The senior-care tour checklist

45 questions to ask — and things to watch for — when you tour an assisted-living community or nursing home. Free, printable, and built by the people who put the government inspection record on the map. No email required.

Look up a facility's record first →
Do this first: before you tour, look the facility up on the Senior Care Record Map map and read its safety grade and inspection history. Walking in already knowing about a substantiated complaint or a citation lets you ask pointed questions instead of taking the sales pitch at face value.

1. Staffing — the single biggest driver of care quality

Understaffing is behind most serious care failures. Push past vague reassurances for real numbers.

What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day? At night and on weekends?
What is your staff turnover rate over the past year? (A manager who won't answer is a red flag.)
Is there a licensed nurse on-site 24/7, or on-call? For a nursing home, ask about RN vs. aide hours.
How long have the administrator and director of nursing been here?
Who covers when someone calls in sick — agency staff or your own team?
How are staff trained for dementia, falls, and medication handling?

2. Safety & the inspection record

You already have the public record from Senior Care Record Map. Use it to ask specifically, not generally.

Can I see your most recent state inspection report and plan of correction?
I saw [specific citation/complaint] on your record — what happened and what changed?
How do you prevent and respond to falls? What's your incident-reporting process?
How quickly are call lights answered? (Time it yourself during the tour.)
What is your policy on elopement (a resident wandering off)? Are exits secured for memory care?
Are you currently under any enforcement action, probation, or (for nursing homes) a Special Focus designation?
How do you handle a medical emergency? Which hospital do you transfer to?

3. Cost — get it in writing, at the real care level

"Starting at" is a floor, not a quote. The number that matters is the total at your parent's actual needs. (New to the pricing? Read what senior care actually costs first.)

What is the all-in monthly cost at my parent's actual care level — not the base rate?
How is care priced — flat tiers, à-la-carte points, or a level assessment? Can I see the schedule?
What is the community/move-in fee, and is it refundable? (Often negotiable.)
How often do rates increase, and by how much historically?
What triggers a move to a higher (more expensive) care level, and who decides?
Do you accept Medicaid / Medi-Cal? Medicare for short-term rehab? Long-term care insurance?
What happens if my parent outlives their savings — is there a discharge policy?

4. Care & medical oversight

Who develops the care plan, how often is it reviewed, and can family be involved?
How are medications managed and by whom? What's the error-reporting process?
Which doctors, therapists, and specialists come on-site?
What happens when care needs increase — can you keep my parent, or will they have to move?
Is there hospice or end-of-life care available in place?
How do you communicate with families about changes in condition?

5. Daily life & dignity

Can I see a typical week's activity calendar? Are residents actually attending?
May I eat a meal here? Is the food fresh, and are diets accommodated?
What are the visiting hours and policies? Can I visit unannounced?
How do you handle a resident who is isolated, declining, or unhappy?
What personal items and furniture can my parent bring?
Is transportation provided to medical appointments and outings? How is it scheduled?
Can I speak with a few current residents and their families — unaccompanied?

6. What to observe (don't just ask — watch)

The tour is staged. What you notice with your own eyes is often more honest than any answer.

Do staff greet residents by name and make eye contact?
Are residents dressed, groomed, engaged — or parked in front of a TV?
Is there a persistent smell of urine or heavy air freshener masking it? (Red flag.)
Are common areas and resident rooms genuinely clean, or just the lobby?
How do staff talk to residents — warm and patient, or rushed and curt?
Are call lights or alarms going unanswered while you're standing there?
Does the place feel like a home, or like a facility running on a schedule?

7. Before you sign

Visit at least twice — once unannounced, ideally around a mealtime or evening.
Read the entire contract, especially discharge, rate-increase, and refund terms.
Verify the license is active and in good standing with the state agency, today.
Never sign under pressure. "This rate is only good today" is a sales tactic, not a reason.
Compare your top choices side by side on the same criteria before deciding.

Track every tour in one place

Senior Care Record Map Pro lets you save each facility, tag it Shortlist / Maybe / Visited / Rejected, take notes as you call and tour, and compare your finalists side by side — with the full inspection record beside each one. $19.99 one-time, all 50 states, DC & territories.

Unlock Senior Care Record Map Pro → Read the full care guide →

This checklist is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Senior Care Record Map is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency or facility. Always verify a facility's current license and record directly with the relevant state or federal agency.