Missouri has approximately 500 licensed nursing homes, ranging from 5-star facilities with outstanding outcomes to facilities with repeated inspection deficiencies. Knowing how to identify the best ones — using publicly available data — can make an enormous difference in your loved one’s quality of care.
Start with Medicare Care Compare
The federal government’s Medicare Care Compare database rates every Medicare-certified nursing home in Missouri on a 1–5 star scale. Here’s how to use it effectively:
- Go to medicare.gov/care-compare and search by ZIP code
- Filter results to show only 4–5 star facilities
- Pay special attention to the staffing rating — this is the strongest predictor of day-to-day care quality
- Click through to any facility’s profile and download its most recent inspection report
- Look at the quality measure data — particularly the rehospitalization rate and pressure injury rate
Newsweek’s Missouri Best Nursing Homes
Each year, Newsweek identifies top nursing homes in each state through peer surveys and quality data analysis. Missouri facilities that appear on this list have earned recognition from healthcare professionals — physicians, social workers, and discharge planners — who have direct knowledge of facility quality.
Scenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Herculaneum, MO was named one of America’s Best Nursing Homes by Newsweek in 2025, representing one of the top-performing facilities in Jefferson County and the St. Louis region.
AHCA Quality Award Recipients in Missouri
The American Health Care Association’s Quality Award program identifies facilities that have implemented systematic quality improvement processes. Silver and Gold award recipients have demonstrated measurable performance excellence — not just minimum compliance. Scenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is an AHCA Silver Quality Award recipient.
Key Regions and What to Expect
- Jefferson County (Herculaneum, Arnold, Hillsboro, Festus): Several strong facilities serving this suburban/rural corridor. Average SNF daily rate: $180–$250.
- St. Louis City and County: Highest concentration of facilities; significant quality variation. More specialty options (memory care, ventilator units). Average daily rate: $200–$350.
- Springfield area: Growing market with several well-rated facilities
- Rural Missouri: Fewer options but often more personal care environments; rates typically lower
Beyond the Ratings: What to Do Next
Ratings tell you where to look — your visit tells you what you need to know. After identifying 3–4 high-rated facilities in your area, visit each one in person using our nursing home visit guide →. Ask about staffing ratios, therapy hours, and family communication — and trust your instincts about what you observe.