Greensboro Senior AdvisorBy Greensboro Senior Advisor Care Team · November 5, 2026
Read the latest annual survey before anything else: it shows what inspectors found most recently and whether the home fixed it. A clean survey is common but far from universal in the three counties.
Why the annual survey comes first
DHSR's adult care surveyors visit each licensed home for a full annual survey, with follow-up visits after deficiencies and complaint investigations in between. The latest annual survey is the single most useful document a family can read, because it covers the whole home and is recent.
The result is either no deficiencies cited, or a statement of deficiencies listing each rule the inspectors found unmet, usually followed by a plan of correction from the home.
Latest annual survey results by county
| County | Homes with an annual survey posted | Latest survey clean | Share clean | Latest survey within 18 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford County | 31 | 9 | 29% | 25 |
| Randolph County | 8 | 4 | 50% | 7 |
| Rockingham County | 24 | 9 | 38% | 17 |
Source: N.C. DHHS Division of Health Service Regulation listings and rating pages, retrieved November 6, 2026. “Clean” means DHSR posted “No Deficiencies Cited” for the most recent annual or initial survey.
Larger homes with a clean latest survey
Among adult care homes of seven or more beds, these had no deficiencies cited on their most recent annual survey: Cross Road Retirement Community, Brookstone Haven, Brookstone Terrace of Greensboro, Brookdale Reidsville, The Arboretum at Heritage Greens, Alpha Concord of Greensboro, North Pointe Assisted Living Of Archdale, The Elms at Abbotswood, Verra Springs at Heritage Greens.
A clean survey is a good sign, not a guarantee. Read the home's earlier surveys and complaint investigations too, and check its star rating and penalty history on its page.
When the latest survey found problems
Most statements of deficiencies cite a small number of rules, and many concern paperwork or routines rather than harm. Read what was cited, how many residents it affected, and whether a follow-up visit found it corrected.
Medication administration, supervision, personal care and residents' rights findings matter most for daily life. If the same rule appears in two consecutive annual surveys, ask the administrator why it recurred and what is different now.
Why the survey dates matter
Annual surveys are meant to happen every year, but the posted dates vary. A home whose latest annual survey is more than eighteen months old may simply be due for its next one; it is worth asking when inspectors last visited and whether there have been complaint investigations since.
Complaint investigations and follow-up visits also appear in the list on each home's page, so a recent visit may have happened even if the last annual survey was some time ago.
Family care homes and annual surveys
Family care homes are surveyed under the same system. Because a small home has few residents, an annual survey may review most of them, which makes the result a close look at daily care.
Read a family care home's survey with the same attention as a large home's. Medication, supervision and residents' rights findings are the ones that matter most.
What inspectors look at during an annual survey
An annual survey covers the whole operation: residents' care plans and whether they are followed, medication administration and records, staffing against the census-based rules, staff training and background checks, residents' rights, food service, housekeeping and the safety of the building. Inspectors interview residents and staff and observe care directly.
That breadth is what makes the annual survey so useful to families. A clean result means the inspectors looked across all of those areas and found nothing to cite on that visit; a statement of deficiencies tells you exactly which areas fell short and how the home said it would fix them. Ask to see the home's own copy if you cannot open the posted document.
Putting the survey to work
Print the latest survey for each home on your short list and bring it on the tour. Ask specific questions about the findings. Administrators who can explain what happened and what changed are usually running homes that learn from problems.
Then compare what you hear with what you see: staff interacting with residents, call bells answered, a calm dining room. The survey tells you where to look.
Frequently asked questions
How often are adult care homes surveyed in North Carolina?
DHSR conducts a full annual survey of each home, with follow-ups and complaint investigations in between.
Where can I read a home's latest survey?
On the home's page in our directory or on DHSR's Facility Inspections, Ratings and Penalties search.
Does a clean survey mean the home is excellent?
It means no deficiencies were cited at that visit; read the history and visit before deciding.
Who investigates complaints between surveys?
DHSR and the county department of social services' adult home specialists.
What does a plan of correction promise?
The home's written fix for each finding, how it will prevent a recurrence and the date it will be complete.
Can families see follow-up results?
Yes. Follow-up visits are posted in the same list, often as no deficiencies cited when the problems were corrected.
Does a statement of deficiencies mean residents were harmed?
Not necessarily. Many findings concern records, procedures or risks that were corrected; the document describes each finding and its effect, so read the details before drawing conclusions.
Are construction inspections part of the annual survey?
No. DHSR's construction section inspects buildings separately, and those visits appear in the same document list on each home's page.
