Medicare has a Nursing Home Comparison Five-Star Quality Rating website, which allows you to search nursing homes by a number of geographical limits for ratings based on Health Inspections, Staffing, and Quality Measures. Medicare also has a Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home (which provides information to help individuals, family members, caregivers, and those who assist them find and compare nursing homes, and make informed decisions about nursing home care).

Another resource is the Minnesota Department of Health’s Nursing Home Report Card website, where you can prioritize your search based on the qualities in a facility that are important to you and your loved ones. This database searches the 385 facilities that are certified to participate in government benefits program.

In addition to looking into the nursing homes online, visit each facility that you are considering. During your visit, speak to various members of the staff, including nurses, administrators, dietary staff, activity directors, and social services staff. If possible, talking with residents and their families about their experience with each facility may provide meaningful information for your evaluation. Trust your instincts, and pay attention to the things that are important to you and your loved ones.

Preparing a list of questions can help ensure that all of your questions get answered. Medicare offers a Nursing Home Checklist, and the Minnesota ElderCare Rights Alliance offers helpful Information Sheets on the following topics: Tips on Choosing a Nursing Home and a Nursing Home Search: Worksheet.

You can find out about prior investigations regarding allegations of neglect or other adverse events at a particular nursing home through the Minnesota Department of Health’s website.