Nursing Homes are facilities that provide nursing or convalescent care for three or more persons unrelated to the licensee. A nursing home provides long term care of chronic conditions or short term convalescent or rehabilitative care of remedial ailments, for which medical and nursing care are indicated. Most of the residents are older adults who need long term care. Some residents are admitted for short stays of convalescent or rehabilitative care following hospitalization. All nursing homes must be licensed in accordance with North Carolina State law by the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation Licensure Section (919) 733-1610. There are over 300 nursing homes in North Carolina.