In short
To check a care provider, look it up in three places: Medicare's Care Compare for star ratings and inspection summaries of nursing homes, home health agencies and hospices; your state licensing agency for assisted living licenses and inspection reports; and the facility itself, which must make recent nursing home survey results available. Then visit in person.
The three records to check
- Care CompareMedicare's tool covers nursing homes, home health agencies and hospices that take Medicare. Nursing homes get an overall star rating plus separate ratings for health inspections, staffing and quality measures.
- The state licensing agencyStates license assisted living and many other settings Medicare doesn't rate. Most post license status and inspection reports online.
- The provider's own copyFederal rules require nursing homes to post their most recent survey results where residents and families can read them, and to provide earlier reports on request.
State lookups
| State | Who licenses assisted living and nursing homes | Where to look | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), long-term care and residential facility licensing | AZ Care Check Licensed facilities and their licensing information | ADHS online complaint form, linked from its licensing pages |
| Florida | Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) | FloridaHealthFinder facility locator License status, beds, inspection reports and emergency actions | AHCA assisted living complaint line (888) 419-3456 |
| Kansas | KDADS, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services | KDADS Facilities Directory Adult care homes by type, with inspection results | KDADS complaint hotline 800-842-0078 |
| Missouri | Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Section for Long-Term Care Regulation | Show Me Long Term Care Licensed facilities and inspection reports | DHSS abuse and neglect hotline 1-800-392-0210 |
| North Carolina | Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR), Adult Care Licensure Section | Adult care home inspections, ratings and penalties Statements of deficiencies, star ratings and corrective action reports | DHSR complaint intake, listed on the DHSR site |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Health (nursing homes and residential care facilities) | Care Compare (nursing homes); ask ODH for state survey reports Federal ratings and inspection summaries for certified nursing homes | Ohio Department of Health complaint unit |
| Pennsylvania | Department of Human Services (DHS), personal care home and assisted living residence licensing | DHS PCH and ALR licensing page, with the provider directory Licensed personal care homes and assisted living residences | DHS regional licensing office |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Department of Public Health (community residential care facilities and nursing homes) | DPH Find a Facility Licensed facilities by type and location | DPH Healthcare Quality, listed on the DPH site |
| Texas | Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) | HHSC Long-Term Care Provider Search License status and inspection history for nursing facilities and assisted living | HHSC complaint and incident intake 1-800-458-9858 |
Checked October 2026. Federal ratings for Medicare-certified nursing homes, home health and hospice are on Medicare Care Compare.
Ratings are a starting point
CMS itself cautions that no rating system covers everything that matters, such as specialized dementia care or how easy it is for family to visit. Use the record to shortlist, then visit, talk to residents and families, and ask the hard questions.
In this section
Where to find assisted living inspection reports
Assisted living is licensed by states, not Medicare. Where to find inspection reports and licenses in nine states, and how to read them.
Guide ReadHow-toHow to check a home health agency on Care Compare
How to use Care Compare to check a Medicare-certified home health agency: the two star ratings, what they measure, and what to ask next.
Guide ReadHow-toHow to check a hospice on Care Compare
How to use Care Compare to check a hospice: Medicare approval, family caregiver survey ratings, quality measures, and what to ask next.
Guide ReadExplainerThe long-term care ombudsman
Long-term care ombudsmen advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. What they do, how to reach one, and when to call.
Guide ReadHow-toHow to use Nursing Home Compare (Medicare Care Compare)
A step-by-step guide to Care Compare for nursing homes: what the star ratings mean, comparing three homes, ownership details and what ratings miss.
Guide ReadHow-toHow to check a nursing home's inspection reports and violations
Where to find a nursing home's inspection reports and deficiencies: Care Compare, the state agency and the home itself. How to read what you find.
Guide ReadPrintable toolProvider scorecard: compare up to three care providers
A printable scorecard to rate up to three nursing homes, assisted living communities or agencies on the same questions, with totals and red flags.
Tool ReadExplainerSigns of elder abuse and neglect
Signs of elder abuse and neglect at home or in a facility, from NIA: physical, emotional and financial warning signs, and who to call.
Guide ReadQuestions families ask
Where can I find nursing home ratings?
On Medicare's Care Compare. Each Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home has an overall rating of 1 to 5 stars, plus ratings for health inspections, staffing and quality measures.
Does Medicare rate assisted living?
No. Assisted living is licensed by the states, so check the state licensing agency's lookup instead.
Can I see a nursing home's inspection report?
Yes. Care Compare summarizes inspections, and the nursing home must post its most recent survey results and make reports from the past three years available on request.
Who do I call with a complaint about a care home?
Your state's licensing agency takes complaints. The long-term care ombudsman program can also help residents and families resolve problems.