Basic Information
- Is the nursing home Medicare certified?
- Is the nursing home Medicaid certified?
- Does the nursing home have the level of care you require?
- Is the nursing home accepting new residents?
- How far away is the facility from friends and family?
- Do they provide quiet areas for residents to visit with family and friends?
Appearance of Residents
- Do the residents appear clean, well groomed, and suitably dressed for the season?
Nursing Home Living Spaces
- Does the environment seem clean and well kept?
- Is the nursing home free from unpleasant, overwhelming odors?
- Does the nursing home have adequate lighting?
- Is the temperature comfortable for the residents?
- Are the noise levels in the common areas (i.e. dining room, family room) comfortable?
- Is smoking prohibited or limited to designated areas?
- Is the furniture strong yet comfortable and nice-looking?
Staff
- Are background checks performed on all staff?
- Does the staff wear name tags?
- Is there a continuing education program and training offered to all staff?
- Do the CNAs (Certified Nurses Assistant) work with a manageable number of residents?
- Does a team of CNAs, LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurse), and RNs (Registered Nurse) work with the same residents 4 to 5 days a week?
- Are CNAs involved in care planning meetings?
- On the tour does the guide know the residents by name and do the residents recognize him/her?
- Are there full time RN’s in the facility at least 8 hours per day?
- Does the nursing home have a social worker on staff?
- Is there a licensed doctor on staff?
- Are they available upon request?
- Can they be reached at all times?
- Has the management team been working together for at least one year?
- Does the staff knock before entering a resident’s room and refer to them by name?
- Is the relationship between the staff and the residents friendly, polite, and respectful?
Resident's Quarters
- Are resident’s permitted to have personal belongings and furniture in their rooms?
- Does the nursing home have policies and procedures to protect resident possessions?
- Is there storage space in residents’ rooms (closet and drawers)?
- Does each resident have a window in their bedroom?
- Do residents have access to a personal television and telephone?
- Can water pitchers be retrieved by residents?
- Are the residents permitted to choose their roommate?
Menus & Food
- Are there choices of food items at each meal?
- Will they provide any special diet that your faith practices require?
- If needed, will the staff help residents eat and drink at mealtime?
- Upon request, will the staff provide nutritious snacks?
Activities
- Does the facility offer activity programs I enjoy?
- Are outdoor areas for residents available and will staff help residents go outside?
- Is there an active volunteer program at the nursing home?
Safety and Care
- Are the exits clearly marked?
- Does the nursing home have sprinklers and smoke detectors?
- Is there a facility evacuation program and do they hold regular fire drills?
- Are there handrails and grab bars in the bathrooms and hallways?
- Is the facility (common areas, doorways, and resident rooms) designed for wheelchair access?
- For the safety of the residents, do they lock the doors at night?
- Is there a special “Wander Guard” or “Monitoring System” to help residents that become confused in the nursing home?
- Does the nursing home have an arrangement for emergencies with a hospital close by?
- Are residents still permitted to see their personal physician?
- Do residents receive preventative care to keep them healthy, for example an annual flu shot or pneumonia screening?
- Are care plan meetings held at convenient times for residents and family members to attend when possible?
- Has the nursing home corrected all deficiencies (failure to meet one or more State or Federal requirements) from its last inspection?
Others
- Did they listen to me and make me feel comfortable?
- Were the answers to my questions explained in a way that I could understand?
- Did the staff explain things to me when I didn’t understand?
