OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Fred Rich did not check Medicare's ratings for nursing homes before he picked one in Overland Park last month after breaking his back.

The 71-year-old from Kansas City now says that doing so might have saved him a lot of frustration.

"The absence of staff, particularly well-trained staff, competent staff, makes it a very difficult place to live," he said.

Had Rich gone to the federal Nursing Home Compare website, he would have found rankings for nursing homes along with inspection information. The Star has analyzed the data and provided it in a searchable form.

Homes...