Planning checklist
Questions to ask senior care providers
Before choosing any senior care provider, it helps to ask the right questions. Use this list as a starting point for conversations with home care agencies, assisted living communities, memory care facilities, and nursing homes.
Questions for home care agencies
- Are your caregivers employees or independent contractors?
- Are caregivers background-checked and insured?
- What happens if my regular caregiver is sick or unavailable?
- Do you provide a written care plan?
- Can services be increased or decreased as needs change?
- Do you provide overnight or 24-hour care?
- What training do your caregivers receive?
- Are you licensed in this state?
Questions for assisted living communities
- What's included in the monthly fee and what costs extra?
- How do you handle residents whose needs increase over time?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day and overnight?
- How are medication needs handled?
- What does a typical day look like for residents?
- What is your policy if a resident needs to leave or transition to a higher level of care?
- Are there move-in fees or deposit requirements?
- Is this community licensed by the state?
Questions for memory care communities
- Is this a dedicated memory care community or a wing within a larger facility?
- What specific dementia training do staff receive?
- How is the community secured to prevent wandering?
- How do you handle behavioral changes or sundowning?
- What activities are offered for residents with memory loss?
- How do you involve families in care decisions?
- What is your policy on restraints or sedation?
- How often is the care plan updated?
Questions for nursing homes
- Is this facility Medicare and/or Medicaid certified?
- What is the current inspection or survey history for this facility?
- What is the staffing level and turnover rate?
- How are medical needs handled on-site?
- What therapy services are available?
- What is the process for handling complaints or concerns?
- Can my family visit at any time?
- What happens if the resident's needs change significantly?
Questions about price and fees
- What is the total monthly cost, all included?
- What services cost extra beyond the base rate?
- Are there move-in fees, deposits, or community fees?
- Do rates increase annually? By how much?
- Do you accept Medicaid, long-term care insurance, or veterans benefits?
- What happens if I can no longer afford the current rate?
- Is there a contract? What are the cancellation terms?
Questions about staffing and safety
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio by time of day?
- What is your staff turnover rate?
- Are caregivers trained in fall prevention?
- How are emergencies handled overnight?
- Is there always a licensed nurse on duty?
- How are incidents or accidents reported to families?
Questions about medication support
- Who manages medications - staff, nurses, or the resident themselves?
- How are medication errors handled and reported?
- Can the provider work with our current physician or pharmacy?
- What happens when a new medication is prescribed?
Questions about discharge or cancellation policies
- Under what circumstances would a resident be asked to leave?
- What notice is required if we choose to leave?
- Is there a refund policy for prepaid fees?
- What happens if a resident is hospitalized for an extended period?
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