Data Sources
ElderCare Sift is committed to transparency about where our information comes from and how current it may be. This page explains our data sources, update processes, and limitations.
Primary Data Source: CMS.gov
All nursing home listings on ElderCare Sift are derived from publicly available data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Specifically, we use:
- Medicare Nursing Home Compare Data — CMS Star Ratings (overall, health inspection, staffing, quality measures)
- CMS Provider Information — Facility names, addresses, phone numbers, certification dates
- CASPER Data — Certified bed counts, ownership type, provider type
- CMS Health Inspection Data — Inspection cycles, deficiency counts, complaint investigation results
- CMS Staffing Data — Nurse staffing hours per resident day, RN staffing, staffing turnover
- CMS Quality Measures — Clinical quality indicators for long-stay and short-stay residents
Data Update Frequency
CMS updates its public datasets periodically — typically quarterly for star ratings and staffing data, and as inspections occur for health inspection data. ElderCare Sift imports the latest available CMS data releases. However:
- There may be a delay of several months between when CMS collects data and when it appears in public datasets.
- Star ratings shown reflect the most recent CMS data release available at the time of our last import, not necessarily real-time conditions.
- Facility information (phone numbers, addresses, ownership) can change between CMS reporting periods.
Data Accuracy Limitations
While we make reasonable efforts to present CMS data accurately, ElderCare Sift cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or free from error. Possible discrepancies include:
- Facility details may have changed since the last CMS reporting period
- CMS data itself may contain reporting errors or omissions from facilities
- Star ratings are snapshots in time and may not reflect recent improvements or declines
- Staffing levels are self-reported by facilities and subject to reporting variations
What You Should Do
We strongly recommend that you:
- Verify information directly with the facility before making any decisions
- Check the Medicare Care Compare website for the most current CMS data
- Contact your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman for additional context
- Visit any facility you are considering in person
Corrections
If you find information on ElderCare Sift that appears to be inaccurate, please contact us so we can review and update our data. However, our corrections are limited to ensuring accurate representation of the underlying CMS data — we cannot modify the source data itself.