Nursing Homes in Alaska
Alaska is home to 20 nursing homes tracked by Clear Care Connect, part of 26 senior care providers statewide, making it a smaller senior care market where availability varies sharply by county. Families comparing nursing homes in Alaska weigh the same three questions: how safe is the building, how well is it staffed, and what will it really cost each month. Coverage is deepest around Anchorage, Wasilla, Ketchikan, while smaller towns among the state's 18 communities often have one or two options within a reasonable drive. Clear Care Connect answers those questions with official federal inspection data, CMS star ratings and real cost estimates instead of sponsored listings.
What nursing homes in Alaska provide
Nursing Homes in Alaska provide round-the-clock licensed nursing, medication management, rehabilitation therapy and help with every activity of daily living. We track 20 nursing homes statewide, alongside 6 other providers — nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health — that families often compare before deciding.
Every Medicare-certified nursing home in Alaska is surveyed by state inspectors on behalf of CMS roughly once a year, and those survey results feed the star ratings shown on each profile. That makes nursing homes the most transparent care type in Alaska: you can see deficiencies, staffing hours per resident per day and penalty history before you ever tour.
Typical pricing for nursing homes in Alaska runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Expect the higher end of that range in Anchorage and other high-cost metros, and the lower end in rural counties.
How to choose a nursing home in Alaska
With 20 nursing homes in Alaska, families need a repeatable way to narrow the list. These six steps work in any county.
1. Check the government inspection reports first
Every Clear Care Connect profile shows the real CMS inspection record — deficiencies cited, their scope and severity, and how fast they were corrected. Read that before any brochure.
2. Compare star ratings across a shortlist, not in isolation
A three-star facility reads differently next to the Alaska average of 3.45. Line up four or five nursing homes side by side instead of judging one alone.
3. Visit at least three facilities, including one unannounced
Tour options in Anchorage plus one nearby community, then drop in once outside tour hours to see normal staffing and resident engagement.
4. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios and turnover
Ask for nursing hours per resident per day and annual turnover in writing. High turnover is the strongest predictor of inconsistent care in Alaska facilities.
5. Understand exactly what the monthly price includes
Get the base rate, care-level surcharges, medication fees and past annual increases. Two Alaska communities quoting the same headline number can differ by thousands once care tiers apply.
6. Read the most recent inspection findings, not just the score
One old citation matters far less than a repeated pattern. Clear Care Connect publishes the full history so you can compare Alaska providers on that record in one place.
Top cities for nursing homes in Alaska
Senior care in Alaska clusters around its largest population centers. These 8 cities hold the highest concentration of nursing homes statewide, and each links to a local directory with ratings and costs.
- Anchorage — 5 facilities, 3 of them nursing homes, averaging 1.7 CMS stars.
- Wasilla — 2 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 5.0 CMS stars.
- Ketchikan — 2 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 1.0 CMS stars.
- Juneau — 2 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 4.0 CMS stars.
- Fairbanks — 2 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 3.0 CMS stars.
- Kotzebue — 1 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 4.0 CMS stars.
- Valdez — 1 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 4.0 CMS stars.
- Petersburg — 1 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 4.0 CMS stars.
Understanding CMS ratings for nursing homes in Alaska
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services scores certified facilities from one to five stars using three inputs: on-site health inspections, payroll-reported staffing levels, and clinical quality measures. Five stars means much above average within that state's peer group; one star means much below.
In Alaska, 20 of the 26 providers we track carry a published CMS rating, and 11 — roughly 55% — hold four or five stars. The statewide average is 3.45 stars. That average sits above the national midpoint, meaning a typical facility here performs better than average on inspections, staffing and quality measures.
Weight the health inspection component most heavily: it is the only piece built from unannounced on-site visits by state surveyors. Staffing is the next best signal, and quality measures are partly self-reported. Clear Care Connect shows all three sub-scores, the inspection date and any penalties on every Alaska profile.
Nursing Homes costs in Alaska
Nursing Homes in Alaska typically runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Pricing tracks local housing and wage costs closely, so expect Anchorage to price above the Alaska median while rural counties come in below it.
For comparison, Alaska families budget $7,900–$11,200 a month for a nursing home, $4,500–$7,500 for assisted living, $6,000–$9,000 for memory care, and little to nothing for Medicare-covered home health or hospice. Clear Care Connect publishes an estimated monthly range on each facility page so you can sanity-check any quote.
Frequently asked questions
How many nursing homes are in Alaska?
Clear Care Connect tracks 20 nursing homes in Alaska, out of 26 senior care facilities statewide spanning nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health.
What is the average cost of nursing homes in Alaska?
Nursing Homes in Alaska typically costs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent.
How do I find the best nursing home in Alaska?
Use Clear Care Connect to compare Alaska providers on official government star ratings, inspection findings, staffing data and estimated monthly cost, then tour your top three in person. 11 rated Alaska facilities currently hold four or five stars.
Does Medicare cover nursing homes in Alaska?
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay in Alaska, not long-term custodial care. Longer stays are paid privately, through long-term care insurance, or by Alaska Medicaid once assets are spent down.
Ready to find the right nursing home in Alaska?
Clear Care Connect shows real government inspection data, CMS star ratings and cost information for all 20 nursing homes in Alaska. Compare them side by side, see what inspectors found, and choose the right care for your loved one without a sales call.
Other care types in Alaska
Browse every Alaska senior care facility profile · Alaska Medicaid eligibility estimator · Alaska senior care costs