Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about our free tools, pricing, government inspection data and privacy — across 22,379 published senior care facilities nationwide.
About Clear Care Connect
What is Clear Care Connect and how is it different from other senior care search sites?
Clear Care Connect is a senior care search platform built on real government inspection data, not marketing claims. Unlike other senior care finder sites, we never sell your contact information to multiple facilities. When you share your information with us, it stays with Clear Care Connect — we don't shop it around.
See how we compare to other sites
Is Clear Care Connect free to use?
Yes. Searching is free with no account required, and every search result shows the facility's name, phone number, and address at no cost. Our care-matching questionnaire is also free and optional — it simply personalizes your results. The only paid item is the optional $9.99 report, which unlocks full government ratings, inspection history, deficiencies, penalties, fire safety data, amenities, and staff ranking.
Start the free questionnaire · See pricing
How many facilities are in your database?
Over 22,000 verified senior care facilities (currently 22,379 published) across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories — one of the largest senior care directories available, covering nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, home health, and more.
Does Clear Care Connect cover all 50 states?
Yes, all 50 states plus D.C. and U.S. territories.
Do you sell my information to facilities like other senior care sites?
No. This is one of the most important differences between Clear Care Connect and sites like A Place for Mom or SeniorAdvisor. Those sites often sell your contact information to multiple facilities as paid leads, which is why families report getting many unsolicited calls after searching. Clear Care Connect never does this. If you complete our questionnaire, your information is used only to help match you with facilities and is not sold or shared with third parties.
How is Clear Care Connect funded if you don't sell leads?
We charge a small optional one-time fee ($9.99) for the full report — complete government ratings, inspection history, deficiencies, penalties, fire safety data, amenities, and staff ranking. Facility name, phone number, and address are always free, and the care-matching questionnaire is always free.
Our Unique Data Advantage
What is a CMS star rating and how is it calculated?
The CMS Star Rating is a 1-to-5 score Medicare assigns to every certified nursing home. It combines three sub-scores shown on every facility profile: health inspections (results of on-site state surveys), staffing (including RN hours per resident per day and turnover), and quality measures (clinical data like falls, infections, and hospitalizations). We show each sub-score separately, not just the overall stars, so you can see exactly where a facility is strong or weak.
CMS star rating in the glossary · Quality measures explained
What government inspection data do you show that competitors do not?
We display official Medicare.gov data including overall star ratings (1 to 5), health inspection ratings, staffing ratings, quality measure ratings, registered nurse hours per resident per day, total nurse hours per resident per day, staff turnover rates, penalty records with fine amounts, health deficiency citations with severity levels, fire safety citations, and special focus facility flags. We show you the same data regulators use so you can make a truly informed decision.
Deficiency citations explained · Special focus facilities
What are red flag alerts and what triggers them?
Red flag alerts automatically appear on facility cards when our system detects warning signs in government data. Triggers include any penalty or fine in the last 3 years, special focus facility designation by CMS, an abuse icon on the Medicare record, a 1-star overall rating, or high-severity health deficiency citations. Free users see that red flags exist. Paid users see the full details, including specific violation descriptions, dates, and severity levels.
What is a match score and how is it calculated?
The match score is a percentage showing how well each facility aligns with your specific needs entered during the care-matching questionnaire. It factors in location and distance, care type match, budget range alignment, star rating versus your minimum requirement, amenities offered versus what you selected, penalty history, and staffing data. Results are sorted by match score so the most relevant facilities appear first — not by who pays for advertising.
Where does your data come from and how current is it?
Our data comes from official government sources plus a live business-listing API. CMS Medicare.gov provides nursing home star ratings, staffing data, inspection history, penalties, and deficiency citations updated monthly. State licensing agencies provide additional inspection detail where available. Google Places provides current facility names, addresses, photos, ratings, and reviews for the other care types across our 22,379 published facilities. Every data source is labeled on the facility profile.
Can facilities pay to appear higher in search results?
No. Search results are sorted exclusively by match score — how well the facility matches your specific needs — and optionally by rating, distance, or price. Facilities cannot pay for higher placement in organic search results. This is a deliberate policy to protect families from being steered toward facilities based on advertising budgets rather than quality of care.
Free Tools We Offer
Do you have a free tool to check Medicaid eligibility?
