How Ratings Work
Our ratings derive entirely from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) official datasets, refreshed quarterly. We do not accept payments for improved rankings.
Overall Rating
The 1-5 star overall rating comes directly from CMS's Five-Star Quality Rating System. It combines three component ratings:
- Health Inspections: Based on the three most recent annual surveys and complaint investigations
- Staffing: Nurse staffing hours per resident per day, adjusted for acuity
- Quality Measures: Clinical outcomes including falls, infections, and pressure ulcers
Penalty Tracking
We display every fine and enforcement action on record, including the date, type, and dollar amount. Facilities with zero penalties are highlighted with a green indicator. Payment denial periods and scope/severity codes are included for full transparency.
Staffing Data
Staffing levels are reported as hours per resident per day for RNs, total nursing staff, and nurse aides. We also track RN and total nurse turnover rates, weekend staffing hours, and administrator turnover. Higher staffing generally correlates with better care outcomes.
Quality Measures
Quality measures track clinical outcomes for both short-stay and long-stay residents. These include metrics like fall rates, pressure ulcer incidence, use of antipsychotic medications, UTI rates, and functional decline. Each measure is scored and compared against national benchmarks.
Community Context
We enrich each facility profile with ZIP-level community data including demographics, health indicators (diabetes, heart disease, disability rates), and housing cost data from HUD. This helps families understand the broader environment around each facility.
Limitations
CMS data reflects conditions at the time of inspection and may not capture recent changes. Inspection frequency varies, and some facilities may have improved or declined since their last survey. We recommend using our data as one input alongside in-person visits and professional consultations.