Nursing homes in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 72 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes in 5 counties, with 8,190 certified beds in total. The state average CMS overall rating is 2.9 of 5 against a national average of 3.0, and homes report 3.71 nurse staffing hours per resident per day against 3.86 nationally.
Browse by countyRhode Island rules and contactsState averages
Rhode Island against the national average
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating (1 to 5) | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| Health inspection rating | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Staffing rating | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Nurse staffing hours per resident per day | 3.71 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurse hours per resident per day | 0.76 | 0.69 |
| Nursing staff turnover | 40.6% | 45.8% |
| Health deficiencies in the latest inspection | 9.2 | 9.3 |
| Fines per home, past three years | 2.1 | 0.9 |
Averages are published by CMS. Health inspection ratings are set within each state, so compare them across states with care.
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Nursing home rules and contacts in Rhode Island
Federal rules on residents' rights, discharge notices and Medicare coverage are the same in every state. These are the offices to call in Rhode Island, and the rules the state sets for itself.
- Long-term care ombudsman Office of the Rhode Island State Long Term Care Ombudsman Run by the Alliance for Better Long Term Care1-888-351-0808 A free advocate for residents and their families.
- File a complaint about a nursing home Rhode Island Department of Health, Complaint Unit 401-222-5960 The state also takes complaints through an online form linked from that page.
- Apply for Medicaid nursing home coverage Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Rhode Island Department of Human Services1-855-697-4347 Rhode Island lets a single applicant keep up to $4,000 in countable resources.
- Minimum staffing
- Rhode Island law requires an average of 3.58 hours of direct nursing care per resident per day, measured each quarter, starting January 1, 2026. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.5-32
- Personal needs allowance (Medicaid)
- A Medicaid resident keeps $75 a month for personal expenses. That amount has applied since July 1, 2023. Source: 210-RICR-50-00-8; R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-8-2
- Holding a bed during a hospital stay or leave
- Rhode Island Medicaid does not pay to hold a bed during a hospital stay or any other absence. A family may pay privately; for a Medicaid resident the home may not charge more than its Medicaid daily rate for at least the first 5 days. A resident who still needs the home's care must be readmitted to the first available semi-private bed. Source: 210-RICR-50-05-1; R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.5-25
- Cameras in rooms
- Since January 30, 2025, a resident may use a camera in their own room with written consent from the resident and any roommate, on the Department of Health's form. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-17.29
- When private funds run out
- A resident who has paid privately for at least six months in a home that takes Medicaid may stay at the Medicaid rate after their own money runs out, if they qualify for Medicaid and a bed at that level of care is available. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.5-24
Checked against Rhode Island state sources on Oct 6, 2026. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the office listed. For the rules that apply in every state, see residents' rights, how to file a complaint and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Aug 1, 2026.