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Seniors Living Communities

How we read state inspection records

States inspect licensed assisted living and memory care communities, and publish what they find. Those records are long and hard to read, so for each community we show a short summary next to the state's own record.

Where it comes from

Only the state's public record: in Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration's inspection reports and facility profile (FloridaHealthFinder); in North Carolina, the Division of Health Service Regulation's facility pages (inspection list, penalties and star rating). We read it, a person on our team reviews it, and every community's page says when we last read it. Only fines and penalties the state imposed count, never proposed ones. North Carolina publishes whether findings were cited at a visit, with the detail in its report; we show that as findings cited, never as a clean record and never with a severity the state did not give.

The four levels

We look at the last 3 years, under the current license, and apply the same rules to every community, in this order. The first that fits is the level.

  • Serious findings in the last 3 years. The state cited a serious finding (Class I or II) in the last 18 months.
  • Findings to ask about. A serious finding older than 18 months, findings on a visit made after a complaint, the same requirement cited at two or more visits, findings with no correction date listed 90 days after the visit, or state fines totalling $1,000 or more imposed in the last 18 months.
  • Minor findings. Only lower-level findings (Class III or not given a class), a smaller fine total, or fines older than 18 months, and none of the above.
  • Clean inspection record. A standard inspection on file, nothing beyond paperwork (Class IV) in the period, and no fines.

The same rules, in each state's words

  • North Carolina, serious findings: The state imposed a Type A1 or A2 penalty (death, serious harm, or a substantial risk of it) in the last 18 months.
  • North Carolina, findings to ask about: A Type A1 or A2 penalty older than 18 months, findings on a visit made after a complaint, the same rule cited at two or more visits, or state penalties totalling $1,000 or more imposed in the last 18 months.
  • North Carolina, minor findings: Findings cited with no penalty (North Carolina publishes them in the inspection report itself), a Type B penalty, a smaller penalty total, or penalties older than 18 months, and none of the above.
  • North Carolina, clean inspection record: A standard inspection on file with no deficiencies cited, and no penalties.
  • Texas, serious findings: The state cited a finding that caused actual harm or was an immediate threat (scope-and-severity level G or higher) in the last 18 months.
  • Texas, findings to ask about: A level G or higher finding older than 18 months, findings on a visit made after a complaint or incident, the same rule cited at two or more visits, findings with no correction date listed 90 days after the visit, or state penalties totalling $1,000 or more imposed in the last 18 months.
  • Texas, minor findings: Only lower-level findings (levels D to F, potential for more than minimal harm), a smaller penalty total, or penalties older than 18 months, and none of the above.
  • Texas, clean inspection record: A standard survey on file, nothing beyond level A to C findings (potential for no more than minimal harm), and no penalties.

No level is shown when the state has no standard inspection on file for the period, or when we can't read a finding exactly. We never guess that a record is clean.

When the license changes hands

A state license belongs to a company, the licensee. When a different company takes over the license (often after a sale), the state records the date. That isn't always new management or new staff. So we judge the level on the current license only, and show what the state found under the previous licensee right beside it. Both matter: weigh them yourself, and ask the community what changed.

What a level is not

It is our summary of a public record, not a rating by the state or its agency, and not a recommendation for or against any community. It never depends on what a community pays us. Check the official record (each community's page links to it), visit, and ask about anything listed.

Something wrong?

If something in a record looks wrong, email support@seniorslivingcommunities.com. We check it against the state's record and correct anything we got wrong. We don't remove findings the state's record shows.

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