Check any nursing home against Medicare's own data.
Medicare’s old Nursing Home Compare tool is now called Care Compare, on Medicare.gov. This page reads the same CMS data and translates it: enter a ZIP and see each nearby home’s star rating, how its staffing compares to the state and national medians, and every inspection finding with its severity written out in plain English.
Ratings, translated
What a 2-star health inspection actually means for daily life, in sentences, not code numbers.
Staffing, in context
Registered nurse hours and total nurse hours per resident per day, each against the state and national medians.
Findings in plain English
CMS grades each citation from A to L for how widespread it was and whether it caused harm. We show that reading in words.
Abuse icons and the contrast
CMS abuse icons and Special Focus status are surfaced plainly. So is the case where a strong star rating sits beside findings of actual harm.
Not sure a facility is even the right question yet? Start with the free assessment. It tells you what level of care fits first.
Questions people ask about nursing home ratings
What do Medicare's nursing home star ratings measure?
Three things, blended into one overall star: health inspection results from state surveyors, nurse staffing hours per resident per day from payroll records, and clinical quality measures that are largely self-reported by the facility. The health inspection rating carries the overall star; staffing and quality measures can only move it up or down by a step. Our page on nursing home star ratings explains each part.
Is this the same data as Medicare.gov Care Compare?
Yes. The checker reads the CMS Provider Data Catalog, the public dataset behind Care Compare, through the shared GoCheckMy data service. The ratings, staffing figures, penalties, and inspection findings are CMS's own; we translate them into plain English and never rate facilities ourselves.
How often is the nursing home data updated?
CMS refreshes Care Compare monthly, and the checker reads the current release. A rating can move from one month to the next as new inspections are completed, so check the survey date shown with each facility.
Does the checker cover assisted living?
No. Medicare certifies nursing homes, not assisted living, so there is no federal rating for assisted living communities. Each state licenses and inspects them separately. Use our tour checklist and the guide to checking an assisted living facility instead.
Do you store the ZIP code I enter?
No. The ZIP is sent to the data service to fetch the facilities near it and is not stored, logged against you, or shared. The page keeps nothing about you between visits.
Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information and health deficiencies), served through the shared GoCheckMy data service. We translate the public record into plain English; we never rate facilities ourselves or invent claims about any specific facility. Ratings, staffing figures, and findings are CMS's own.