Methodology · Data desert
In some states, reliable public inspection or quality data simply doesn’t exist for non-SNF care settings. Rather than show a misleadingly thin profile, we show an explicit notice. This page explains why.
It would be easy to show a facility profile with a name, address, and nothing else — and let families assume the absence of inspection data means the facility is fine. We think that’s misleading.
A blank quality section on a care facility profile does not mean the facility is problem-free. It means the state has not made the data public. These are different things, and families deserve to know the difference.
When a facility is in a state that publishes little or no ALF inspection data, we show a data desert notice. This is not a judgment about the facility — it’s a judgment about the information environment. We also try to direct families to the resources most likely to help: state ombudsmen, in-person visits, and requests to the licensing agency.
A state qualifies as a data desert for ALF/residential care if at least two of the following are true:
Our assessment is based on review of state licensing agency websites, academic studies of ALF oversight variation (AARP Public Policy Institute, NORC), and reporting by investigative outlets covering elder care.
These are states where we apply a data desert classification to most or all non-SNF care facilities. This classification may change as states update their disclosure practices.
Alabama
No online ALF inspection database; complaint data available by request only
Arkansas
Limited public disclosure for residential care homes; no standardized online reporting
Idaho
ALF inspections conducted but reports not systematically published online
Kansas
Inspection records require formal public records request; significant backlog reported
Mississippi
No publicly accessible ALF inspection database; licensing data only
Montana
Sparse ALF disclosure; large rural coverage area with limited oversight staffing
North Dakota
No online ALF inspection reporting; small state but limited disclosure infrastructure
South Dakota
Complaint summaries available by request; no proactive online publication
Wyoming
No online ALF inspection database; fewest ALFs per capita of any state
West Virginia
Significant gaps in online residential care disclosure; inspection frequency concerns
Nebraska
Assisted living inspections exist but reports not published in searchable format
Oklahoma
ALF inspection reports available by request but not proactively online
Every state has an ombudsman program that investigates complaints, advocates for residents, and — critically — visits facilities. Local ombudsmen often have firsthand knowledge of facilities in their region that never makes it into any public database.
An unannounced visit during a meal or evening activity reveals more about daily life than any inspection report. Look for: whether call lights are answered promptly, whether residents seem engaged, whether staff know residents by name, and whether the dining room is clean and unhurried. Facilities must also make their most recent state inspection report available to you on request.
Even in data desert states, the licensing agency maintains records. Filing a public records request for the most recent inspection report, complaint history, and any enforcement actions is often worthwhile. Processing times vary but most states respond within 30 days. The ACL LTCOP program directory can help you find the right agency.
If the operator also runs Medicare-certified nursing homes, their federal deficiency and enforcement history is fully public through CMS Care Compare. A pattern of federal enforcement is meaningful context for the management culture at their state-licensed facilities.
We are actively building relationships with state licensing agencies and advocacy organizations to obtain and publish ALF inspection data where it exists but isn’t online. We are also tracking state-level transparency bills that would require online publication of ALF inspection records.
If you are a researcher, reporter, or advocate with access to ALF inspection data in a state where public online access is limited, we would like to talk.