Yes — our free Medicaid Eligibility Estimator covers all 11 Medicaid service types (nursing home, assisted living, memory care, home health, adult day care, PACE, hospice, and more) across all 50 states, with real state-specific waiver program names, income limits, and asset limits. No email or account required.
Open the Medicaid Eligibility Estimator
Is there a free tool to see senior care costs by state?
Yes — our senior care cost data page shows average monthly costs for nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, home health, and adult day care in every state, with a free CSV download and no email required.
See senior care costs by state
What is the senior care glossary and is it free?
Our glossary explains 150+ senior care terms in plain language — from CMS star ratings to Medicaid spend-down to what a CCRC is. It's completely free and searchable.
Searching and Finding Care
What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home?
Assisted living is a residential setting for seniors who need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication management but do NOT need 24/7 skilled medical care. A nursing home (skilled nursing facility) provides round-the-clock care from licensed nurses for people with serious medical needs or recovery after hospitalization. Cost, staffing, and regulation differ significantly.
Assisted living in the glossary · Read the full comparison
What's the difference between assisted living and memory care?
Assisted living serves seniors who need help with daily tasks but are not cognitively impaired. Memory care is designed specifically for people with Alzheimer's or dementia and adds a secured environment, specialized dementia-trained staff, and programs built around cognitive decline. Memory care typically costs $1,000–$2,000 per month more than standard assisted living.
Memory care in the glossary · See the full breakdown
What's the difference between assisted living and independent living?
Independent living is for active seniors who don't need daily care assistance. Assisted living includes help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Independent living in the glossary
What is a CCRC (continuing care retirement community)?
A CCRC offers multiple levels of care on one campus — independent living through skilled nursing — so residents can move between levels of care as their needs change without relocating.
What types of senior care can I search for?
Clear Care Connect covers all 12 major types of senior care: retirement homes and 55+ communities, assisted living facilities, memory care and Alzheimer's care, skilled nursing homes, adult family care homes, independent living communities, home health care agencies, hospice and palliative care, short-term rehabilitation, adult day care centers, continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), and veteran care facilities.
How does the care-matching questionnaire work?
Our intake questionnaire takes about 2 minutes and is completely free. It collects your location and search radius, care type, room type and monthly budget, amenity and staffing preferences, and quality minimums like a minimum star rating. Results are personalized to your exact inputs with a match score on every facility. The questionnaire is a matching tool only — it is not required to see facility name, phone number, or address, and it is unrelated to the $9.99 report.
Can I refine my search without starting over?
Yes. Our advanced refine search panel lets you adjust any search parameter without restarting. All your original selections are pre-populated — just change what you want. Quick filter chips toggle amenities, sort by rating or distance, and remove active filters one at a time. Results update instantly with a live count.
What if no facilities match my search?
If your filters are too strict, our smart no-results system suggests specific filters to loosen, such as expanding your search radius, increasing your budget range, or adjusting your minimum star rating. You can also call our free advisor line at 239-825-9511 and our team will help you find options in nearby areas.
Pricing and Unlocking
What is included in the free tier?
Facility name, phone number, and address on every search result; searching by location and care type; the care-matching questionnaire and match scores; CMS star ratings and inspection summaries; estimated cost ranges; and the Medicaid estimator, cost data page, and glossary — all completely free with no account needed.
Medicaid Eligibility Estimator · Senior care cost data · Senior care glossary
How do I see a facility's name, phone number, and address?
They're free. Every search result shows the facility's name, phone number, and address with no payment and no questionnaire required.
Start the free questionnaire · See pricing
What do I get with the $9.99 Single Facility Report?
Full government data for one facility: complete CMS ratings and sub-scores, inspection history, deficiencies, penalties and fines, fire safety data, detailed amenities, and staff ranking. One-time payment with lifetime access. Contact details are free and not part of what you're paying for.
What do I get with the $9.99 All Facilities Report?
The same full government data — ratings, inspection history, deficiencies, penalties, fire safety data, amenities, and staff ranking — for every facility in our directory, not just one. One-time payment with lifetime access.
Are there any recurring charges or subscriptions?
No. Both report options are one-time payments. There is no subscription and nothing auto-renews.
What is your refund policy?
