Put needs beside the public information
CMS directs families to Care Compare for Medicare-certified nursing homes. Use the person’s needs list to decide which questions matter most, then look at inspection findings, staffing and quality information for each candidate.
Keep the date of the information in your notes. A single headline rating does not tell you whether a room is available or whether the home can support a particular person today.
Ask about staffing in context
Care Compare’s staffing explanation describes reported staffing data. Ask a home what staffing coverage exists on the shifts that matter to you, including nights and weekends, and how concerns are escalated.
Useful questions include who coordinates the care plan, how families receive updates and who responds if a resident needs help unexpectedly. Write down answers in the same format for each visit so you can compare them later.
Visit with a purpose
Medicare recommends using its nursing-home checklist. Notice how staff respond to residents and ask about meals, activities, visiting and the resident’s choices. With permission, bring the person who may move so their observations shape the decision.
Do not photograph residents or private records. Your notes should focus on the service and the answers provided, not other people’s health information.
Get the practical terms in writing
Before signing, request an explanation of services included, additional fees, payment arrangements and what could require a transfer. Ask who can answer questions about the agreement and take time to understand it.
Keep unresolved questions on the shortlist. If a hospital discharge is approaching, tell the discharge team which points remain open and ask what support is available to work through them. SeniorSherpa does not inspect or rate individual homes.
Sources & editorial notes
Sources checked October 7, 2026. Written by Sherpa Desk using public information; not independently reviewed by a medical or financial specialist. Illustrations are explanatory artwork. How we work.
