Questions-to-ask-a-facility checklist

Choosing a nursing home for someone you love is hard. It is normal to take notes, ask for a second visit, and compare more than one facility.

Use this page during phone calls, virtual tours, or in-person visits. You do not need medical records to use it. Northhaven Care is a free matching service, not a care provider, and we only collect contact intent details such as first name, a way to reach you, state, who the care is for, the general kind of care, and language.

If you want help narrowing your options, you can also get matched or read our how to choose a nursing home guide.

Start with the care your relative may need each day. Ask who will help with bathing, dressing, eating, walking, medicines, and night-time needs. Skilled nursing means round-the-clock care from licensed nurses, often after a hospital stay or for complex medical needs.

Ask about staff presence on each shift, including weekends and nights. Staffing ratio means how many residents each nurse or aide cares for. A lower ratio can allow more time for each resident, but it is only one part of the picture.

Ask these questions:

The Medicare CMS Five-Star rating has three parts: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Staffing is often the most telling part, especially the RN hours per resident per day, because it shows how much nursing time residents may receive.

A high score in one part does not always mean the whole facility is strong. Ask how the facility handles pressure injuries, infections, falls, weight loss, and medication safety. If the answers are vague, that is worth noting.

Helpful questions include:

If your relative is coming after a hospital stay, ask about short-term rehab. Rehab usually means therapy such as physical, occupational, or speech therapy to help someone regain function after illness or surgery.

Ask how often therapy is offered, how goals are set, and what happens if progress is slower than expected. Also ask about meals, activities, room setup, language support, and whether the facility can help a resident feel oriented and safe.

You can ask:

Ask for the cost in writing. The real number depends on the state, the level of care, the room type, and how the stay is paid. As a general planning range, skilled-nursing or nursing-home care often runs roughly $7,000 to $13,000+ per month, but it can be lower or much higher.

Medicare may cover short-term skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay, often for up to 100 days, with cost-sharing after day 20. Medicaid may cover long-term nursing care for people who qualify based on income and assets, and state rules vary.

If you need help understanding coverage, our quality and ratings help can explain how to read ratings and compare options. For coverage rules, check Medicare.gov and your state Medicaid office. Medicaid and Medicare guidance from Northhaven Care is independent and not a referral.

Ask:

Before you decide, ask what the admission process looks like and whether there is an opening now. Never trust anyone who guarantees a bed, a price, or an outcome. Openings change often, and admission depends on many factors.

Ask whether family members can tour, talk with staff, and see common areas and resident rooms. If possible, visit more than once and at different times of day. That can show you how the facility works in real life.

You can also ask: