Free guide
How to read an inspection record before you tour.
The data on every FloridaElder profile is only useful if you know what it means. Here is the seven-point checklist we use — the same public-record signals, in plain language.
Start with the license status
Confirm the facility is currently Licensed with AHCA — not Provisional, In Review, or under litigation. A clean license is the floor, not the ceiling.
Read the CMS overall star rating
For nursing homes, the federal CMS Care Compare overall rating combines health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Look at the three sub-ratings, not just the headline number.
Check staffing separately
Staffing hours per resident and nurse turnover are the signals that most predict day-to-day care. A high overall rating with one-star staffing deserves questions.
Look for the abuse icon and Special Focus status
These are the heaviest federal red flags. Any facility carrying them should be approached with extreme caution.
Count Class I and II deficiencies
Class I is the most severe — an immediate threat to health or safety. Recurring Class II findings suggest systemic problems.
Separate fines from defaults
An upheld fine is an adverse finding. A dismissed or withdrawn case is not — don’t let a long “documents on file” list scare you without reading the dispositions.
Verify what you’re told on the tour
Bring the record. If the staffing or services described in person don’t match the public data, ask why.
Get the printable version
The one-page checklist as a PDF — download it now, and we’ll keep you posted as coverage expands to new counties.