CareScope Resources

Nursing Home Guides & Research

Data-backed articles on nursing home costs, quality ratings, Medicare, and more. Powered by CMS data on 15,000+ facilities.

How to Choose a Nursing Home: A Family's Complete Guide

From inspection reports to staff ratios, learn exactly what to evaluate before making one of the most important decisions for your family.

Private rooms average $10,798/month nationally, but costs range from $8,668 in Alabama to $31,620 in Alaska. Find your state's rates.

Medicare covers days 1–20 fully, then a $217/day copay through day 100. After that, you're on your own. Here's how to plan for the gap.

CMS's 5-star system covers health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Learn how to decode each component before you tour.

Print this checklist before your tour. Covers staffing turnover, infection control, activity programs, and how complaints are handled.

Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living serve very different needs. Here's how to tell which level of care your loved one requires.

CMS data shows thousands of abuse citations filed annually. Know the physical, emotional, and financial warning signs to watch for.

Step-by-step: use CareScope ratings, CMS Compare, and state licensing data together to shortlist the top facilities near you.

Federal minimums were repealed in December 2025. States now set their own rules, and the gaps are stark. Here's what to look for.

Inspection reports are public records but notoriously dense. This guide decodes deficiency tags, scope/severity grids, and what counts as serious.

Search 15,000+ CMS-rated nursing homes by location, star rating, and specialization.