CMS F-tag

F561: Resident rights

Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice. Cited 1,938 times at 1,707 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#51 of 242 tags1% caused harm53 statesLatest survey Jan 2, 2026

How F561 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF561#51 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K0.4%7
  • Actual harmG0.7%14
  • No actual harmD · E · F98.4%1,907
  • Minimal harmB · C0.5%10

1% of F561 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 1,938Citations
  • 1,707Facilities cited12% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 201824
  • 2019100
  • 202029
  • 202194
  • 2022286
  • 2023521
  • 2024502
  • 2025381
  • 20261

Partial years reflect the rolling three-cycle window, not a change in enforcement.

Where F561 is cited most

Survey agencies differ in what they emphasize, so compare a facility with its own state. Shares are the portion of each state’s rated nursing homes with at least one F561 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • Ohio17% of homes175 citations · 154 of 911 facilities
  • Missouri20% of homes117 citations · 98 of 479 facilities
  • Florida14% of homes115 citations · 99 of 689 facilities
  • North Carolina22% of homes105 citations · 92 of 417 facilities
  • California8% of homes96 citations · 90 of 1,154 facilities
  • Maryland34% of homes90 citations · 74 of 219 facilities
  • Michigan18% of homes85 citations · 75 of 420 facilities
  • Texas6% of homes75 citations · 69 of 1,167 facilities
  • New York12% of homes74 citations · 71 of 593 facilities
  • Indiana13% of homes74 citations · 68 of 504 facilities

Top 10 of 53 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Taos HealthcareTaos, NM · Report card4 F561No harm
  2. Vero Beach Care CenterVero Beach, FL · Report card4 F561No harm
  3. Accel at Longmont Health and Rehab, LLCLongmont, CO · Report card3 F561No harm
  4. Autumn Lake Healthcare at Glen BurnieGlen Burnie, MD · Report card3 F561No harm
  5. Aviata at Saint LucieFort Pierce, FL · Report card3 F561No harm
  6. Bay Marina Post AcuteOakland, CA · Report card3 F561No harm
  7. Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterBerlin, MD · Report card3 F561No harm
  8. Bryan Healthcare and RehabilitationBryan, OH · Report card3 F561No harm
  9. Canterbury CenterShepherdstown, WV · Report card3 F561No harm
  10. Cherrydale Health & Rehabilitation CenterArlington, VA · Report card3 F561No harm
  11. Crawford Care CenterSaegertown, PA · Report card3 F561No harm
  12. Crystal Cove Post AcuteLacey, WA · Report card3 F561No harm
  13. Hibriten Mountain Nursing and RehabilitationLenoir, NC · Report card3 F561No harm
  14. Los Arcos del Norte Care CenterEl Paso, TX · Report card3 F561No harm
  15. Medilodge of Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MI · Report card3 F561No harm

What to ask a facility about a F561 citation

  1. What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
  2. What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
  3. Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
  4. If the letter was G or higher: what happened to the resident, and what changed in staffing or process?

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Home Health Citations, current three inspection cycles, most recent survey Jan 2, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F561 in a nursing home inspection?
F561 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice." (Resident rights). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F561?
F561 was cited 1,938 times at 1,707 facilities (12% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #51 of 242 tags. 21 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F561 citation mean the facility is unsafe?
Not on its own. Read the scope and severity letter: D through F means no actual harm was found, G through I means a resident was harmed, and J through L means immediate jeopardy. Ask the facility what was cited, what was corrected, and when.

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