Nursing Facilities in Atlanta, GA: How to Find the Right Care Close to Home

Choosing a nursing facility in Atlanta, Georgia is a major decision that affects your loved one’s health, safety, and quality of life—as well as your peace of mind. Atlanta offers many options, from large skilled nursing centers to smaller, specialized communities, but that can make it hard to know where to start.

This guide walks you through how nursing facilities work in Atlanta, the types of care available, how they’re regulated in Georgia, what to look for on a tour, typical costs and payment options, and where to turn locally for help.

What Is a Nursing Facility in Atlanta?

In Georgia, a nursing facility (often called a nursing home or skilled nursing facility) is a residential setting that offers:

• 24/7 nursing supervision
• Help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and eating
• Medical monitoring and coordination with physicians
• Short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay, long-term care, or both

In Atlanta, you’ll find facilities:

• Inside major hospital systems
• In standalone buildings within neighborhoods (e.g., Buckhead, Decatur, College Park, East Point)
• In larger senior living campuses that combine independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing

Types of Nursing Facilities and Services in Atlanta

Not every facility offers the same type or level of care. Understanding what’s available in the Atlanta area can help you narrow your search.

Short-Term Skilled Nursing & Rehab

These facilities often serve people who:

• Are recovering from surgery, stroke, or serious illness
• Need intensive physical, occupational, or speech therapy
• Are not yet able to return home safely after a hospital discharge

You’ll see these referred to as skilled nursing, rehabilitation centers, or transitional care units. Many are located near major Atlanta hospitals, such as those around Midtown, Downtown, and the Emory and Northside medical areas.

Long-Term Care Nursing Homes

These are for individuals who:

• Need ongoing, 24-hour supervision and nursing care
• Have chronic medical conditions that are difficult to manage at home
• May have limited mobility, complex medication regimens, or frequent medical needs

Long-term care beds are spread across the metro area, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Clayton counties, making it possible to choose a facility near family.

Memory Care Within Nursing Facilities

Some Atlanta nursing facilities include secured units or programs for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, often called memory care or specialized dementia care. Features may include:

• Secured entrances/exits to prevent wandering
• Staff training in communication and behavior support for dementia
• Structured daily activities and sensory programs

If your loved one has dementia, ask specifically whether the facility has a dedicated memory care unit and what makes it different from the general nursing unit.

Ventilator Care, Wound Care, and Other Specialties

Certain nursing facilities in Atlanta may offer more specialized services, such as:

• Ventilator or tracheostomy care
• Complex wound care
• Tube feeding and IV therapy
• Behavioral health support in coordination with mental health providers

Not all facilities provide these services, so ask clearly about your loved one’s specific medical needs.

How Nursing Facilities Are Regulated in Georgia

Knowing how facilities are overseen can help you feel more confident in your choices.

State Licensing and Oversight

In Georgia, nursing facilities are licensed and regulated by the:

Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)
Healthcare Facility Regulation Division
2 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 656-4507

DCH:

• Licenses nursing facilities
• Conducts inspections and investigations
• Enforces state and federal care standards

You can contact DCH to:

• Confirm whether a facility is properly licensed
• Ask about inspection or complaint history
• Get guidance on reporting concerns

Ombudsman Support in Metro Atlanta

The Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program works to protect the rights of residents in nursing facilities.

Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 32-270
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 657-5327 or (866) 552-4464 (toll-free, option 5)

For metro Atlanta, local ombudsman representatives can:

• Help you understand resident rights
• Assist in resolving concerns with a facility
• Offer neutral information when you’re comparing options

This service is free and can be especially helpful if you’re unsure whether a facility’s practices are appropriate.

How to Start Your Search for Nursing Facilities in Atlanta

If you’re in or near Atlanta and need a nursing facility quickly—often after a hospital stay—time is tight. A structured approach helps.

1. Clarify the Level of Care Needed

Before contacting facilities, gather information from your loved one’s:

• Hospital discharge planner or case manager
• Primary care physician or specialist

Ask specifically:

• Is short-term rehab or long-term nursing care recommended?
• Are there any special needs (e.g., memory care, ventilator support, dialysis coordination)?
• What therapy intensity is needed (e.g., daily PT/OT/speech)?

Many Atlanta hospitals, like those in the Piedmont, Emory, Grady, Wellstar, and Northside systems, have case managers who regularly coordinate placements and can provide a list of facilities they work with.

2. Narrow Down by Location

Consider where in the Atlanta area you need the facility to be:

• Inside the perimeter (I-285) for easier access from intown neighborhoods
• Northside (Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta) for families living in northern suburbs
• Southside (East Point, College Park, Union City, Forest Park) for proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson and south metro areas
• East/West (Decatur, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Marietta, Smyrna) depending on where family support is strongest

Being realistic about drive times in Atlanta traffic is important. A 10-mile drive can be very different at rush hour.

3. Check Basic Information

When you call a facility, ask:

• Do you have availability for the type of stay we need (short-term vs long-term)?
• What insurance do you accept (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, managed care plans)?
• Are you able to care for someone with [specific condition]?
• Do you have a waitlist, and how long is it typically?

If you’re in Atlanta dealing with a same-day or next-day discharge, let the facility know the timeframe upfront.

What to Look for When Touring Nursing Facilities in Atlanta

In-person or virtual tours are crucial. While each facility is different, there are some consistent things to observe.

Environment and Cleanliness

Notice:

• Are hallways and rooms clean and free of strong odors?
• Is there clutter blocking walkways or exits?
• Are common areas (dining rooms, lounges) used and inviting?

In Atlanta’s older intown neighborhoods, some facilities may be in older buildings, while newer campuses are more common in outer suburbs. Older does not automatically mean lower quality, but cleanliness and maintenance should be clear priorities.

