McAllen Senior AdvisorBy McAllen Senior Advisor Care Team · October 9, 2026
Of 22 CMS-rated nursing homes in Hidalgo County, 3 hold five stars, 8 four, 3 three, 4 two and 4 one. The county median is 3.30 nurse staffing hours per resident day and 38.5% nursing staff turnover. Read the deficiencies and staffing, not only the overall stars.
The rating spread
CMS rates every Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home from one to five stars overall, built from health inspections, staffing and quality measures. Hidalgo County's 22 rated homes spread across the whole scale.
| CMS overall rating | Homes |
|---|---|
| 5 stars | 3 |
| 4 stars | 8 |
| 3 stars | 3 |
| 2 stars | 4 |
| 1 stars | 4 |
That spread is the main reason to compare before choosing. Two homes a few miles apart on Expressway 83 can sit at opposite ends of the scale. The data in this post comes from CMS's Provider Information file, data as of October 1, 2026.
Staffing and turnover
CMS's staffing figures come from payroll records. Across the county's certified homes, the median is 3.30 total nurse staffing hours per resident per day, of which registered nurses supply a median 0.35 hours. Median nursing staff turnover is 38.5%.
Staffing is the measure families feel most directly: how quickly a call light is answered, whether the same aides know your parent, whether someone notices a change. Many Valley homes earn their strongest marks on quality measures and their weakest on staffing, so it is worth comparing that one rating separately.
Inspections and fines
The median home had 11 health deficiencies in its latest inspection cycle. Counts range widely, and a single serious finding can weigh more than several minor ones in CMS's inspection rating, so open the inspection report itself on Care Compare.
CMS also lists fines and payment denials over three years. 17 of the county's rated homes show at least one fine. 4 carry CMS's abuse icon, which marks a citation for abuse in the past year or for potential abuse in each of the past two years.
Who owns Valley nursing homes
CMS lists each home's ownership type and chain. In Hidalgo County a few operators run many homes: Wellsential Health (10), The Ensign Group (3), Touchstone Communities (3), Texvet (1).
7 homes list their ownership as government, hospital district. In Texas, many nursing homes are licensed to public hospital districts, sometimes far from the Valley, and run day to day by private management companies. The arrangement is common in the state and does not by itself say anything about quality; ask who manages the building and how long that company has been in charge.
Short-stay versus long-stay
CMS splits quality measures into short-stay residents, who come for rehab after a hospital stay, and long-stay residents, who live in the home. A home can do well on one and poorly on the other. For a rehab admission after a stay at a Valley hospital, look at the short-stay rating and the share of residents who return home. For permanent care, look at long-stay measures such as falls with injury, pressure ulcers and antipsychotic use.
How to use the ratings
Use the stars to build a short list, then visit. Go at a mealtime and again in the evening. Ask about the latest deficiencies and the plan of correction, how many aides work each shift, and whether nurses and aides on your parent's hall speak Spanish.
Our nursing home roster lets you sort every home by rating, deficiencies and size, and each facility page compares the home with the county median.
Frequently asked questions
How many nursing homes are in Hidalgo County?
HHSC licenses 23 nursing facilities in the county; 22 are certified and have CMS profiles.
Where do CMS star ratings come from?
From federal health inspections, payroll-based staffing data and resident-assessment quality measures, combined into an overall rating.
Is a five-star home always the best choice?
Not necessarily. Read the staffing and inspection details, consider distance for visiting family, and visit before choosing.
How often does CMS update the ratings?
CMS refreshes Care Compare data monthly, and inspection results change the health inspection rating after each standard survey or complaint investigation, so check the current rating before deciding.
