Nursing Homes in Alabama

Alabama Nursing Home Regulations

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency that regulates and provides ratings for nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. CMS offers guidance to state Medicaid services regarding rules for facilities that are Medicaid-certified. Medicare provides a national nursing home website to view the audit and licensing history of Medicare-approved nursing homes.

Each state regulates senior living communities differently, but you can use APFM’s guide to assisted living regulations to learn more about access to facility records in Alabama.

In Alabama, nursing homes — also called convalescent homes or skilled nursing facilities — are intended for seniors who require 24-hour monitoring and medical assistance. These communities are designed to promote independence among seniors who require constant nursing care to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), but do not require hospital-level care.

Cost of Living

Overall, the cost of living in Alabama is considered to be more affordable than the national average. All index scores are based on a scale with the national average set at 100.

Price Indexes

• Cost of Living: 90
• Groceries: 97
• Housing: 72
• Utilities: 103
• Transportation: 89

Demographics

About 17% of Alabama’s population are seniors. In the 2016 presidential election, Alabama leaned conservative. However, many of its counties with larger cities, like Birmingham, tend to be more progressive.

2016 Presidential Election

• 34% voted Democratic
• 62% voted Republican
• 4% voted third party

Population

• Median age: 39
• Over the age of 55: 30%
• 2018 population: 4,887,871
• 2020 population: 4,913,473
• Estimated 2025 population: 4,978,067

Miscellaneous

• 51% regularly attend a religious service
• 18% consider themselves atheist, agnostic, or a non-believer
• The state has a total of 10,514 congregations
• There are 892 Masonic lodges in the state

Climate and Weather

Like most of the Deep South, Alabama has a humid subtropical climate. This means the state has long, hot summers and short, mild winters that resemble an extended autumn. Temperatures tend to be slightly cooler in Alabama’s northeastern counties, where the Appalachian Mountains extend into. Humidity is high throughout the year, particularly toward the state’s southern coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Alabama receives plenty of rainfall and thunderstorms throughout the year, but snow is rare. The state’s north and central regions commonly experience tornadoes, with the most severe occurring during spring and fall months. Given its location on the north end of the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama is prone to tropical storms and hurricanes during late spring and summer months when ocean water warms.

Humidity and Precipitation

• Average humidity level: 72%
• Average monthly precipitation: 5”
• Average maximum monthly precipitation: 8” (July)

Air Quality

• Average air quality index rating: 38 (Good)
• Average maximum air quality rating: 47 in May (Good)

Seasonal Temperatures

• Average temperature: 63°F
• Average summer temperature: 79°F
• Typical summer high: 93°F (July)
• Typical summer low: 62°F (June)
• Average winter temperature: 46°F
• Typical winter high: 66°F (February)
• Typical winter low: 26°F (January)