Nurse staffing. Even first-rate nursing care falls short if there isn't enough of it because of too few nurses who can spend time with residents, so CMS determines average nursing time per patient per day. Homes report the average number of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and certified nurse aides who were on the payroll (agency temps are not counted) during the two weeks prior to the most recent health inspection and their number of hours worked. The information is compared with the average number of residents during the same period and crunched to determine the average number of minutes of nursing time residents got per day. To receive five stars in the latest CMS ratings, nurses and aides had to provide slightly more than four hours of care a day to each resident, including 33 minutes from registered nurses. The time provided by each home is shown in the rankings.
Quality measures. CMS requires nursing homes have to submit clinical data for the most recent three quarters detailing the status of each individual Medicare and Medicaid resident in 19 indicators, such as the percentage of residents who had urinary tract infections or who were physically restrained to keep from falling from a bed or a chair. The Best Nursing Homes rankings and Nursing Home Compare display data for each home on all 19. The ratings, however, are based on 10 that are considered the most valid and reliable, such as the two above and measures related to pain, bedsores, and mobility.
Good ratings or bad, CMS is adamant in cautioning that they are just a starting point. Nothing substitutes for in-depth visits. You can ask questions, observe residents and their families and caregivers, and get a feel of a home that stars can't communicate. "There are many satisfied residents and families of residents in nursing homes...at the one-star level," states an FAQ posted on the CMS website. Moreover, "no resident should be moved solely on the basis of a nursing home's ratings.... [Transferring] your loved one to a facility that has a higher rating should be balanced with the possible challenges of adjusting to a new nursing home." That is one of many hard truths about finding a home where a parent, or anyone you hold dear, can find good care.
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