The 2004 National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS), conducted between August and December of 2004, was reintroduced into the field after a five-year break, during which time the survey was redesigned and expanded to collect many new data items. All nursing homes that participated in the NNHS had at least three beds and were either certified (by Medicare or Medicaid) or had a state license to operate as a nursing home. The redesigned survey was administered using a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) system. The National Nursing Home Survey provides information on nursing homes from two perspectives-that of the provider of services and that of the recipient of care. Data about the facilities include characteristics such as size, ownership, Medicare/Medicaid certification, services provided and specialty programs offered, and charges. For recipients, data were obtained on demographic characteristics, health status and medications taken, services received, and sources of payment.

Data for the survey were obtained through personal interviews with facility administrators and designated staff who used administrative records to answer questions about the facilities, staff, services and programs, and medical records to answer questions about the residents.

The total number of nursing home facilities that participated in NNHS is 1,174.