Choosing a Facility
How to Choose a Nursing Home: The Criteria That Actually Matter
A step-by-step method for choosing a nursing home: define needs, build a shortlist, check public data, visit in person and compare costs and contracts.
Nursing Home Tour and Move-In Checklist
A printable-style checklist for touring facilities, preparing paperwork and moving a loved one in.
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Research
Tour
Paperwork
Move-in
Use this checklist to keep track of what to do before, during and after a nursing home tour and admission. Tick items as you complete them; your progress is saved only in your own browser and is never sent anywhere. The list is grouped into research, tour, paperwork and move-in so you can work through it in order.
The items reflect common recommendations from federal and state agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and long-term care ombudsman programs. It is a starting point rather than a complete legal or medical protocol, so add anything specific to your relative's needs, such as a special diet, a language preference or religious services. For the reasoning behind each tour question, see questions to ask before you commit.
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Questions to Ask Before You Commit to a Nursing Home: A Tour Guide
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