Care Facility Guides
Long-form, data-driven guides on choosing nursing homes, understanding CMS quality ratings, comparing care options, and navigating costs. Every guide draws on official CMS data and links directly to our facility comparison tools so you can apply what you read immediately.
How to Choose a Nursing Home: A Complete Guide for Families
Step-by-step guide to evaluating nursing homes — what to look for during visits, red flags to avoid, how CMS star ratings work, and how to use inspection reports to make the best decision.
Understanding CMS Star Ratings: How Nursing Home Quality Is Measured
Deep dive into the CMS 5-star quality rating system for nursing homes — how each domain is scored, what the data sources are, known limitations, and how to interpret ratings when choosing a facility.
Home Health Care vs Nursing Home: Costs, Services, and How to Decide
Comprehensive comparison of home health care and nursing home care — services provided, costs by state, Medicare/Medicaid coverage differences, and a decision framework for families.
Understanding Hospice Care: Eligibility, Services, and How to Choose a Provider
Complete guide to hospice care in America — who qualifies, what services are included, how Medicare covers it, the difference between home and facility hospice, and how to evaluate providers.
Nursing Home Costs by State: Medicare, Medicaid, and Payment Options Explained
Detailed guide to nursing home costs across the US — state-by-state price data, how Medicare and Medicaid coverage works, private pay strategies, long-term care insurance, and asset protection planning.
50 Essential Questions to Ask When Visiting a Nursing Home
Comprehensive checklist of questions to ask nursing home staff during a visit — organized by category: care quality, staffing, safety, food, activities, costs, and resident rights.