Nursing Homes

The following web sites have a useful search function to assist you in finding a nursing home in a specific geographic location:

	Medicare "Nursing Home Compare" This National Nursing Home Database helps you search its database by Zip Code or State. You can find comprehensive and helpful information on local nursing homes.
	CANHR's Nursing Home Guide This California guide offered by the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform helps you search its database by County, name or address using several criteria to narrow your selection. Information provided for each facility includes a five-year enforcement actions and citation history.

Personal Assistance to Help you Find a Facility

	Call 1.800.MEDICARE for personal assistance to find the right nursing home based on comprehensive government data about each facility.
	California Registry (800) 777-7575

	Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home This comprehensive 35-page publication is offered by the Medicare and Medicaid, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site.
	How to Choose a Nursing Home California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform provides a nursing home evaluation checklist can be downloaded and used during your visit to the nursing home. The guide also discusses method of payment, location and special needs.
	Consumer Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home The National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform  offers a comprehensive guide including helpful resources.
	A Nursing Home Resident's Rights in California From the California Department of Health Services.
	Bet Tzedek Legal Services Very useful information about your rights and laws affecting  nursing homes in California can be found in the Bet Tzedek Web site or in the extensive Bet Tzedek Consumer Guides (including Medicaid eligibility rules). Dedicated telephone number to order nursing home and residential care facilities consumer guides: (323) 549-5897

	Nursing Home Checklist #1 Can be obtained from the Medicare Web site.
	Nursing Home Checklist #2 Can be obtained from the Medicare Web site in pdf format.
	Nursing Home Compare From the Medicare Web site offers much more than a search by Zip code and State. Additional search functions let you view other topics such as: Information about the nursing home  Address, phone #, date of last inspection, # of beds, # of residents, % occupied beds, Medicare & Medicaid participation, type of ownership, whether located within a hospital, chain ownership, resident & family councils. Information about the residents in the nursing home i.e.: Very dependent in eating, bedfast, restricted joint motion, with restraints, with pressure (bed) sores, with urinary incontinence, with unplanned weight gain/loss, with behavioral symptoms. You can select several nursing homes of interest to you and have a comparison chart printed according to each of these criteria.  For example you could select 10 nursing homes and print a chart showing the % of residents with bed sores in each home compared with the average % in the U.S. and the % in your state. Information about the latest nursing home Inspection Results Date of last inspection, # of deficiencies compared with the number in the United States and in your state, description of each deficiency, severity of the problem and level of danger to the resident.
	National Nursing Home Watch List For each state, list of nursing homes on the Watch List with degree of warning based on actual harm or immediate jeopardy to the resident. Nursing Homes on the California Watch List
	California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform CANHR has a Web site including a search function which gives you a list of facilities in California by county along with each facility's history of citations, deficiencies and complaints for the past several years.
	Ask the nursing home to see a copy of the most recent survey report.
	To check a Los Angeles County Nursing Home you can go to the Office of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Health Facilities Division, which is the licensing agency for local nursing homes: 5555 Ferguson Drive, Suite 320 Commerce, CA 90022 Tel: (323) 869-8500 There you can see the complete files related to the nursing homes that interest you. You should narrow down your choice before your visit since the files can be quite extensive and a call before your visit is recommended. For more information see our Health Facilities Inspection Division page.
	You can contact your local Ombudsman and ask for a recommendation.
	You can contact the local Multipurpose Senior Center and ask for a recommendation.
	Nothing can replace a personal visit to the Nursing Home before making a decision!

The California Registry Website includes a page on nursing home costs with detailed information on:

	Nursing home costs,
	What Medicare pays for,
	What Medi-Cal pays for,
	Long-Term Care insurance,
	Financial planning considerations.

How to Report Abuse or Solve a Problem with a Nursing Home

The Long Term Care Ombudsman is a free and confidential service that maintains and improves the quality of life for residents in:

	Nursing homes
	Board & Care (residential care) facilities
	Adult day health care centers

The Ombudsman Program can help resolve your problems and concerns about:

	Elder abuse and neglect
	Resident's rights
	Quality of care
	Appropriate placement
	Transfer and discharge including assistance with appeals
	Dietary concerns
	Medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation
	Medicare and MediCal benefit issues
	Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

The County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services

The Health Facilities Inspection Division has the authority and responsibility for the licensing and certification of health facilities and ancillary health services.

FATE is a nonprofit organization providing direct and on-site advocacy in support of patients and family rights.