Care and staffing
- Who is on duty overnight, and how many residents is each staff member responsible for?
- Is a nurse on site, and when? (Ask what's on the state profile, too.)
- How do you handle medications?
- What would make Mom need to move out?
- Which specialty licenses do you hold?
Money and contracts
- What's the base monthly rate, and what does it include?
- How are care levels assessed and priced? Can I see the fee schedule in writing?
- Is there a community or move-in fee? Is any of it refundable?
- How much have rates increased in each of the last three years?
- What's the notice period to move out?
Daily life
- May we stay for a meal?
- What's on this week's activity calendar, and is it happening as we walk through?
- How do residents get to appointments?
- Can Mom bring furniture, a pet, a car?
- Which languages do caregivers speak on each shift?
What to watch for
- How staff talk to residents when they think no one's watching
- Smells, cleanliness, and how fast call lights are answered
- Whether residents are engaged or mostly sitting
Florida-specific
- Ask for the hurricane and backup power plan. What Florida requires. [1]
- For memory care, ask for the written Alzheimer's care disclosure [2].
- Check the license on FloridaHealthFinder before you go [3].