A new report by the Office of Inspector General in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services confirms a key finding of our 2006 investigation into nursing homes: Not-for-profit homes are more likely than for-profit ones to provide good care. Our investigation also found that independently run homes were more likely to provide good care than those that were part of chains.

Separately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently updated its list of nursing homes it considers “special focus facilities,” or SFFs. Those are homes with a history of more, and more serious, problems.

For basic advice from Consumer Reports on choosing a nursing home, you'll find our special 2006 report here.