Reading care inspection reports
Inspection reports show what state inspectors found when they visited a care community. This guide explains where to find them and how to read them.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026
General information only. This guide is not medical, legal or financial advice. Talk with a physician, and with an elder-law or financial professional where money or legal papers are involved, about your own situation.
Where to find nursing home records
For nursing homes that take Medicare or Medicaid, Medicare's Care Compare shows inspection results, staffing information and star ratings. Search by name or location, then open a home's profile to see its details.
Understanding star ratings
Care Compare gives nursing homes an overall star rating, based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures. Ratings help you compare homes, but a visit and your own questions show things the numbers can't.
Reading inspection findings
An inspection report lists deficiencies: places where a home did not meet a requirement. Read what happened, not only how many there were.
- How serious each problem was, and how many residents it affected
- Whether the home corrected it, and when
- Whether the same problem appears in more than one inspection
- Complaint inspections as well as routine ones
Assisted living and other communities
Assisted living, memory care and other residential communities are licensed by states, and each state keeps its own records. Ask the community for its latest state inspection report, and check with the state licensing agency.
Frequently asked questions
Medicare's Care Compare covers nursing homes that take Medicare or Medicaid. Assisted living and most other residential communities are licensed by states, so their records are kept by the state licensing agency.
Not on its own. A citation shows what inspectors found on that day. Look at how serious it was, whether it was corrected, and whether the same problem comes back.
The long-term care ombudsman program in each state helps residents and families with questions and complaints about care. The service is free.
Sources
SeniorLeaf is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations listed here.