Aria of Brookfield tops Waukesha County nursing homes in Q1 2026

Aria of Brookfield emerged as the largest nursing facility in Waukesha County during the first quarter of 2026, data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) shows.

The center reported 170 available beds, which is 81 more than the county’s average for the first quarter of 2026. On average, the facility cared for 100 residents each day during that timeframe.

CMS awarded Aria of Brookfield an overall rating of 1 out of 5, falling short of Wisconsin’s statewide nursing home average rating of 3.

During this period, Complete Care at Kensington placed second with 150 beds, and Avina of Pewaukee ranked third with 120 beds available.

As of Q1 2026, Aria of Brookfield had incurred a total of $453,512 in fines across five instances and faced seven penalties.

There were eight for-profit nursing homes operating in Waukesha County, Wisconsin during the same period.

U.S. Census Bureau estimates indicate that the country’s older adult population is expanding as younger groups decline. From 2020 through 2024, the number of people age 65 and up rose 13%, while those under 18 fell 1.7%. The senior population has grown substantially over the last 100 years, climbing from 4.9 million in 1920 to over 61 million by 2024.

A 2021 report found that about half of older adults—roughly 28 million people—may need long-term services and supports. The analysis also suggests over one third could eventually require care in a nursing home.

“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education group. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”

Information in this article was sourced from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The underlying data is available here.