It’s important to understand that while the star rating system is a valuable tool to compare nursing homes, it’s not exhaustive. It may not cover all individual needs, such as specialized care (like dementia or rehabilitation services) or the convenience of location for family visits. Proximity matters because frequent visits can greatly enhance a resident’s well-being and care quality. Therefore, consider the Care Compare ratings as a starting point. Supplement your research by visiting potential nursing homes, exploring other informational resources, and consulting local advocacy groups or the State Ombudsman program.
Understanding the Five-Star Ratings
The Five-Star Quality Rating System breaks down nursing home evaluations into three key areas, culminating in an Overall rating:
- Overall Rating: This is a composite score reflecting a nursing home’s performance across all rating categories. It provides a quick snapshot of overall quality.
- Health Inspections Rating: This rating is based on results from health inspections conducted at nursing homes. A higher rating indicates a strong history of regulatory compliance and resident safety.
- Staffing Rating: Staffing levels are crucial for quality care. This rating examines the number of staff hours per resident day, considering registered nurses, licensed practical/vocational nurses, and certified nurse aides.
- Quality Measures Rating: This assesses a nursing home’s performance on specific quality measures, such as rates of pressure ulcers, falls, and hospital readmissions. These measures offer insights into the direct care and outcomes for residents.
Recent Updates to the Rating System
The Care Compare website and Five-Star Quality Rating System are continuously updated to provide the most relevant and accurate information. Recent updates include:
- January 18, 2023: Adjustments were made to quality measure ratings to correct for inaccurate schizophrenia coding. CMS is also increasing transparency by displaying citations under informal dispute on the Nursing Home Care Compare website. Audits of schizophrenia coding are being conducted to further refine rating accuracy.
- January 7, 2022: Staff turnover and weekend staffing levels were added as new measures on Care Compare. This information is now factored into the Five-Star Quality Rating System, offering a more comprehensive view of staffing quality.
- December 4, 2020: Updates were implemented to resume calculating Health Inspection and Quality Measure ratings, ensuring these key components of the rating system remained current and informative.
By using the Nursing Home Care Compare website and understanding the Five-Star Quality Rating System, you can effectively compare nursing homes and make a more informed decision. Remember to use this tool in conjunction with other research methods for the best outcome.
