Use Wisconsin DHS's DQA Provider Search on the ForwardHealth portal, the state's public tool for looking up a facility's license status and survey/inspection history. It's free and does not require creating an account.
What this means in practice
This one tool covers CBRFs, RCACs, adult family homes, and nursing homes, so it's worth bookmarking regardless of which type of community you're considering. A facility's own marketing materials will tell you what it wants you to know; the DQA Provider Search tells you what the state's inspectors actually found on the most recent survey, including any cited violations and how they were resolved. DHS also publishes a downloadable statewide Nursing Home Provider Directory PDF and a Milwaukee County-specific consumer guide, both useful supplements if you want to cross-check a facility list rather than search one name at a time. Do this before, not after, signing an admission agreement.
Related questions
- Does Wisconsin have one 'assisted living license' like some other states?
- What is a CBRF in Wisconsin?
- What is an RCAC and how is it different from a CBRF?
- What is an Adult Family Home (AFH) in Wisconsin?
- Does a Wisconsin nursing home need a different license than assisted living?
- Who licenses and regulates senior care facilities in Wisconsin?
- What happens if I have a complaint about a Milwaukee-area facility's care?
