A nursing home provides the highest level of daily care outside a hospital, with skilled staff available around the clock. That level of support is why it is the most expensive senior care option, and why families plan for it carefully.
The CareScout Cost of Care Survey, published by Genworth Financial on March 2, 2026 using 2025 data, put the U.S. median nursing home cost at $315 a day for a semi-private room and $355 a day for a private room, or about $9,590 and $10,810 a month. A private room runs well over $100,000 a year. Costs vary widely by state and region. Estimate a figure for your situation in the nursing home cost calculator.
Most nursing homes price by room type. A semi-private room, shared with another resident, is the lower-cost option. A private room costs more, often several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars more per month. The care itself is the same; you are paying for the space and privacy.
A nursing home costs more than assisted living or memory care because it includes skilled medical care and constant staffing, not just help with daily tasks. Many families use a lower level of care first and move to a nursing home only when medical needs require it. See the side-by-side in our care cost comparison.
Medicare does not cover long-term nursing home care, only short skilled stays, so families rely on Medicaid for those who qualify, long-term care insurance, savings, and veterans benefits. Understanding the payment paths early makes a real difference. Start with how to pay for senior care.
One more reason to plan early: senior care costs have generally risen year over year, often faster than broad inflation, according to CareScout's long-running Cost of Care Survey, published under the Genworth name. A figure that looks manageable today may be higher by the time care is actually needed. Building in some room for increases, rather than budgeting to today's exact number, makes a plan more durable.
The CareScout Cost of Care Survey (Genworth Financial, March 2026, 2025 data) put the median at $315 a day for a semi-private room and $355 a day for a private room, or roughly $9,590 to $10,810 a month. A private room runs over $100,000 a year, and the figure varies widely by state.
A nursing home includes skilled medical care and around-the-clock staffing, not just help with daily tasks. Assisted living provides personal care in a residential setting. The higher level of medical support and staffing is what makes nursing homes cost more.
A semi-private room is shared with another resident and costs less. A private room costs more, often several hundred to a couple thousand dollars extra per month. The care is the same; the difference is space and privacy.
Medicare covers only short skilled stays, not long-term care. Medicaid covers long-term nursing home care for those who meet income and asset limits. Long-term care insurance, savings, and veterans benefits cover the rest for many families.
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