Choosing the right nursing home for yourself or a loved one is a significant decision. To assist with this process, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed the Nursing Home Care Compare website. This tool offers a comprehensive quality rating system designed to simplify the comparison of nursing homes and highlight key areas for further inquiry.
The cornerstone of Care Compare is its Five-Star Quality Rating System. Each nursing home receives an overall rating ranging from 1 to 5 stars, indicating its quality level. A 5-star rating signifies “much above average” quality, while a 1-star rating suggests “much below average.” Beyond the overall score, Care Compare provides separate star ratings in three critical categories: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. These distinct ratings offer a more granular view of a facility’s strengths and weaknesses.
It’s crucial to understand that while the Medicare.gov nursing home compare tool is invaluable, it’s not the only factor to consider. No rating system can capture every aspect relevant to individual needs. For instance, specialized care offerings like dementia or rehabilitation services, or the proximity of a facility for family visits, are equally important. Frequent family visits are known to enhance residents’ well-being and care quality. Therefore, a nursing home closer to family, even with a slightly lower rating, might be preferable to a higher-rated but distant option.
For a holistic approach, consumers should utilize the Care Compare website in conjunction with other resources. Direct visits to nursing homes are essential, allowing for firsthand assessment of the environment and interaction with staff. Additionally, consulting state and local organizations, such as advocacy groups and the State Ombudsman program, can provide valuable local insights and perspectives.
For those seeking a deeper understanding of the rating system, the Five-Star Quality Rating System Technical Users’ Guide is available for download. This guide provides detailed explanations of the ratings and the methodologies employed in their calculation.
To explore and compare nursing homes in your vicinity, visit the Nursing Home Care Compare website directly. This resource empowers you with information to make informed decisions about nursing home care.
What’s New on Nursing Home Care Compare?
Recent Updates (January 2023): CMS has addressed issues related to inaccurate schizophrenia coding affecting quality measure ratings. Audits are underway to identify and adjust ratings for facilities with coding discrepancies. In the interest of transparency, citations under informal dispute are now visible on the Nursing Home Care Compare website.
Staffing and Turnover Insights (January 2022): New measures for nursing home staff turnover and weekend staffing levels have been incorporated into Care Compare. This data enhances the website’s ability to provide a comprehensive picture of staffing quality, further assisting users in their evaluation process. These measures are also integrated into the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
Website and Rating System Enhancements (December 2020): Several updates to the Nursing Home Compare website and the Five-Star Quality Rating System were implemented in January 2021. These changes ensure the ongoing accuracy and relevance of the information provided to consumers. Health Inspection and Quality Measure ratings calculations were resumed on January 27, 2021, reflecting CMS’s commitment to continuous improvement and data accuracy.
