Questions to Ask on a Senior Care Facility Tour

Questions that produce real answers: staffing, turnover, care planning, safety, complaints, cost, and what happens when needs change.

Updated 2026

This guide is informational and is not medical advice.

Category: touring-and-evaluation · Updated 2026

If you let the tour set the tone, the conversation stays pleasant and tells you little. The questions that expose how a facility actually runs are specific: they ask for a number or an example instead of a reassurance. Ask the same list everywhere so answers line up side by side, jot down what you hear, and put important claims in writing.

The questions below are grouped by topic so you can carry them with you. For the observational half of a visit, see the Nursing Home Tour Checklist.

Care and clinical questions

Which nurse is accountable for my relative's care, and may I meet that person?
How does the care plan get written, and how often is it revisited with the family's input?
How do you respond to a change in condition, and at what point do you call the family?
What physician coverage exists, and how fast can a resident be evaluated?
How do you coordinate care with specialists, hospitals, and hospice?

Staffing and turnover questions

What are the day, evening, and night staffing levels on this unit?
Is a registered nurse in the building overnight?
What are your overall and RN turnover rates?
How long has the director of nursing held the role?
How do you cover shifts when someone calls out?

These answers should match the facility's CMS staffing data. When they do not, ask why. Federal rules require licensed nursing around the clock and an RN on duty at least 8 consecutive hours a day under 42 CFR §483.35.

Safety and quality questions

What is your fall rate, and what steps prevent falls?
How do you track infections and bring rates down?
How are medications ordered, dispensed, and monitored?
What share of residents without a related diagnosis receive antipsychotics?
How do you prevent pressure ulcers, and how are they treated?
How do you manage elopement risk and secured units?

Set the answers beside the facility's quality measures on Care Compare.

Rights, complaints, and family involvement

How do residents and families raise concerns, and how fast do you respond?
Is there a resident council, and does it operate independently of staff?
How are grievances logged, and may I see the process?
What are the visiting hours, and what restrictions apply?
How do you protect residents from abuse and neglect, and how is staff trained?

Under 42 CFR §483.10, residents may voice grievances without fear of retaliation. Ask how that protection works in practice.

Cost, contract, and transitions

What is the all-in monthly cost for the room type and care level we need?
What is excluded, and how are extra services billed?
By how much have rates risen over the past three years?
What happens if private funds run out and we qualify for Medicaid?
Under what circumstances would you ask a resident to leave?
What is the discharge and appeal process?

Federal discharge and transfer rules require written notice and, in some cases, appeal rights under 42 CFR §483.15. Obtain the contract and rate sheet before signing. See Nursing Home Eviction and Discharge Rights.

Sources: CMS Care Compare; 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B.

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Frequently asked questions

How many questions should I bring?

A focused list of about ten is plenty, but do not hurry through it. Put staffing, care planning, safety, complaints, and cost first, since those reveal the most about daily life.

Should I ask identical questions at every facility?

Yes. The same questions let you compare answers fairly. Note who answered and whether the reply was specific or vague.

What if staff give vague answers?

Ask for a number or an example, then follow up in writing. A facility that cannot state its staffing or turnover levels may not be tracking them, which is worth knowing.

Can I review the contract before deciding?

Yes. Request the admission agreement, rate sheet, and any arbitration clause to review in advance. If you can, have someone with legal or financial experience review it.

Who is the best person to ask?

Put operational questions to the administrator and director of nursing, and day-to-day questions to frontline aides. Speaking with current families adds an outside view.

Data sources

CMS Provider Data Catalog · CMS Care Compare. This guide is provided for information and is not medical advice. Processing date: 2026-10-06.

Required disclosures

For general information only, not medical advice. This website shares public data and general information. It does not offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment guidance, and it cannot replace a consultation with a qualified health care professional or with Medicare.

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