How to Check a Washington Assisted Living Inspection Report
Every licensed Washington assisted living facility has a public page of state reports. Here is how to find it and what each report means.
Step 1: Find the facility's report page
Search the WA DSHS facility lookup, or open any facility page on our site, which links straight to it.
Step 2: Know the four kinds of report
Inspections are full surprise visits by Washington DSHS, roughly every 15 to 18 months. The PDF is a "Statement of Deficiencies": each item names the rule broken (a WAC number) and what inspectors saw. No PDF for a recent year can mean no problems were cited.
Investigations are complaint visits. A report is posted when an inspector checked a complaint; read it to see whether the complaint was confirmed.
Enforcement letters are the serious ones: civil fines, stop-placement orders (no new residents), or conditions on the license. A letter does not always mean a fine; open it to see.
Fire inspections are from the State Fire Marshal and cover sprinklers, alarms and exits.
Look for repeat problems in the same area (medications, falls, staffing) across more than one report. One old, fixed item matters less than a pattern.
Example
6 Stars Healthcare LLC in Tacoma: State inspection, 10/2025 (PDF); Complaint investigation, 04/2026 (PDF).
Step 3: Ask about what you found
Bring the report to your tour and ask what changed. If you have a concern about a resident's care, the free WA Long-Term Care Ombuds can help.