CMS F-tag

F685: Quality of life & care

Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services. Cited 1,191 times at 1,115 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#71 of 242 tags1% caused harm48 statesLatest survey Dec 19, 2025

How F685 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF685#71 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
  • Actual harmG · H0.5%6
  • No actual harmD · E · F99.2%1,182
  • Minimal harmB · C0.3%3

1% of F685 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 1,191Citations
  • 1,115Facilities cited8% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20171
  • 201818
  • 201977
  • 202022
  • 202186
  • 2022145
  • 2023256
  • 2024351
  • 2025235

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

Where F685 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 F685 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California16% of homes203 citations · 190 of 1,154 facilities
  • Ohio16% of homes154 citations · 147 of 911 facilities
  • Massachusetts26% of homes97 citations · 87 of 338 facilities
  • Pennsylvania9% of homes60 citations · 57 of 653 facilities
  • New York9% of homes54 citations · 54 of 593 facilities
  • Maryland22% of homes53 citations · 48 of 219 facilities
  • Indiana9% of homes49 citations · 46 of 504 facilities
  • Colorado19% of homes43 citations · 40 of 208 facilities
  • Washington18% of homes42 citations · 34 of 192 facilities
  • Minnesota11% of homes41 citations · 36 of 337 facilities

Top 10 of 48 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Apple Rehab West HavenWest Haven, CT · Report card3 F685No harm
  2. Harbor Health & RehabEast Chicago, IN · Report card3 F685No harm
  3. Valley View Skilled Nursing and RehabilitationRenton, WA · Report card3 F685No harm
  4. Alameda Healthcare & Wellness CenterAlameda, CA · Report card2 F685No harm
  5. Andover Forest Post Acute Care CenterNorth Andover, MA · Report card2 F685No harm
  6. Antelope Valley Care CenterLancaster, CA · Report card2 F685No harm
  7. Apple Rehab Shelton LakesShelton, CT · Report card2 F685No harm
  8. Arbors at CarrollCarroll, OH · Report card2 F685No harm
  9. Arbors at MariettaMarietta, OH · Report card2 F685No harm
  10. Auburn Post AcuteAuburn, WA · Report card2 F685No harm
  11. Aurora Valley CareSpokane, WA · Report card2 F685No harm
  12. Autumn Lake Healthcare at Loch RavenBaltimore, MD · Report card2 F685No harm
  13. Avalon Villa Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card2 F685No harm
  14. Avamere Crestview of PortlandPortland, OR · Report card2 F685No harm
  15. Avamere Rehabilitation of Oregon CityOregon City, OR · Report card2 F685No harm

What to ask a facility about a F685 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 Dec 19, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F685 in a nursing home inspection?
F685 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services." (Quality of life & care). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F685?
F685 was cited 1,191 times at 1,115 facilities (8% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #71 of 242 tags. 6 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F685 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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