Staffing and Interaction

Watch how staff interact with residents:

• Do staff greet residents by name?
• Are call lights and alarms answered promptly?
• Do residents appear groomed, with clean clothing and assistive devices in place?

Ask:

• What is your staffing pattern (days, nights, weekends)?
• How do you handle staffing shortages?
• How often will my loved one see a nurse and see a physician or nurse practitioner?

Health and Safety Practices

Ask about:

• Medication management and how errors are prevented
• Fall prevention programs
• How they handle emergencies, including severe weather
• Procedures for infection control, especially during cold/flu season

Because Atlanta can experience severe thunderstorms, ice storms, and occasional extended power outages, ask specifically about their backup power and emergency relocation plans.

Activities and Quality of Life

Quality of life is more than medical care:

• Is there a posted activity calendar (music, religious services, outings, games)?
• Are there outdoor or courtyard areas where residents can sit safely?
• Do they accommodate Atlanta-specific preferences, such as local religious communities, cultural groups, or language needs?

Ask:

• How do you support residents who don’t like group activities?
• Are family visits flexible, and can children visit?
• Do you have arrangements for telehealth or virtual visits with specialists in Atlanta?

Comparing Atlanta Nursing Facilities: A Quick Checklist

You can use a simple side-by-side comparison table when touring different options.

After each tour, fill this out while the details are still fresh.

Costs and How to Pay for Nursing Facilities in Atlanta

Costs vary widely in the Atlanta area based on location, room type, and level of care. It’s important to understand the main payment sources.

Medicare

Medicare may cover short-term skilled nursing stays after a qualifying hospital stay, but there are conditions and time limits. Common features include:

• Coverage for medically necessary skilled nursing and therapy
• Requirements about the type and duration of prior hospital stay
• Potential copayments after a set number of days

Coverage rules can be complex. The Georgia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can explain what Medicare may cover for your specific situation.

Georgia SHIP (Atlanta office)
Through the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services
2 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Toll-free: 1-866-552-4464 (option 4)

Medicaid (Georgia)

For those with limited income and assets, Georgia Medicaid may cover long-term nursing facility care. In the Atlanta area, many facilities accept Medicaid, but not all have immediate openings for Medicaid beds.

Key points:

• There are financial eligibility rules
• The application process can be time-consuming
• Some families consult an elder law attorney for guidance

Contact the Georgia Medicaid main line or your county’s Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS) office for current information. For Fulton County residents:

Fulton County DFCS
1240 Platinum Drive
Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: (877) 423-4746

Private Pay and Long-Term Care Insurance

Many Atlanta families pay out-of-pocket, at least for a time, using:

• Personal savings or retirement income
• Proceeds from selling a home
• Long-term care insurance policies

When you tour, ask for a written fee schedule that clearly lists:

• Daily or monthly base rate
• Additional charges (therapy, transportation, supplies, personal care items)
• Annual rate increases or adjustment policies

Resident Rights and Family Involvement

Regardless of how care is paid for, residents in Atlanta nursing facilities have specific rights.

Basic Resident Rights

These generally include:

• The right to dignity and respect
• The right to participate in care planning
• The right to voice concerns or complaints without retaliation
• The right to visits, with reasonable limitations for safety

Facilities must provide a written summary of resident rights on admission. If something feels unclear, ask for an explanation in plain language.

How Families Can Stay Involved

In Atlanta, many families remain very engaged in a loved one’s care. You can:

• Attend care plan meetings (often held every few months)
• Keep a notebook of questions and updates for staff
• Build relationships with charge nurses, aides, and social workers
• Visit at different times of day to see how care looks on evenings and weekends

If problems arise that are not resolved within the facility, you can contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (details above) for assistance.

Where to Get Local Help and Information in Atlanta

Several Atlanta-based and statewide organizations can provide guidance, counseling, and referrals.

Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) – Aging & Independence Services

The Atlanta Regional Commission serves older adults and caregivers in the metro area.

Atlanta Regional Commission – Aging & Independence Services
229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 463-3333

ARC can:

• Explain care options (home care, assisted living, nursing facilities)
• Connect you with caregiver support programs
• Provide information about local resources and possible financial assistance

Georgia Division of Aging Services

The state’s Division of Aging Services coordinates programs for older Georgians.

Georgia Division of Aging Services
2 Peachtree Street NW, 33rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Toll-free: 1-866-552-4464

They can help you:

• Locate services in or near your Atlanta neighborhood
• Understand statewide programs that support nursing home residents and caregivers

Hospital Social Workers and Case Managers

If your loved one is currently hospitalized in Atlanta (for example, at Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University Hospital, Piedmont Atlanta, Northside Hospital Atlanta, or a Wellstar facility), ask to speak with:

• The case manager
• The discharge planner
• The social worker assigned to the unit

These professionals regularly help families find and transition to nursing facilities across the metro area and can provide a targeted list based on insurance and clinical needs.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Families Making a Decision

A few final points to keep your search grounded and manageable:

• Start early if you can. Even if a transition is months away, touring a few facilities around Atlanta will make urgent decisions easier later.
• Balance location and quality. Being close by matters, but so does the quality of care. Sometimes a slightly longer drive for a noticeably better fit is worth it.
• Involve your loved one when possible. If they are able, bring them on tours or share photos and descriptions of each facility.
• Trust your observations. Licensing and inspections matter, but your own impressions of cleanliness, staff behavior, and resident mood are also important.
• Use local resources. The ombudsman, ARC, SHIP, and hospital social workers are there specifically to help Atlanta-area families navigate these choices.

By focusing on your loved one’s medical needs, daily preferences, and your family’s ability to stay involved, you can use the many nursing facility options in Atlanta, GA to find a setting that offers safety, support, and as much comfort and connection as possible.