Questions to ask when touring a care community
Twenty-five practical questions about staffing, safety, daily life, health care and costs, organized so you can bring them on a visit.
Touring a community can feel rushed, and it is easy to leave without the answers you came for. These twenty-five questions are organized into five groups, with follow-ups that ask for specifics instead of assuming what a good answer looks like. Print the list, bring it, and write down what you hear.
Staffing and care
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day, in the evening and overnight? Ask for the actual numbers on each shift rather than a general figure.
- What training do staff members receive when they start, and what ongoing training is required? Ask about any specialized training for memory care or particular health needs.
- Is a nurse on site, and during which hours? Who is available at other times?
- How long have your current caregivers been here, and who would my family member see most often?
- How are care plans created, who takes part, and how often are they reviewed?
Numbers are a starting point, not a verdict. Ask how staffing works on a hard day, and watch how staff and residents interact while you are there.
Safety and security
- What are your emergency procedures for fire, medical emergencies, severe weather and power outages?
- How are medications stored, given and recorded, and how will we be told about changes?
- What happens if a resident falls or is injured, and how and when are families notified?
- What screening do you do before hiring, and does it apply to everyone who works with residents, including contractors?
- What security measures are in place, including secured exits and supervision policies, especially for memory care?
Daily life and activities
- What does a typical day look like? May we see a current activity calendar?
- What activities and programs are offered, and which ones are actually well attended?
- Can residents keep their own routines for waking, meals and bedtime?
- How are meals handled: menus, dining times, special diets, and help with eating if needed?
- Can residents bring their own furniture and personalize their rooms?
Health care and communication
- Which physicians, therapists or specialists visit the community, and how are outside appointments arranged?
- How will you communicate with our family about health changes, incidents and everyday life?
- What happens if care needs increase? Could the community continue to provide care, or would a move be required?
- How are residents’ rights protected, including privacy and the way complaints are handled?
- If a resident goes to the hospital, what is the process for returning?
Costs and agreements
- What is the total monthly cost? Ask for the breakdown in writing, including base rate, care levels and every additional fee.
- Which services cost extra?
- How often, and by how much, have rates changed in recent years?
- What payment sources do you accept, and who confirms whether a benefit or insurance policy will pay?
- What is the refund and notice policy if we need to move out, including deposits and entrance fees?
Our cost questions guide goes further on rates, changes and coverage.
While you are there
Beyond the questions, notice the environment. Your impressions are evidence too.
- Cleanliness: does the building look and smell clean, including bathrooms and dining areas?
- Engagement: are residents interacting with each other and staff, or sitting alone?
- Staff manner: how do staff speak to residents, and do they know them by name?
- Noise: is the atmosphere calm or chaotic at the time you visit?
- Outdoor space: is it accessible, shaded and actually used?
After the tour
- Visit again at a different time, including an evening or weekend.
- Talk with current residents and their families if you can.
- Ask how to read the state’s inspection reports for this community, and read the most recent one.
- Compare the written answers from each place you visited, side by side.
For nursing homes specifically, Medicare’s Care Compare shows inspection results, staffing and quality measures, and the agency recommends visiting, bringing a checklist and talking with residents, families and staff. Those ratings cover nursing homes, not assisted living or memory care. If care or therapy needs are driving the decision, discuss them with a health professional first.
Source: Choosing a nursing home, Medicare.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (checked September 9, 2026)
Making the decision
The right place is not simply the one with the most features. Use these questions as a start, ask follow-ups about anything unclear, and give real weight to how your family member felt during the visit.
Sources
These pages informed the sections that cite them; the questions and checklists are our own. Links were checked on .
- Choosing a nursing home, Medicare.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Checked September 9, 2026.