10 Best Nursing Homes in Portland, OR

Seniors and their families can pay for Portland skilled nursing and senior care facilities in numerous ways. Most families use a combination of private and public funds to cover long-term care expenses. The financial options available to seniors and their families ultimately depend on their personal history and current financial situation. Some commonly used public programs include VA benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.

In this section, you’ll learn about various private pay options, the public programs stated above, and how you can use them to cover nursing home and senior care costs in Portland, Oregon. We even include resources and information for Washington because Portland borders the Washington state line.

In Oregon, all long-term care facilities — including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, and adult foster homes — must be licensed and regulated by the Office of Safety, Oversight, and Quality (SOQ) at the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).

The state of Oregon breaks down long-term care communities into four categories:^[08]

• Nursing facilities. These facilities offer the highest level of skilled nursing care. They provide short-term, rehabilitative care after a hospital stay along with long-term care for individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities. These facilities must have a licensed nurse and caregivers who are licensed as certified nursing assistants on-site at all times.
• Residential care and assisted living facilities. These communities provide personalized care services to seniors and individuals with disabilities within a homelike setting. The difference between residential care and assisted living facilities is that residential care facilities are allowed to have shared rooms, while assisted living facilities must provide individual apartments with private bathrooms and kitchenettes.
• Adult foster homes (AFH). These homes are single-family residences offering 24-hour care in a homelike setting to five or fewer individuals.
• Endorsed memory care communities (MCC). These communities can be stand-alone buildings or units within another facility. They provide specialized care services to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia in a secure environment. Communities must hold a nursing facility, residential care, or assisted living license as their primary license before adding on a memory care endorsement.

General senior care regulations in Oregon and Washington

At minimum, assisted living and memory care facilities in both states must provide services such as the following:^[09,10]

• Three nutritious meals per day, and snacks, seven days a week

• Daily social and recreational activity programs
• Laundry services
• Helping residents with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, etc.)
• 24-hour on-site staff to review the care needs of residents
• Medication administration
• Transportation for medical or social reasons
• Supportive medical care, such as visiting medical specialists

Additionally, assisted living facilities in both states must adhere to outdoor and indoor regulations, such as the following:^[09,10]

• The facility must take measures to prevent pests, and the grounds must be free of litter.

• The facility must provide an accessible outdoor recreation area for all residents to enjoy.
• Indoor thresholds must be maintained with easy wheelchair use in mind.
• Indoor facilities must be free of unpleasant odors and must be kept clean.

Nursing home and senior care facility inspections in Oregon

In Portland, skilled nursing and senior care facilities must meet the regulations listed above and undergo inspections in the following time increments to remain licensed:

• Nursing facilities undergo inspections once a year.
• Assisted living and residential care facilities undergo inspections every two years.
• Adult foster homes, otherwise known as care homes, undergo inspections once a year.
• Endorsed memory care communities undergo inspections based on their primary license type.

You can look up Portland-area assisted living facility reports using the following sites:

• Oregon long-term care facility search tool
• Washington assisted living facility search tool
• Look up nursing homes by city, state, or ZIP

Oregon and Washington health departments’ contact information

Oregon Health Authority (OHA)

500 Summer St., NE, E-20

Salem, OR 97301

Phone: 503-947-2340

Email: OHA.DirectorsOffice@oha.oregon.gov

Hours: Everyday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Washington State Department of Health

Find an office near you

Phone: 800-525-0127

COVID-19 regulations for nursing homes in Portland, Oregon

Portland is in Multnomah County, which requires all long-term care facilities — including nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care — to implement infection control policies for COVID-19 and other respiratory pathogens.^[11] For general updates regarding COVID-19 protocols, testing, and vaccines in Portland, you can visit the COVID-19 informational page on the county website.

You can also take a look at some measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Portland long-term care facilities below.

Vaccinations. The COVID-19 vaccine isn’t required for residents or staff members, but it’s highly recommended to prevent infection and serious illness.

Masking. Visitors, residents, and staff are not required to wear masks at all times. However, it’s required for anyone who has COVID-19 or individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19.

Facility cleanliness. Facilities are required to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in common areas at least twice a day.

Social distancing. Visitors, residents, and staff don’t have to social distance unless they’ve tested positive for COVID-19 or been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Portland is known for offering seniors the best of both worlds: gorgeous mountainscapes and stunning waterfront areas. It’s also known for its variety of senior care options, including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, and residential care facilities.

Learn about nursing homes in Portland and see how they compare to senior care facilities within the city.

Skilled nursing for seniors with serious medical conditions

Portland residents can find skilled nursing services within traditional nursing homes or in a skilled nursing unit in a senior care facility. Stand-alone skilled nursing facilities are the best option for seniors who require 24-hour medical supervision and care for seniors with chronic and serious medical conditions. Oregon doesn’t have many nursing home facilities, but the quality of care provided in nursing homes is among the best in the United States. Nursing homes in Oregon also offer a few social activities in common spaces.

Skilled nursing units within a senior care facility may be a better option for seniors who need a place to recover after a hospital stay. Seniors usually stay in these units for a short period of time — a couple of weeks at most. These units provide more comfort to seniors who already reside in senior care facilities, as they can easily transition without traveling and receive care from trusted caregiving individuals. Although most of our partner network of senior care facilities in Portland don’t have a skilled nursing unit on-site, a select few do.

Assisted living and memory care for seniors without 24-hour medical needs

For seniors who need daily assistance with activities of daily living, but don’t require round-the-clock medical care, assisted living or memory care may be a better option. Some of our partnering senior care facilities in Portland offer a variety of care and nursing services including:

• Medication reminders
• Transportation to medical appointments
• Disease management for common conditions (diabetes, arthritis, etc.)
• Urinary or bowel incontinence management
• Vitals monitoring (body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, etc.)

