CareGrade™ OriginalQuick Answer
A nursing home comparison app lets you compare skilled nursing facilities side by side using regulatory data — not marketing. The CareGrade™ app — free on the Apple App Store — grades every SNF A–D using CMS inspection data, staffing hours, turnover rates, and complaint histories.
📱 Download CareGrade™ on the App Store
Why You Need an App to Compare Nursing Homes
Comparing nursing homes is one of the highest-stakes decisions in senior care. Skilled nursing facilities provide 24/7 medical care — the regulatory data that distinguishes a safe facility from a dangerous one is extensive but buried in government databases.
A mobile app puts that data in your pocket so you can compare nursing homes wherever you are — at the hospital, between tours, or on a call with family.
How the CareGrade™ App Grades Nursing Homes
The SeniorTrust™ Score for SNFs
Every skilled nursing facility in the app carries a SeniorTrust™ Score — a letter grade (A–D) and 0–100 score calculated from:
- CMS health inspection ratings — annual inspections plus complaint investigations
- CMS staffing data — RN hours per resident per day, total nurse hours, turnover rates
- CMS quality measures — clinical outcomes and process measures
- Abuse indicator status — whether CMS has flagged substantiated abuse
- Special Focus Facility status — facilities with persistent quality problems
- Complaint histories — volume, patterns, and resolution
What the Grades Mean for SNFs
- A Grade (85–100): Excellent CMS ratings, strong staffing, clean inspections, no abuse indicators
- B Grade (70–84): Solid with minor concerns — slightly below-average staffing or a few deficiencies
- C Grade (55–69): Notable concerns — multiple deficiencies, low staffing, or complaint patterns
- D Grade (below 55): Significant problems — abuse citations, Special Focus status, chronic understaffing
CompareWHY™ for Nursing Homes
The app's CompareWHY™ tool lets you compare up to 4 nursing homes side by side and see why one scores higher — not just the overall score, but the category breakdown:
- Care Quality: inspection deficiency counts, abuse indicators
- Staffing: RN hours per resident per day, turnover rates, weekend coverage
- Environment: environmental deficiencies, amenities
- Family Satisfaction: review volume and patterns
- Value: verified pricing relative to quality
- Transparency: data availability and verification
CareCircle™ for Nursing Home Decisions
Nursing home decisions often involve multiple family members, a discharge coordinator, and sometimes an elder law attorney. CareCircle™ — the family workspace in the app — lets everyone collaborate:
- Build a shared shortlist of nursing homes
- Share notes from tours and discharge meetings
- Set reminders for deadlines (discharge dates, contract reviews)
- Track priorities (e.g., "Must accept Medi-Cal," "Within 20 minutes of daughter")
- Converge on a top pick
How to Compare Nursing Homes on the App
Step 1: Download
Get CareGrade™ free on the App Store
Step 2: Browse Skilled Nursing
Filter by "Skilled Nursing Facility" and set your location.
Step 3: Check Trust Scores
Start with A and B grades. Tap any facility for the full CMS data breakdown.
Step 4: Compare Finalists
Use CompareWHY™ to compare your top 3–4 nursing homes side by side.
Step 5: Collaborate in CareCircle™
Invite family and your discharge coordinator to CareCircle™. Share the shortlist and notes.
Step 6: Tour and Decide
Tour the top 2–3 facilities with informed questions about staffing, inspections, and care plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free app to compare nursing homes?
Yes. The CareGrade™ app is free on the Apple App Store — download here.
How does the app grade nursing homes?
The SeniorTrust™ Score for SNFs uses CMS health inspection ratings, staffing hours, turnover rates, quality measures, abuse indicators, and complaint histories. Communities cannot pay for a better grade.
Can I see CMS staffing data in the app?
Yes. Every nursing home page shows RN hours per resident per day, total nurse hours, turnover rates, and weekend coverage — sourced from CMS data.
Does the app show abuse indicators?
Yes. If CMS has assigned an abuse icon to a facility, it's reflected in the trust score and visible in the score breakdown.