Before you choose: how Kootenai County’s nursing homes are rated, and where to read the inspections

Families often choose a nursing home, an assisted living or a home health agency the same way: the closest one, or the one the hospital mentioned first. There is a better way. The government inspects these places, and most of the results are free to read.

Nursing homes

Medicare gives every certified nursing home an overall rating of one to five stars, built from three parts: state health inspections, staffing, and quality measures like falls and infections. It also posts every inspection report and any fines.

In Medicare’s October 2026 data, two Kootenai County nursing homes rate five stars overall: Advanced Health Care of Coeur d’Alene and Life Care Center of Post Falls. Four rate one star. Medicare also marks the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls with its abuse icon, which Medicare uses for a home cited for abuse that harmed a resident in the past year, or for abuse that could have caused harm in each of the last two years.

Stars are a starting point, not the final word. Read the inspection reports, which describe exactly what inspectors found, and visit in person, more than once and at different times of day.

Home health and hospice

Medicare rates home health agencies with stars and posts patient survey results for home health and hospice. Look them up at Medicare.gov Care Compare.

Assisted living

Assisted living is licensed by the state, not Medicare, so it is not on Care Compare. Idaho Health and Welfare posts inspection findings for licensed residential assisted living facilities online. Ask any facility for its most recent survey.

A free advocate

Every nursing home and assisted living resident has access to a long-term care ombudsman, a free advocate who helps with problems. In North Idaho the program runs through the Area Agency on Aging, 208-667-3179.

Part of Kcounty.Media’s series on senior care in Kootenai County. Every number was checked against Medicare, Idaho or VA sources on Nov. 8, 2026. Rules change, and Medicare Advantage plans can work differently; when in doubt, call SHIBA at 800-247-4422 for free Medicare help.

The writer has worked in hospice, assisted living, skilled nursing and a retirement home, and was once marketing director for two for-profit hospices in the region.