Checklist

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Nursing Home Checklist

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential nursing homes and reviewed their admissions agreements, arrange for a visit at each facility to evaluate them for quality and suitability. Visit at different times of the day, including during meals, if possible.

Here are some questions to consider during your visits. Ask questions of key personnel—the nursing home administrator, medical director, nursing director and social work director. Make your own judgments and observations.

Overall Atmosphere

Is the general atmosphere homelike? Is the facility clean, orderly and relatively free of unpleasant odors?

Do residents look well cared for, clean and comfortable?

Do staff and resident interactions appear positive?

Are residents out of their rooms?

Are you able to talk with residents about how they like the community?

Are the visiting hours sufficient to enable friends to visit frequently?

Is there sufficient space in the common areas for visitors, conversations, TV watching?

Physical Features

Can you tour the facility to see the layout? Is the facility’s floor plan easy to follow, with adequate common areas, well-lit stairs and hallways?

What kinds of emergency response systems do they have? Are there fire sprinklers and clearly marked exits? Is there an emergency generator or alternative power source in case of outage?

Are rooms large enough for your family member’s needs, including bathrooms with handrails and call buttons, safety locks on doors and windows?

What furnishings are provided?

Does each resident have sufficient space for personal possessions? Are telephones, radios, televisions and computers with Internet access available?

Are bedrooms close to bathrooms and toilets?

If the community provides dementia care, does it have a means of security if a resident wanders?

Contract & Costs

Have you reviewed the contractual agreement that lists services, fees, as well as admission and discharge provisions?

Do you understand the residents’ rights, protections, and responsibilities, as guaranteed by state and federal laws?

What’s included in the basic daily rate for services? What services are standard and what are the costs of additional services, if required?

How are rates adjusted and how are residents notified of adjustments? (Private pay rates are not regulated by state or federal agencies.)

What happens if a resident’s needs change?

Is a resident’s space held if they have to be temporarily hospitalized?

Health Services & Staff

Social & Recreation Programs

What activities does the recreation program offer, and what percentage of residents join in? Can you observe a group activity in progress?

Are residents’ pets allowed in the community? Who is responsible for their care?

Are there arrangements for volunteers, including family members, to come in and participate with residents?

Are there special programs for residents with dementia?

Are there activities for residents confined to their bedroom?

Food Services

Do the residents appear satisfied with the quality of the food?

Are menus reviewed by a nutritionist?

Does the meal plan offer gluten-free options and accommodate other special dietary needs, such as those required by a diabetic?

May meals be provided at a time a resident would like or are there set times for meals?

Can residents get substitute meals when they don’t like the menu?

Are residents encouraged to dine together? And may visitors join residents for meals?