How often are nursing homes inspected?

Quick Answer

Nursing homes must be inspected at least once every 12-15 months. Complaint inspections occur as needed.

Detailed Explanation

Nursing home inspections are conducted by state survey agencies on behalf of CMS.

Standard Surveys (Annual Inspections) - Required at least once every 12-15 months - Unannounced - facilities don't know when inspectors will arrive - Comprehensive review of all federal requirements

Complaint Surveys - Triggered by complaints from residents, families, or staff - Can occur at any time - Focus on specific allegations

Follow-up Surveys - Verify correction of serious deficiencies - Required for J, K, and L rated deficiencies

What Official Records Show

PROTOTYPE DATA - NOT LIVE DATABASE QUERY
Inspection frequency data will be displayed here once database integration is complete.

PROTOTYPE DATA - Database integration pending

Note

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About This Information

Data Source: CMS Nursing Home Inspect via ProPublica

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

Data Current Through: May 31, 2026

All data sourced from official CMS inspection records. WATCHFORMOM does not provide ratings, grades, or recommendations regarding facility quality.