Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are residential facilities where a person lives or where a person can stay temporarily. A temporary stay may be for respite care or recuperation after being in a hospital.

Nursing Home Services include:

• Nursing care 24-hours a day
• Case management and health monitoring
• Personal care (help with bathing, dressing, eating, walking, or physical transfer)
• Nutritional meals and special diets
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Social activities
• Respite care (temporary supervision of an adult, giving relief to the primary caregiver)

The need and options for long-term care should be discussed with many trusted people including one’s primary care physician. A doctor must authorize a nursing home admission and sign the care plan. Additionally, persons who are applying for Medicaid nursing home care are assessed by either a CARES nurse or social worker, with medical review by a physician prior to approval.

Florida’s Nursing Home Guide

Florida’s Nursing Home Guide (the Guide) is part of the Agency for Health Care

Administration (AHCA)’s ongoing effort to provide information to consumers faced with difficult health care decisions. The Guide can be accessed at http://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/LandingPages/NursingHomeGuide.aspx.

To find a nursing home in your area, please visit www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov.

Nursing Home License Information

Florida nursing homes are licensed annually and inspected by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). When necessary, AHCA also investigates complaints against nursing homes. Inspections are unannounced and include a facility tour; interviews with residents, families, staff, visitors and volunteers; and a review of sample medical records, policies, and procedures.

For more information on nursing homes, please contact:

Agency for Health Care Administration
Bureau of Long Term Care Services
2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #33
Tallahassee, Fl 32308
Phone: 850-487-4303
Website: http://ahca.myflorida.com/MCHQ/Health_Facility_Regulation/Long_Term_Care/NH.shtml