FYI Safety Score™
Two assisted living facilities can have clean websites, friendly staff on the phone, and prices in the same range. Their state inspection records can be very different. The FYI Safety Score makes that record readable at a glance.
It is a 1.0 to 10.0 rating built from a facility's public state inspection history. No facility can pay to improve their score. It is calculated the same way for every facility, from records anyone can verify.
A score of 10.0 is a Perfect badge reserved for facilities with a flawless record over many years of state oversight. Fewer than 0.1% of facilities qualify.
Current coverage: California. The score covers approximately 7,800 licensed assisted living facilities in California, using data from the California Community Care Licensing Division. The framework below applies universally; state-specific notes are called out where they matter.
What goes into the score
The score is built from three kinds of state inspection findings. Each one is something the state, not us, decided was significant enough to record.
Serious violations
Findings the state classifies as an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of residents. Examples: unlicensed staff administering medication, inadequate supervision after a fall, failure to report abuse.
Substantiated complaints
Complaints filed by families or others where state investigators verified the concern. Confirmed findings, not unsubstantiated allegations.
Minor violations
Less severe findings that don't pose an immediate threat but could become serious if uncorrected. Examples: record-keeping gaps, expired training certifications, minor maintenance issues.
In California: serious violations are CCLD Type A citations; minor are Type B. CCLD's own narrative wording confirms the severity. Every Type A inspection report ends with "poses an immediate risk", every Type B with "a potential risk." We aggregate the regulator's own classification. We do not invent our own.
Why recency matters
A finding from last month and a finding from five years ago are not the same. The score weights recent findings significantly more than older ones. A facility's recent track record carries more signal than ancient history.
A facility with citations from years ago that has been clean since scores meaningfully higher than one with the same total citations all in the last year.
How serious findings cap the tier
Recent serious findings — serious violations or substantiated complaints in the recent past — limit the highest tier a facility can reach. An isolated event in an otherwise strong record can still place a facility in Good. A cluster of recent serious findings drops the score further.
To reach Excellent or the Perfect 10, a facility needs a sustained record with no significant recent history.
Recovery is rewarded
A facility that had a troubled period but has demonstrated a sustained clean stretch sees its score lift within its tier. The more a facility had to recover from, the more the recovery counts.
Going from troubled to clean is meaningful. It shows the facility took the issues seriously. A cluster of bad followed by a year of clean is Fair, not Poor. As more time passes clean, the facility climbs.
What the scores mean
Flawless record across all available state data, 5+ years of inspections, heavily monitored. Less than 0.1% of facilities qualify.
No history of serious findings, or only an isolated event many years ago. Heavily inspected and consistently clean.
Minor history, or one isolated serious event with a strong recent record otherwise. At least 2 years clean of serious findings.
Cluster of recent serious findings, or a heavier history that is improving. Worth asking specific questions during a tour.
Substantial recent history of citations or complaints. Real and recent concerns. Extra due diligence recommended.
Catastrophic or ongoing pattern of serious findings.
The Perfect 10
The Perfect 10 is an earned distinction, not an output of the formula. It is awarded only to facilities with sustained flawless multi-year records under heavy state inspection. Fewer than 0.1% of facilities qualify.
If a Perfect 10 facility receives any future citation or substantiated complaint, the badge drops.
Where the data comes from
All findings come from the state agency that licenses and inspects residential care facilities. The data is public record, and any facility's history can be verified directly on the state regulator's website.
In California: the regulator is the California Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD). CCLD's public transparency system shows inspection history going back roughly five years.
We keep the record going forward
For each state we cover, from the day we start tracking it, we keep our own dated record of every facility's inspection history. As years pass, our archive grows beyond what the state itself currently publishes. Families have access to the complete record we've been able to observe, not just the recent window.
What the score doesn't tell you
The FYI Safety Score™ measures regulatory compliance — how a facility performs during state inspections. It does not measure:
- Quality of daily life or resident satisfaction.
- Staff friendliness or responsiveness.
- Food quality or activity programming.
- Aesthetics or cleanliness beyond what inspectors check.
- Whether the facility is the right fit for your specific needs.
The score is one important data point. The right way to use it: check it before you tour, then ask specific questions about the findings in person. Visit, talk to current residents and families, and trust your instincts. For more, the vibe check guide covers the in-person work, and the inspection report guide shows you how to read the raw records yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FYI Safety Score™?
The FYI Safety Score™ is a 1.0 to 10.0 rating that reflects how a residential care facility has performed in state safety inspections. It is built entirely on public records from the state agency that licenses, inspects, and regulates the facility. No facility can pay to improve their score; it is calculated the same way for every facility. A score of 10.0 is a Perfect badge reserved for facilities with flawless inspection records over many years.
What's the difference between a serious and minor violation?
Serious violations are findings the state classifies as an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of residents — for example, unlicensed staff administering medication, inadequate supervision after a fall, or failure to report abuse. Minor violations are less severe findings that don't pose an immediate threat but could become serious if uncorrected — for example, record-keeping gaps, expired training certifications, or minor maintenance issues. In California, the regulator (CCLD) calls these Type A and Type B citations respectively.
How does recency affect the score?
Recent findings count more than old ones. The score weights recent inspection findings significantly more heavily than older ones, so a facility's recent track record carries more signal than ancient history. A facility with citations from years ago that has been clean since scores meaningfully higher than one with the same total citations all in the last year.
What does the Perfect 10 badge mean?
A 10.0 Perfect score is awarded only to facilities with sustained flawless multi-year records under heavy state inspection. Fewer than 0.1% of facilities qualify. If a Perfect 10 facility receives any future citation or substantiated complaint, the badge drops.
Where does the safety data come from?
All findings come from the state agency that licenses and inspects residential care facilities. In California, that's the Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD). The data is public record and any facility's history can be verified directly on the state regulator's website.
What does the FYI Safety Score™ not measure?
The score measures regulatory compliance — how a facility performs during state inspections. It does not measure quality of daily life or resident satisfaction, staff friendliness, food quality, aesthetics, or whether the facility is the right fit for your specific needs. The score is one important data point; check it before you tour, then ask specific questions about the findings in person.
Manage a facility?
If you believe a score is inaccurate or does not reflect recent improvements, we want to hear from you. Facility operators can claim their listing to add context, respond to the record, and ensure their information is current.
and we'll look into it.
Disclaimer
The FYI Safety Score™ is provided by AssistedLiving.fyi for general informational purposes only. It is derived from publicly available data published by state regulators and may not reflect the most current inspection results, pending investigations, or recent corrective actions taken by a facility.
This score is not a guarantee, endorsement, or prediction of the safety, quality, or suitability of any facility. It should not be used as the sole basis for any care decision. AssistedLiving.fyi makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the score or underlying data.
We strongly recommend visiting facilities in person, speaking with staff and current residents, reviewing the full state inspection record, and consulting with healthcare professionals before making care decisions. If you believe a score contains an error, please .