There is no single authoritative "best nursing homes" list, and any publication that claims to rank them definitively without showing their methodology should be viewed skeptically. What does exist is transparent, publicly available CMS data that you can use to build a rigorous shortlist specific to your location and care needs.
Step 1: Start with CareScope State Pages
CareScope aggregates CMS data for all 15,000+ certified nursing homes and organizes it by state. Start by visiting your state's page to see the distribution of star ratings and identify the facilities rated 4–5 stars across all three components (inspections, staffing, and quality measures).
Step 2: Filter by Geography and Care Type
Proximity matters for family visits. Research consistently shows that residents with frequent family visitors receive better care. Filter to facilities within a reasonable driving distance, then narrow by specialization (memory care, rehab, ventilator/trach care) if your loved one has specific clinical needs.
Step 3: Check Ownership History
CMS tracks facility ownership. Private equity-owned nursing homes have a documented pattern of lower staffing and more citations in academic research. CareScope includes ownership type data from the CMS NH_Ownership file. Look for non-profit or locally-owned facilities where possible.
Step 4: Review 3 Years of Inspection Data
A single inspection snapshot can be misleading. Pull the CMS Care Compare record or use CareScope to see the trend: is the facility holding its star ratings, improving, or declining? A facility trending upward may be a better choice than one that peaked at 5 stars two years ago and has been sliding.
Step 5: Cross-Reference State Licensing Data
Every state health department maintains its own licensing database with inspection reports, complaints, and enforcement actions. These may include incidents not yet reflected in CMS data. Check your state's Department of Health website for the most current information.
Start your search on CareScope's national rankings or go directly to the facility search to filter by your state.