Our partnering senior care facilities also offer an impressive, rotating calendar of events and activities along with some enticing amenities:

• Fitness classes and centers
• Art classes and crafts centers
• TV lounges and movie theaters
• Game rooms and game nights
• Holiday and birthday celebrations

Our memory care partners in Portland offer all of the above and more. These memory care communities offer specialized activities and common spaces to accommodate individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Activities enable residents to reminisce and create new, meaningful memories.

Residential care homes for seniors who seek familiarity and comfort

In Oregon, most of our partnering senior care communities are residential care homes. These homes are referred to as “adult foster homes” in Oregon. They offer most of the care services found in senior care facilities to a maximum of five seniors at a time within a homelike environment. Care homes are often located in residential neighborhoods and are more comfortable for seniors who are reluctant to live in larger community settings.

Care homes mimic a family home and don’t offer many of the luxuries found in typical assisted living and memory care facilities. However, they still offer some group activities and shared spaces or activities, like trivia nights, holiday celebrations, fitness classes, living spaces, and outdoor yard areas. These homes are also built with safety and accessibility features like grab bars in showers, widened doorways, and emergency help buttons.

Health care for seniors in Portland

In Portland, seniors have access to a range of quality health care options. Explore some of the top-rated hospital systems in the Portland metro area below.

Transportation for seniors in Portland

It’s not recommended for seniors in skilled nursing facilities to use public transportation or leave without a caregiver, so most nursing homes don’t provide transportation services. However, seniors can leave under supervision when their medical care team allows.

Seniors in assisted living and memory care can get around safely using on-site transportation services. Nearly 65% of our partnering Portland senior care communities offer complimentary transportation services to residents around the city.^[02] Some communities limit rides to medical appointments, while others allow personal rides. Some assisted living communities also offer resident parking for licensed residents who own a car and drive.

Seniors without access to transportation services in their senior care community can use Ride Connection. This transportation service offers bus routes and door-to-door rides to older adults and individuals with disabilities in the Portland metro area and Washington County.

Public transportation for visiting loved ones
For visiting friends and family, most of our partner communities are also close to stops across Portland’s fantastic public transit system. Explore some of the main ways to get around town below:

• Light rail system. The Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) light rail is offered through TriMet, the city’s primary public transportation hub. The MAX has nearly 100 stops to help Portland residents navigate the city. They offer reduced fares for seniors 65+, as well as comprehensive accessibility measures. Review their accessibility features on their website for more information.
• Bus transportation. Bus trips are a great way to get from Portland to cities in the surrounding Pacific Northwest area. Some bus systems in Portland include stops in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. Portland offers 80+ bus lines servicing the metro area via the TriMet bus system.
• Streetcar. Portland famously built the first modern streetcar in the United States. Today, the Portland streetcar still offers affordable transportation to the city’s most popular destinations throughout the famous Pearl District.

Senior activities in Portland

With a local mantra like “Keep Portland Weird,” the city is bound to have a world of activities and sights for seniors to enjoy. The city offers incredible mountain views and water activities. There’s also a handful of senior-friendly excursions and attractions that provide senior discounts and disability accommodations.

Check out some of Portland’s senior-favored activities below.

Immerse yourself in the culture

• Pittock Mansion. This fun, historic house museum teaches visitors about how Portland transformed from a small, pioneer town into a modern, industrialized city. Most areas are accessible by wheelchair, but disabled seniors may have to switch to a smaller wheelchair available at the museum on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Portland Art Museum. This vibrant art museum displays an array of artwork from a variety of time periods. View historic, timeless pieces or walk through futuristic, cutting-edge exhibits. The museum is easily accessible for seniors with disabilities and offers equipment like rentable wheelchairs and walkers, as well as assistive technology, including magnifiers, flashlights, audio guides, and much more.
• Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This traditional concert hall hosts a variety of musical events — from classical and jazz to pop and rock. Seniors can also attend lecture series, symphonies, and theatrical performances. The hall prides itself on its disability accommodations with options for individuals with mobility, hard of hearing, visual impairments, sensory needs, and more.

Explore the outdoors

• Gardens in Portland. Portland is sometimes referred to as the “city of gardens” due to the plethora of stunning, unique gardens. Seniors can enjoy afternoons browsing all types of gardens, including tranquil gardens from around the world, like the Lan Su Chinese Garden or Portland Japanese Garden. And guests particularly interested in horticulture can explore the expansive Portland Botanical Garden.
• Portland parks. Portland has more than 300 beautiful parks scattered throughout the city, and seniors can use this online search tool to find one near them. Many parks have gorgeous trails, bodies of water, fountains, picnic spots, and more for visitors to enjoy.
• Beaches in and near Portland. The city itself has some beaches — in fact, Poet’s Beach is within walking distance of downtown and is a popular place for swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Many Portland residents also drive out to the coastal Cannon Beach, which is only an hour and a half away. It’s the perfect getaway for visiting families and active seniors.

Shop and dine

• Portland shops. Because Portland has no sales tax, it’s every shopaholic’s dream. All over the city, seniors can browse vintage clothing shops, thrift stores, malls, luxury stores, and the basics.
• Portland restaurants. Portland is known for its mouthwatering food and coffee. Whether you’re looking to meet friends for brunch, enjoy a five-course meal at an award-winning restaurant, or try authentic cuisines from around the world, Portland offers it all.
• Pioneer Courthouse Square. Known as “Portland’s Living Room,” this urban park hosts over 300 events a year, including concerts and holiday festivities. Seniors can shop the bazaar, eat at pop-up food stalls, or participate in seasonal competitions.