Facility Information & Inspection Summaries

Choosing a long-term care residence for yourself or a loved one is never easy. Along with the inspection history below, we'd recommend visiting more than once — at different times of day and on weekends — talking with current residents and their families, and asking friends and acquaintances about their own experiences. We've put together a checklist you can bring with you on a visit.

Three kinds of long-term care in Rhode Island

Long-term care for adults in RI generally falls into three categories: Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Assisted Living Residences (ALRs, also called ALFs), and various supportive residences for people with developmental disabilities or other special needs.

Skilled nursing facilities are appropriate for residents receiving most kinds of nursing care, or who can't transfer in and out of bed without help from two or more staff members. Assisted living residences may be appropriate for residents who need help with daily activities like bathing and dressing, medication management (including insulin), and services like housekeeping, laundry, transportation, activities, and meals. Some assisted living residences also have secure memory-care units for residents living with dementia.

How ALRs are regulated differently from nursing homes

Unlike skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences are not regulated by the federal government — RIDOH is their only regulator. That means they don't receive CMS star ratings; they're surveyed every two years, plus additional inspections if a complaint is filed; they don't have the same scope-and-severity deficiency system nursing homes do, and violations don't come with fines; and they follow a more limited set of regulations overall.

Most assisted living residences are private-pay only, but some participate in state waiver programs that let residents pay through Medicaid, Medicare, or SSI — you can see which under "Medicaid accepted" in a residence's profile below.

Limited health services

Some assisted living residences hold a "limited health services" license, which allows them to provide certain kinds of nursing care beyond typical assisted living: Stage I and II pressure ulcer prevention and treatment; simple wound care, including postoperative suture care/removal and stasis ulcer care; ostomy care for residents with an established stoma; and urinary catheter care. You can see whether a given residence offers this under "Limited health services" in its profile below.