Our methodology
The SCP Confidence Score
The SCP Confidence Score is our 100-point rating for every senior care provider on Senior Care Path. It answers one question: can you trust this community? We build it from 11 signals across two groups, so the strongest, most complete, most verified listings rise to the top.
How is the Confidence Score calculated?
Every provider starts at zero and earns points as they meet each signal. The first group (60 points) is the public profile and reputation, which we can confirm from Google and public records, so a strong community can score well before it ever claims its listing. The second group (40 points) is what we confirm ourselves once an operator claims the listing and we review it. The two add up to 100.
Reputation and public profile
60 ptsConfirmable from Google and public sources.
- Has a Google Business Profile12
- Rating of 4.5 or higher12
- 20 or more verified reviews12
- Website published12
- Phone number listed12
Independent verification
40 ptsWhat we confirm once a listing is claimed and reviewed.
- Listing claimed7
- Main contact verified7
- Licenses & registration verified7
- Accreditations verified6
- Pricing verified7
- SCP listing updated in last 30 days6
Does every type of provider get scored the same way?
Yes. Since October 2026, every listing on Senior Care Path earns its score from the same 11 signals, the same points and the same thresholds. A retirement home, a home care agency, a physiotherapist and a stair lift installer can all be compared on one scale.
The only difference is what counts as published pricing, because prices work differently in each kind of business:
| Listing type | How it earns the 7 pricing points |
|---|---|
| Retirement homes and senior living | A monthly starting price, confirmed by the operator |
| Home care agencies | A published hourly or visit rate |
| Health and professional services | A starting price for their services |
| Accessibility installers and equipment retailers | Warranty & returns published, since their prices depend on each home and each product |
Can a provider pay for a higher score?
No. A provider earns points only for what we can check. These never add a single point:
- Buying a Premium, Enhanced or Enterprise plan
- Photos and galleries (a paid feature, so they don’t score)
- Sponsored or featured placement
We also dropped an “independent site visit” signal in September 2026, because we weren’t visiting every home that earned it. If we can’t stand behind a check, it doesn’t count.
Who gets a score in the first place?
Before a listing is scored, it has to be a real senior care business. Installers, retailers and services appear only when their own website shows a senior, accessibility or mobility offering.
Big-box, pharmacy and hardware chains are left out, even when they sell a few senior products. So are offices, associations and listings that turn out not to serve seniors. When we remove one, its page sends you to the right local directory instead.
What does each verification check mean?
Licenses & registration verified means we matched the listing to its provincial regulator, such as Ontario’s Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), and show the licence on the profile with a link to the public register.
Main contact verified is earned only when the listing’s “Managed by” contact has a name and either a LinkedIn profile or a work email at the company’s own domain that includes their name. Without one of those, the signal stays unmet.
What do the trust tiers mean?
We group scores into four tiers so you can read trust at a glance. The scale runs from a complete, verified profile down to a thin one. The lowest tier means incomplete and fixable, not unsafe, it is where an unclaimed listing starts.
| Tier | Score | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| High | 85 to 100 | A complete, well-reviewed, and verified listing you can trust with confidence. |
| Good | 65 to 84 | A strong listing with solid reputation and most verifications in place. |
| Developing | 45 to 64 | A real provider with a partial profile; some details are still unverified. |
| Limited | 0 | An incomplete listing, often unclaimed. Confirm details directly before deciding. |
Why the score exists, and how to use it
Choosing senior care is an emotional, high-stakes decision, usually made quickly and with imperfect information. The Confidence Score gives you a consistent, transparent way to compare communities on the things that signal trust, rather than guessing from a glossy brochure.
Use it to shortlist, not to decide. A high score means a community has earned trust on the measurable signals; it is not a substitute for a tour, a conversation, and your own read of whether the place fits your parent. The score is recomputed as listings are claimed, verified, and kept up to date, so it reflects the current state, not a one-time audit.
Compare communities by Confidence Score
Every community on Senior Care Path is scored, so you can shortlist with clarity. Take our free assessment or browse the directory to see the scores in action.
Are you a provider? Add your Confidence Score badge to your website.
Last reviewed October 2026.