Questions to ask on a tour, and what the record can't tell you
A tour shows you the lobby on a good day. The public record shows you what inspectors found on ordinary days. Use both.
Before you go
Look the home up here and note anything that stands out: a finding of harm, a fine, thin weekend staffing, high staff turnover, or a recent change of owner. Each home's page lists questions drawn from its own record. Take them with you.
Questions to ask any home
Staff
- How many residents does each aide care for on day, evening and night shifts? And at weekends?
- How long have the administrator and the director of nursing (or care supervisor) been here?
- How much of your staffing comes from agencies?
The record
- May I see your most recent inspection report? What has changed since?
- For any serious finding: what happened, what did you change, and who is responsible for it now?
- Has the home changed owner or management company in the last few years? Is any change planned?
Care and money
- What does the monthly rate include, and what costs extra? How much did it rise last year?
- When would a resident have to move because their care needs have grown? Where do residents usually go?
- If my family member runs out of money, can they stay on Medicaid? (Ask whether the home takes Medicaid at all.)
What only a visit can tell you
No public record measures kindness, food, activities, or whether residents seem engaged. Visit more than once, including at a mealtime and in the early evening or at a weekend, when staffing is often thinnest. Notice whether call lights are answered, whether residents are up and dressed, and how staff speak to them. If you can, talk to residents and their families away from staff.
After you've chosen
Keep visiting at varied times. If you have a concern, raise it with the home first, in writing if it's serious. The free, independent Long-Term Care Ombudsman can help you — in the Charlotte area, the Centralina ombudsman at (800) 508-5777, or in York, Lancaster and Chester counties of South Carolina, the Catawba ombudsman at 803-329-9670. You can also ask us to watch the home and tell you when its record changes.