---
title: "How to use Nursing Home Compare on Care Compare"
description: "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."
url: https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/nursing-home-compare/
updated: 2026-10-10
site: Senior Choice Care
---

How-to

# How to use Nursing Home Compare (Medicare Care Compare)

The tool once called Nursing Home Compare now lives inside Medicare's Care Compare. It is free, public and more detailed than most families realize.

**2 minute read** Updated October 9, 2026Written by the Senior Choice Care team

In short

Nursing Home Compare is now part of Medicare's Care Compare. Search "Nursing homes including rehab services" by location or name, then compare up to three homes side by side. Each home has an overall rating of 1 to 5 stars, plus separate ratings for health inspections, staffing and quality measures, along with ownership details.

**Written by the Senior Choice Care team** Updated October 9, 2026. Facts are checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. General information; every family is different.

**On this page**

1. [ Step by step](#s-step-by-step)
2. [What the stars mean](#s-what-the-stars-mean)
3. [What the ratings can't tell you](#s-what-the-ratings-can-t-tell-you)
4. [Questions families ask](#s-faq)

## Step by step

1. **Open Care Compare** Go to medicare.gov/care-compare and choose "Nursing homes including rehab services."
2. **Search** Enter a city, ZIP code or the home's name.
3. **Pick up to three** Use the Compare feature to see three homes side by side.
4. **Read each rating** Check the overall rating, then the three underneath it: health inspections, staffing and quality measures.
5. **Look at ownership** Open "Ownership Details" for the owners' names, and "affiliated entity performance" to see how other homes in the same chain perform.

## What the stars mean

CMS describes 5 stars as much above average quality and 1 star as much below average. The overall rating combines the three component ratings. A home can have a strong overall rating and a weak staffing or inspection rating, so read all four.

^ The four nursing home ratings on Care Compare

| Rating | What it reflects |
|---|---|
| --- | --- |
| Overall | A combined summary of the three ratings below |
| Health inspections | Findings from state inspections and complaint investigations |
| Staffing | Nurse and aide staffing levels |
| Quality measures | Resident outcomes for short-stay and long-stay residents |

## What the ratings can't tell you

CMS warns that no rating can cover everything, such as specialized rehab or dementia care, or how close the home is for visits. It suggests that a nearby home may be the better choice over a higher-rated one far away, because visits matter for residents' quality of care. Medicare's guide also recommends visiting, talking to residents and families, and asking your doctor or a social worker.

## Questions families ask

### Is Nursing Home Compare still available?

Yes. It is part of Medicare's Care Compare at medicare.gov/care-compare, under nursing homes.

### What does a 1-star nursing home mean?

CMS describes 1 star as quality much below average, compared with other homes. Read the inspection details to see why.

### Can I compare more than one nursing home at a time?

Yes. Care Compare lets you compare up to three nursing homes side by side.

### Does Care Compare show who owns a nursing home?

Yes. The Ownership Details section names owners, and the affiliated entity link shows how other homes with the same owner perform.

## Sources

- [Medicare.gov Care Compare: nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice and more](https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/)
- [CMS: Five-Star Quality Rating System for nursing homes](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/certification-compliance/five-star-quality-rating-system)
- [Medicare: Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home (02174)](https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02174-your-guide-to-choosing-a-nursing-home)

## Read next

- [Check a provider](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/)
- [Nursing home inspections](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/nursing-home-inspection-reports/)
- [Provider scorecard](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/provider-scorecard/)
- [When it's time for a nursing home](https://seniorchoicecare.com/guides/when-is-it-time-for-a-nursing-home/)
- [Assisted living inspections](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/assisted-living-inspection-reports/)
- [Home Health Compare](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/home-health-compare/)
- [Hospice Compare](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/hospice-compare/)
- [Long-term care ombudsman](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/long-term-care-ombudsman/)

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