Visit the nursing homes you're interested in, or have someone visit for you

What questions should you ask yourself before visiting nursing homes?

Quality of life

• Will I be treated in a respectful way?
• Can I participate in social, recreational, religious, or cultural activities that are important to me? Can I decide when I want to participate?
• Do I get to choose what time to get up, go to sleep, or bathe?
• Can I get food and drinks that I like at any time? What if I don't like the food that's served?
• Can I have visitors at any time?
• Is transportation provided to community activities?
• Can I bring my pet or can my pet visit?
• Can I decorate my living space any way I want?
• Will I have privacy when I have visitors or personal care services?
• Would I be able to leave the facility for a few hours or days if I choose to do so?

Quality of care

• What's a plan of care and what does it look like?
• Who makes the plan of care and how do they know what I want, need, or what should be in the plan?
• Will I be included in planning my care?
• Will my interests and preferences be included in the care plan?
• Will I be able to change the plan if I feel there's a need?
• Will I be able to choose which of my family members or friends will be involved in the planning process?
• Will I get a copy of my care plan?
• Is there enough staff to give me the care I need?
• Who are the doctors that will care for me? Can I still see my personal doctors? Who will help me arrange transportation if I choose to continue to see my personal doctors and they don't visit the nursing home?
• Who will give me the care I need?
• If a resident has a problem with confusion and wanders, how does the staff handle this type of behavior in the facility to protect the resident?
• Does the nursing home's inspection report show quality of care problems (deficiencies)?
• What did the quality information on Nursing Home Compare show about how well this nursing home cares for its residents?

Location

• Is the nursing home close to my family and friends so they can visit often?

Availability

• Is a bed available now or can I add my name to a waiting list?

Staffing

• Will I have the same staff people take care of me from day to day or do they change?
• Does the nursing home post required information about the number of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff? Are they willing to show me if I ask to see it?
• How many residents is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) assigned to work with during each shift (day and night) and during meals?
• If I have a medical need, will the staff contact my doctor for me?
• What type of therapy is available at this facility? Is therapy staff available?
• Is there a social worker available? Can I meet him or her?

Religious & cultural preferences

• Does the nursing home offer the religious or cultural support I need? If not, what type of arrangements will they provide to meet my needs?
• Do they provide special diet options that my faith practice may require?

Language

• Is my primary language spoken by staff that will work directly with me and fellow residents?
• If not, is an interpreter available or another system in place to help me communicate my needs?

Policies

• Are there resident policies I must follow?
• Will I get a written copy of these policies?

Security

• Does the nursing home provide a safe environment?
• Will my personal belongings be secure in my room?
• Is the nursing home locked at night?

Preventive care

• Does the nursing home make sure residents get preventive care to help keep them healthy? Are specialists, like eye doctors, ear doctors, dentists, and podiatrist, available to see residents on a regular basis? Does the facility help make arrangement to see these specialists?
• Does the nursing home have a screening program for vaccinations, like flu (influenza) and pneumonia?

Hospitals

• Does the nursing home have an arrangement with a nearby hospital for emergencies?
• Can my doctor care for me at that hospital?

Licensing

• Are the nursing home and current administrator licensed in my state ?

Certification (certified)

• Is the nursing home Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified?

Services

• What services does the nursing home provide? Does the nursing home have the services I need?

Charges & fees

• Will the nursing home tell me in writing about their services, charges, and fees before I move into the home?
  
  Note

  Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified nursing homes must tell you this information in writing. Get a copy of the fee schedule to find out which services are available, which are included in your monthly fee, and which services cost extra. Then, compare nursing home costs.

• Is there a basic fee for room, meals, and personal care?
• Are there extra charges for other services, like beauty shop services?

Health inspection & fire safety inspection reports

• Does the nursing home have the most recent health and fire inspection reports for me to look at?

Resident, family & staff satisfaction

• Can I talk to staff, residents, and family members of residents? Will I be able to ask them if they're satisfied with the nursing home and its services?

What should you do when visiting nursing homes you're considering?

After you consider what's important to you in a nursing home, visit the nursing homes. It's best to visit the nursing homes that interest you before you make a final decision on which one meets your needs.

A visit gives you the chance to see the residents, staff, and the nursing home setting. It also allows you to ask questions of the nursing home staff and talk with residents and their family members.

If you can't visit the nursing home yourself, you may want to get a family member or friend to visit for you. If a family member or friend can't visit for you, you can call for information. However, a visit can help you see the quality of care and life of the actual residents.

Important things to know when visiting a nursing home:

• Before you go, call and make an appointment to meet with someone on staff. You're also encouraged to visit the nursing home at other times without an appointment. If a nursing home doesn't offer a "drop-in" policy, this is another issue to think about when making your final decision.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions.
• Ask the staff to explain anything you see and hear that you don't understand. For example, if you hear a person calling out, it may be because they're confused, not because they're being hurt or neglected.
• Ask who to call if you have further questions and write down the name and phone number.
• If a resident or a resident's family wishes, you may talk to them about the care and their experience.
• Don't go into resident rooms or care areas without asking the resident and nursing home staff first. Residents have a right to privacy and can refuse to allow you to come into their rooms.
• After your visit, write down any questions you still have about the nursing home or how the nursing home will meet your needs.

Use the Nursing Home Checklist when you visit a nursing home

Take a copy of the Nursing Home Checklist [PDF, 177KB] when you visit to ask questions. Use a new checklist for each nursing home you visit.