Episode 313 -Stars the Matter: How to Use CMS Ratings to Choose the Right Nursing Home

About this episode

This episode discusses how to use CMS ratings to choose the right nursing home for loved ones.

How do you know if a nursing home is truly the right fit for your loved one? In this episode of Aging Starts Now, Dana Hentschel and elder care coordinator Pati Bedwell explain how to use the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Care Compare website and its star rating system to evaluate skilled nursing facilities with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn: • What the overall star rating really means • How health inspections, staffing, and quality measures are scored • The limitations of the rating system • Red flags to watch for • What families should do after reviewing ratings Choosing a nursing home is never easy—but understanding how to use trusted tools can make the process less overwhelming. Listen, share, and subscribe to Aging Starts Now for more conversations about aging, care, and planning.

People in this episode

Host: Johnson McGinnis

Guests: Dana Hentschel, Pati Bedwell

Topics covered

• nursing home selection
• CMS ratings
• elder care
• health inspections
• quality measures
• family decision-making

Keywords

• nursing home
• CMS Care Compare
• star rating system
• health inspections
• staffing
• quality measures
• red flags
• family decisions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

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