National Family Caregiver Support Program; Alzheimer's Family and Caregiver Support Program
• Wisconsin 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