In short
You can check a nursing home's violations in three places. Care Compare shows its health inspection rating and recent findings. Your state's licensing agency posts inspection reports for homes it licenses. And the home itself must post its most recent survey results and provide reports from the past three years on request, with any plan of correction.
Where the reports are
- Care CompareOpen the home on medicare.gov/care-compare and look at the health inspections section for recent findings and complaint results.
- The state agencyUse your state's lookup below. Many states post the full survey documents.
- At the homeFederal rules require the home to post its most recent survey results where residents and families can easily read them, and to provide the last three years of survey, certification and complaint reports on request.
| 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.
How to read what you find
- Look at patterns. One finding about paperwork is different from repeated findings about falls, pressure sores or medication errors.
- Look at dates. A problem from three years ago that has not recurred tells a different story from one found last month.
- Read the plan of correction. It shows what the home said it would change.
- Ask the administrator. A good home will explain a finding plainly. Note whether the answer is specific.
When something worries you
Bring the finding to your tour and ask about it. If you think a resident is in danger, contact the state agency's complaint line. The long-term care ombudsman program can also help families raise concerns.
Questions families ask
Are nursing home inspection reports public?
Yes. Care Compare summarizes them, states publish many of them, and nursing homes must post recent results and provide the past three years of reports on request.
What is a deficiency?
A finding that the home did not meet a requirement during an inspection or complaint investigation. The report describes what inspectors saw and how serious it was.
How often are nursing homes inspected?
Certified nursing homes are inspected on a regular cycle and after complaints. Check the dates on the reports to see how recent they are.
Can I see complaints filed against a nursing home?
Complaint investigation results appear with inspections on Care Compare and in many state reports.