Nursing Homes: What to Ask
Facility Name ______________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________
| Check: | First Visit | Second Visit | Date(s)Visited:_____________ |
| Circle: | Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun |
You may want to attach the facility’s rate sheet for easier comparison.
The Basics: YesNo
| Is the facility Medicare certified? | |
| Is the facility Medicaid certified? | |
| Has the license ever been revoked? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| Is the facility accepting new patients? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| Is there a waiting period for admission? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| Does the facility conduct background checks on all of the staff members? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| How many licensed nurses are on duty during each shift? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| RNs ___________ LPNs __________ |
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| What is the patient-to-staff ratio? ________________________________ |
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| Nurse-to-patient? __________ Aide-to-patient?_____________ |
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| Does the nursing home have an active family council? |
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| What is the visiting policy? ____________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| What is the facility’s discharge policy? ___________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| Is transportation available so the resident can visit the doctor? _________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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| Does the facility hold care planning meetings at convenient times for residents and family? _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
Safety: YesNo
| Are stairs and hallways well lit? | |
| Are exits well marked? | |
| Do the hallways have handrails? | |
| Do rooms and bathrooms have grab bars and call buttons? | |
| Are there safety locks on the doors and windows? | |
| Are there security and fire safety systems? | |
| Is there an emergency generator or alternate power source? | |
| Is the floor plan logical and easy to follow? |
Care Issues: YesNo
| Does the facility smell fresh and clean? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are residents bathed and well groomed? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Do the staff members interact well with residents? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Do residents participate in activities and exercise? | |
| Do residents have the same caregivers on a daily basis? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Do the staff members respond quickly to calls for help? | |
| Is there fresh water available in the rooms? | |
| Does the food look and smell good? | |
| Are the residents offered choices of food at mealtimes? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are the residents who need help eating or drinking receiving it? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are there nutritious snacks available throughout the day and evening? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Is physical therapy available for as long as the resident needs it? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are the staff members well trained to deal with dementia? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are there units or programs for special needs such as Alzheimer’s? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
Quality of Life: YesNo
| Are residents’ rights posted? | |
| Do the staff members knock before entering a resident’s room? | |
| Are the doors shut when the staff members dress and bathe a resident? | |
| Is the facility an easy place for family and friends to visit? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Does the nursing home meet cultural, religious, or language needs? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Does the nursing home provide outdoor areas for residents and staff to get a healthy change of scenery and some fresh air together? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are the residents allowed to make choices about daily routines, such as when to go to bed, when to get up, when to bathe, or when to eat? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are the residents allowed to have personal articles and furniture in their rooms? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Are the staff members friendly, considerate, and helpful? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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| Does the facility have a warm, homey environment? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
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