Fort Wayne, Indiana's Allen County seat, has 26 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 2,786 beds. Families have good options, with many facilities exceeding state averages.

Fort Wayne vs. Indiana: Above Average Quality

Fort Wayne nursing homes outperform the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 3.73 stars exceeds Indiana's statewide average of 3.09 stars by 0.6 stars—a meaningful difference that suggests stronger local standards.

15 of 26 facilities earn a B grade or better, giving families good options. While 3 facilities still warrant caution, the overall picture is positive for Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne, 15 facilities score 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 Fort Wayne

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.

Fort Wayne facilities average 0.63 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Fort Wayne resident receives approximately 38 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.

5 Fort Wayne 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: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit

Fort Wayne has 9 non-profit nursing homes and 14 for-profit facilities. 20 of 26 facilities are chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.

Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.

Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering

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

• Indianapolis — 44 facilities
• Evansville — 17 facilities
• Muncie — 11 facilities
• South Bend — 10 facilities
• Terre Haute — 9 facilities
• Elkhart — 8 facilities