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Free tool · official government data
Check a nursing home's real inspection record
Search official Medicare/CMS ratings for any nursing home in the US — the same inspection data behind Medicare.gov, shown with no phone number required and no commission from any facility.
Source: CMS Care Compare (data.cms.gov) · Refreshed on every search, not cached
Stay informed — no need to check back manually
CMS updates this data monthly. Instead of re-checking by hand, get an email the moment something changes.
Free — watch a state's Special Focus Facility list
Get an email if any facility is added to or removed from your state's CMS red-flag list. Free, up to 3 states.
$6/mo — watch one specific facility
Get an email if any part of a specific facility's CMS rating changes — not just Special Focus status. Find the CCN in the facility's card above after searching.
Why this matters more than a "top-rated" list
Most senior-living referral sites are paid a commission by the facilities they recommend — which creates a built-in incentive to steer families toward paying partners rather than the best-inspected option. A 2026 Washington Post analysis found that a large share of one major referral site's own "best of" award recipients had been cited for serious care violations, including medication errors and falls. This tool sidesteps that conflict entirely: it's the same federal inspection data, shown with nothing added and nothing hidden.
Browse Special Focus Facilities by state
See the full national overview, ranked by state →
CMS's red-flag list for chronic, serious problems — broken out state by state.
Already know the care type you need?
Use the free calculator to estimate what it will cost in your state, and see what Medicaid or VA benefits might cover.
Open the cost calculator →Frequently asked questions
Where does this nursing home quality data come from?
Directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Care Compare public dataset — the same federal inspection and staffing data behind Medicare.gov. CarePath is not affiliated with CMS and does not edit, filter, or accept payment from any facility to influence what's shown.
What does the CMS star rating actually measure?
The overall 1-5 star rating combines three components: health inspection results (unannounced state surveys), staffing levels (nurse hours per resident per day), and quality measures (clinical outcomes like falls, infections, and pressure ulcers). A facility can look nice on a tour and still score low here — the rating reflects regulatory findings, not decor.
What is a Special Focus Facility?
It's CMS's own red-flag list — nursing homes with a documented history of serious, repeated quality problems that CMS monitors more closely than normal facilities. Being on this list is one of the most concrete warning signs in the entire dataset.
Why doesn't a referral site like A Place for Mom show this data prominently?
Referral services are typically paid a commission by the facilities they refer families to, which creates an incentive to steer families toward paying partners rather than the highest-rated options. A 2026 Washington Post analysis found a significant share of one major referral site's top-rated recommended facilities had been cited for serious care violations. Independent government data sidesteps that conflict of interest entirely.
This tool displays public data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Care Compare program. CarePath is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CMS, Medicare, or Medicaid Services, and receives no payment from any facility shown. Ratings are updated by CMS on their own schedule (typically monthly) and may not reflect very recent changes — always confirm current status and tour any facility before making a decision. This is not medical, legal, or financial advice. For the official source, visit medicare.gov/care-compare. © 2026 CarePath.