State surveyors inspect nursing homes and record findings as citations, which CMS publishes. SeniorCareRating.com summarizes these CMS-reported findings. Here is how to read them neutrally.
Key points
✓A citation is a CMS-reported inspection finding, shown as reported.
✓CMS grades each finding by severity and scope (letters A–L).
✓Citations describe a past inspection and may not reflect today.
What a citation is
During an inspection, a surveyor records where a facility did not meet a federal requirement. CMS publishes these as citations. We summarize the counts and the CMS severity, and keep short codes rather than long narrative text.
Severity and scope (A–L)
CMS grades each finding on a scale from A to L that combines how serious it was with how widespread it was. We count G through L as more serious (actual harm or immediate jeopardy in CMS's terms). The full inspection reports stay at CMS.
Reading citations in context
Citations describe a specific past inspection window and may not reflect a facility's current condition. A facility may have addressed a finding since the inspection. Read them alongside the CMS ratings and the dates shown.
How to verify
Open the facility on the official CMS Care Compare site to see the full inspection findings, including dates and the specific deficiency details. That is the authoritative source.
Frequently asked questions
What is a nursing home citation?▾
It is a CMS-reported finding from a state inspection where a facility did not meet a federal requirement. We show the counts and CMS severity as reported.
What do the A–L letters mean?▾
CMS grades each finding from A to L, combining severity and scope. We count G–L as more serious (actual harm or immediate jeopardy in CMS's terms).
Do citations reflect a facility today?▾
Not necessarily. They describe a past inspection window and may have been addressed since. Verify current details on CMS Care Compare.
Verify with official sources
SeniorCareRating.com organizes public CMS data and is not affiliated with CMS or any facility. Confirm current details on the official CMS Care Compare site and with the facility before making decisions.
SeniorCareRating.com summarizes public CMS data. It is not affiliated with CMS, Medicare.gov, or any nursing home. Data may lag current conditions. This is not medical, legal, or care-placement advice — always verify with official sources and qualified professionals.
