Fitzgerald, Georgia's Ben Hill County seat, has 2 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 245 beds. Families have good options, with many facilities exceeding state averages.

Fitzgerald vs. Georgia: Above Average Quality

Fitzgerald nursing homes outperform the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 3.50 stars exceeds Georgia's statewide average of 2.60 stars by 0.9 stars—a meaningful difference that suggests stronger local standards.

1 of 2 facility earns a B grade or better, giving families good options. While quality is generally high, the overall picture is positive for Fitzgerald families.

Understanding Our Trust Score System

The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:

• Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
• Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
• Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
• Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
• Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity

In Fitzgerald, 1 facility scores a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.

Staffing: A Significant Concern in Fitzgerald

Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.

Fitzgerald facilities average 0.37 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Fitzgerald resident receives approximately 22 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.

0 Fitzgerald facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.

Ownership: An All For-Profit Market

Fitzgerald has no non-profit nursing homes—all 2 facilities with reported ownership data are for-profit operations. 2 of 2 facilities are chain-owned, meaning these facilities are part of larger corporate systems rather than independently operated.

Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average. The absence of non-profit options in Fitzgerald may be worth noting. Families seeking non-profit care should consider facilities in surrounding areas.

Ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Several for-profit facilities in Fitzgerald perform well. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports rather than ownership type alone.

Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering

Families may also want to consider nearby Georgia cities for additional options. The following Georgia cities offer multiple nursing home options:

• Atlanta — 20 facilities
• Macon — 12 facilities
• Augusta — 10 facilities
• Rome — 8 facilities
• Savannah — 8 facilities
• Columbus — 7 facilities