Understanding State Surveys in Senior Living and Why Results Matter

When you’re considering a senior living community for yourself or a loved one, it’s natural to focus on what you can see and feel like friendly staff, beautiful amenities, and a clean, comfortable environment. But there’s another vital piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked - state survey results. These annual evaluations, conducted by each state’s health department, are one of the most objective ways to assess how a community is really doing behind the scenes - how it delivers care, ensures safety, and complies with regulations. Understanding what these surveys are, what they measure, and how to interpret the results can give families the confidence they need to make an informed decision.

What Is a State Survey?

A state survey is an unannounced, annual inspection conducted by each state’s regulatory body (typically the Department of Health or a similar agency). Every licensed residential care community (which includes assisted living, memory care, and in some states, independent living with services) is required to undergo these inspections to ensure they are meeting the state's standards for care and safety.

During a survey, inspectors evaluate:

Resident care and clinical practices
Medication management and documentation
Infection prevention and control
Staff training and adequacy
Safety systems and emergency preparedness
Dining services and nutrition
Resident rights and privacy
Physical environment and cleanliness

Surveyors observe operations, review records, and conduct interviews with residents, family members, and staff. The goal is to ensure that residents are being treated with dignity, receiving high-quality care, and living in a safe, well-managed environment.

Why Results Matter

State surveys are not just bureaucratic checklists – they are comprehensive quality audits. Survey results reveal how well a community performs under regulatory scrutiny and offer a behind-the-scenes look at its operations.

Most communities will receive at least one or more deficiencies in any given year. These are areas where the community was not in full compliance and must take corrective action. However, not all deficiencies are created equal:

Some are minor in scope and severity—such as a documentation error or a procedural oversight.
Others can be more serious, involving issues that affect resident safety, infection control, or care delivery.

That’s why it’s critical for families and prospective residents to look beyond the number of deficiencies and take time to understand what they mean. The scope, severity, and frequency of deficiencies can paint a much clearer picture of a community’s performance.

Survey Results Are Public

A key point many families don’t realize is that state survey results are public information. You can usually access them through your state’s Department of Health website. In addition, all licensed communities are required by law to keep a copy of their most recent state survey on file and make it available for viewing. Don’t hesitate to ask for it when touring a community.

And when you review a survey report, be sure to:

Read the details: Not all issues are created equal.
Ask questions: A good community will gladly explain the findings and what actions, if any, were taken.
Look for patterns: A one-time deficiency is very different from repeated issues over time.

Understanding the report can help you make a more informed, confident choice for your loved one’s care.

What Is a Deficiency-Free Survey?

In the highly regulated world of senior living, a deficiency-free survey is a significant accomplishment. It means that, during the inspection, the community was found to be in full compliance with all applicable rules and regulations. No violations. No citations. No corrective action plans.

A deficiency-free result is rare—and it reflects a well-run, well-led community with exceptional attention to detail, consistent staff performance, and a strong culture of quality and accountability.

Our Commitment to Quality

We’re proud to share that three Continental Senior Communities locations recently achieved deficiency-free surveys:

While no community is perfect, we believe these results speak volumes about the commitment and care our teams bring to residents and families each day.

If you’re exploring options for independent living, assisted living, or memory care, we would be honored to support your journey. We encourage you to ask about survey results, read the reports carefully, and let those insights help guide your decision. Because when it comes to senior living, quality matters—and the results show it!