The $9.99 report fee is non-refundable once the report has been successfully delivered, since you're purchasing the data itself. If you did not receive the report you paid for, or experienced a technical error during checkout or delivery, contact us through the “Send a Message” form on the site (or call 239-825-9511) and we'll issue a full refund.
Paying for Care
Does Medicaid cover assisted living or memory care?
Coverage varies by state and is usually offered through a Medicaid HCBS waiver rather than as a standard benefit. Our free Medicaid Eligibility Estimator shows your state's specific waiver name and whether it likely covers the service you need.
Open the Medicaid Eligibility Estimator
How do I know if I qualify for Medicaid long-term care?
Use our free Medicaid Eligibility Estimator — enter your state, income, assets, and care type to get an estimate of eligibility, spend-down amount, and your state's specific waiver program.
Open the Medicaid Eligibility Estimator · Medicaid spend-down explained
Does Clear Care Connect have specialized support for memory care and Alzheimer's searches?
Yes. Memory care searches include specialized filters and features not available on general searches. We show memory care certified badges, secured unit availability, dementia specialist staffing indicators, and Alzheimer's-specific program information.
Do you help veterans find care and VA benefits?
Yes. Our veteran care search finds state veteran homes, VA Community Living Centers, and veteran-friendly senior care facilities. Many veterans qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit, which pays toward senior care costs — a benefit many families do not know exists.
Aid and Attendance in the glossary
Can you help find home health care if my loved one wants to stay at home?
Yes. Home health care is one of our 12 supported service types. We search licensed home health agencies near your location that provide the services needed, including skilled nursing, physical therapy, medication management, companion care, and 24-hour availability.
Can you help with urgent same-day placement needs?
If your loved one has just been discharged from a hospital or requires immediate placement, call us at 239-825-9511 and we will help you identify facilities with available beds in your area right away.
Facility Data and Transparency
Do I have to give you my information to see a facility's name, phone number, or address?
No. Facility name, phone number, and address are shown free in every search result with no account, no questionnaire, and no payment. If you choose to share your details in our free care-matching questionnaire, that information stays with Clear Care Connect only — it's never sold to multiple facilities.
How accurate is the information shown for each facility?
Government data from CMS Medicare and state licensing agencies is updated monthly and is as accurate as the official regulatory records. Google Places data reflects current business listings. Amenity data may be AI-extracted from facility websites and is labeled with a confidence indicator. Facility-verified data is marked with a green verified badge. We always recommend confirming specific details directly with a facility before making decisions.
Can facilities update their own listing information?
Yes. Facilities can claim their free listing through our facility portal by clicking “Is this your facility?” on any profile page. After verifying with a business email address, facilities can update amenities, add photos, provide accurate pricing ranges, and add information about special programs. Verified facility data is shown with a green “Verified by Facility” badge.
What does it mean when a facility has no inspection data?
Independent living communities, retirement homes, and some other facility types are not subject to federal inspection requirements and therefore have no CMS Medicare inspection data. For these facilities, we show Google ratings and community reviews as quality indicators. State inspection data may be available depending on the state. The data source is always labeled clearly on every profile.
Privacy and Security
How is my personal information protected?
Your personal information is encrypted in transit and at rest. We do not sell your data to third parties or advertisers. Your search information is only used to help you find care. Payments are processed securely through Stripe — we never store your credit card information. You can request deletion of your account and all associated data at any time using the “Send a Message” contact form on the site.
Will facilities call me after I search?
No. Clear Care Connect does not sell leads. Unlike sites that resell your contact details to multiple facilities as paid leads, your information stays with Clear Care Connect and is never distributed to a network of providers. Facilities cannot see who searched for them or contact you directly — you decide who to call, and nothing is shared until you request a tour.
Is my search history private?
Yes. Your search history is stored securely in your account and is only visible to you. We do not share search history with facilities, advertisers, or third parties. You can delete your search history and account data at any time from your account settings or by using the “Send a Message” contact form on the site.
How do I contact Clear Care Connect if I have more questions?
The fastest way is the “Send a Message” form in the Ask Our Advisor widget — it goes straight to our team and you'll get an emailed confirmation right away, then a dedicated advisor gets in contact with you shortly. You can also call 239-825-9511, Monday through Sunday, 8am to 8pm EST. We respond within one business day.