CHOOSING THE RIGHT NURSING HOME CHECKLIST
NAME OF NURSING HOME DATE OF VISIT
BASIC INFORMATION YES NO
1. The nursing home is Medicare Certified.
2. The nursing home is Medicaid Certified.
3. The nursing home has the level of care you need (e.g. skilled, custodial) and a bed available.
4. The nursing home has special services, if needed, in a separate unit (e.g. dementia, ventilator,
rehabilitation) and a bed is available.
5. The nursing home is located close enough for family and friends to visit.
RESIDENT APPEARANCE
1. Residents are clean, appropriately dressed for the season or time of day, and well groomed.
NURSING HOME LIVING AREAS
1. The nursing home is free from overwhelming unpleasant odors.
2. The nursing home appears clean and well kept.
3. The temperature in the nursing home is comfortable for residents.
4. The nursing home has good lighting.
5. Noise levels in the dining room and common areas are comfortable.
6. Smoking is not allowed or is restricted to certain areas of the nursing home
7. Furnishings are sturdy, yet comfortable and attractive.
STAFF
1. The relationship between the staff and the residents appears to be warm, polite and respectful.
2. All staff wear name tags.
3. Staff knocks on the door before entering a resident’s room and refers to residents by
name.
4. The nursing home offers a training and continuing education program for all staff.
5. The nursing home does background checks on all staff.
6. The guide on your tour knows the residents by name and is recognized by them.
7. There is a full time Registered Nurse (RN) in the nursing home at all times, other than
the administrator or director of nursing.
8. The same team of nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) work with the same
resident 4 to 5 days per week.
9. CNAs work with a reasonable number of residents.
10. CNAs are involved in care planning meetings.
11. There is a full-time social worker on staff.
12. There is a licensed doctor on staff. Are they there daily? Can they be reached at all times?
13. The nursing home’s management team has worked together for at least one year.
74 Senior Resource Directory 2020-2021