Guide

Nursing homes with Spanish-speaking staff: how to find them

Updated October 15, 2026 · Reviewed against official sources

Why language is part of care

According to the Census Bureau, more than half of people 65 and older in the U.S. who speak Spanish at home say they speak English less than "very well." For them, being able to tell a nurse that they're in pain, that they don't like a certain food or that they get scared at night isn't a small detail: it affects their health and their mood.

This matters even more with dementia. It's common for a bilingual person with dementia to have more and more trouble with English they learned as an adult and to rely more on their native language. So a place that works well for your loved one today may need to offer more support in Spanish over time. It's worth asking about this from the start. If you notice memory changes, read about early signs of Alzheimer's in Latinos and the guide to memory care.

Your language access rights

In a certified nursing home

Nursing homes that take part in Medicare or Medicaid must respect the resident rights in federal law (42 CFR 483.10). These include:

• Information must be given to the resident in a way they can understand, including in a language they understand.
• The resident's rights and the facility's rules must be explained verbally and in writing in a language the resident understands.
• Notices (for example, about changes in their care, a transfer or a discharge) must be given in a format and a language they understand.
• The resident has the right to be told about their health status in language they can understand and to take part in their care plan.

In hospitals, nursing homes and agencies that receive federal funding

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on national origin in programs that receive federal funding. That includes taking reasonable steps so that people with limited English proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access to services.
• Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act applies that protection to health programs that receive federal funding. Its regulation (45 CFR 92.201) requires meaningful access for people with limited English proficiency, for example through qualified interpreters and translations. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says some parts of the 2024 rule are on hold because of court decisions, so the details may change, but the general duty to provide access is still in the law.

In practice, you can ask for:

• A free interpreter at care plan meetings, medical appointments and conversations about discharge.
• No child or other family member to be used as an interpreter if you don't want that.
• Important documents translated into Spanish or explained in Spanish.

Assisted living communities are governed by each state's laws. If they receive Medicaid or other federal funding, Title VI may also apply.

If you need an interpreter and haven't been offered one, ask the social worker or the charge nurse ahead of time; ask whether they use in-person, phone or video interpreting. If you still can't get one, the long-term care ombudsman can help you, and there's also the HHS Office for Civil Rights. See resident rights and complaints.

An interpreter isn't the same as staff who speak Spanish

An interpreter covers the key moments, but not daily life. At 3 in the morning, when your mom wakes up confused, an aide who speaks to her kindly in her own language makes a big difference. That's why it's worth looking for facilities with bilingual staff in direct care: certified nursing assistants (CNAs), nurses and activities staff. When they also share the resident's culture, they bring much more than language: they understand the resident's customs, food and faith.

How to search our directory

• In senior living by state and near me, you can see each facility's listing.
• The "Spanish spoken" badge appears only when the facility itself says so, and we show the date it told us. We don't assume it from the name or the location. If a listing doesn't show it, that doesn't mean they don't speak Spanish: it means they haven't told us yet. It's worth calling to ask.
• The guided search helps you search based on your loved one's needs, including language.
• Use compare to see several facilities side by side, with Medicare star ratings and the other official indicators. Learn how to read them in how to read Medicare star ratings.

For certified nursing homes, we cover the whole country. For assisted living, residential care and adult day centers, we publish the states whose licensing records can be downloaded and verified; the list is in where our data comes from.

Other ways to find facilities where staff speak Spanish

• Ask the hospital social worker which nursing homes serve many Hispanic patients.
• Call the Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time (if you prefer Spanish, ask for it when you call). They'll connect you with your local Area Agency on Aging.
• Talk with the long-term care ombudsman in your area: they know the facilities and their teams well.
• Ask at your parish, church or community center. Recommendations from other families are worth a lot.
• In areas with a large Latino population (Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, New York, Chicago), it's usually easier to find bilingual staff.

What to ask when you visit

Bring our visit checklist and add these questions:

1. How many aides and nurses speak Spanish on each shift, including nights and weekends?
2. Who speaks Spanish in the administration and in the social work office?
3. How do you get an interpreter for the doctor or for care plan meetings? How long does it take?
4. Do you have the contract, the house rules and the rights notices in Spanish?
5. Are there activities, music, Mass or religious services in Spanish?
6. Can you make food my loved one will recognize?
7. How many Hispanic residents live here now?
8. How do you support a resident with dementia who only understands Spanish?

See what daily life is like. Visit at different times, greet the floor staff in Spanish and watch how they talk with residents. Ask if you can talk with a Hispanic family who has a loved one there. For more ideas about food, faith and customs, read how to find a care home that respects Latino culture.

If you prefer home care

It's usually easier to find a Spanish-speaking caregiver for care at home than in a care facility. You can look for an agency with bilingual staff or hire someone directly. If your loved one has Medicaid, some programs let a family member be the paid caregiver. Read home care for seniors and the questions to ask a home care agency, look at home health agencies and estimate the cost with the calculator. Adult day centers can also be a good option with bilingual staff.

💬Frequently asked questions

Does the interpreter cost anything?

No. Under the Section 1557 rule, in health programs that receive federal funding, language help must be free of charge, timely and accurate. Ask the facility how they arrange it: in person, by phone or by video.

Can a family member act as the interpreter?

Yes, if you prefer, but it isn't required. You have the right to ask for a qualified interpreter, and a child should not be used as an interpreter except in an emergency.

How do I know if they really speak Spanish on the night shift?

Ask directly and, if you can, visit late in the afternoon or on a weekend. You can also ask other Hispanic families at the facility.

Does the contract have to be in Spanish?

Federal law requires that rights, rules and important notices be explained to the resident in a language they understand. Ask for a copy in Spanish or a complete explanation before you sign.

State rules vary. This guide is general information and is not legal advice.

Sources

• eCFR, 42 CFR 483.10, resident rights: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/subpart-B/section-483.10 (accessed October 15, 2026)
• eCFR, 45 CFR 92.201, access for people with limited English proficiency: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-92/subpart-C/section-92.201 (accessed October 15, 2026)
• HHS, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/index.html (accessed October 15, 2026)
• HHS, Title VI and people with limited English proficiency: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/limited-english-proficiency/index.html (accessed October 15, 2026)
• U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey, table B16004: https://data.census.gov/table?q=B16004 (accessed October 15, 2026)
• Eldercare Locator (ACL), contact information: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/About/Contact_Info/Index.aspx (accessed October 15, 2026)
• National Consumer Voice, find an ombudsman: https://ltcombudsman.org/ (accessed October 15, 2026)
• ACL, "Help with Housing or Services" (Eldercare Locator hours): https://acl.gov/HousingandServices/FindHelp (accessed October 15, 2026)

This is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Rules vary by state and by year: confirm with the official agency that applies to you.

👉Keep reading

Choosing a place for care

How to choose a nursing home: assess the need, check the license, star ratings and inspections, visit, what to ask and how to read the contract.

A care home that respects Latino culture: food, Mass, telenovelas

What to ask to find out whether a care home will honor your Latino loved one's food, faith, language, and customs, and what the law says.

Rights and complaints

Federal nursing home resident rights, how to resolve concerns with the staff, what the ombudsman does and how to file a formal complaint.

Home care

A caregiver from an agency or hired by your family, Medicare home health and Medicaid (IHSS, STAR+PLUS): typical costs and your duties as an employer.