Golden Empire leads Nevada County in nursing home capacity for Q1 2026

Golden Empire emerged as Nevada County’s largest nursing home in the first quarter of 2026, as reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The facility was equipped with 148 beds, surpassing the county average by 62 in early 2026. On average, it served 136.3 residents during the quarter.

CMS gave Golden Empire an overall rating of 3 out of 5, slightly below the 3.2 average for nursing homes in California.

Crystal Ridge Care Center was the county’s second largest nursing facility for the quarter, offering 99 beds. Grass Valley Healthcare Center followed in third place, with 86 beds.

Golden Empire reported no fines or penalties in the first quarter of 2026.

Nevada County, California, had four for-profit nursing homes overall.

Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show continued growth in the nation’s older adult population, while younger age groups are declining. From 2020 to 2024, Americans age 65 and older increased by 13%, whereas the under-18 population declined 1.7%. Over the past century, the older adult population in the U.S. has grown significantly, rising from 4.9 million in 1920 to more than 61 million by 2024.

A 2021 study found that almost half of this population segment, about 28 million people, are likely to need long-term services and support. The study also anticipates that more than a third will require nursing home care at some point.

“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”

This article’s information is sourced from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The original data is available here.