When a loved one can no longer live independently and requires skilled nursing assistance, you may consider finding a long-term care home. Asking these questions can help you narrow down the choices to find the right facility for your family member.

General Questions for Quality Care

Regardless of your loved one's medical needs, you can get a sense of the quality of care by asking these general questions:

• What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
• How does the staff develop a care plan for each resident?
• How often do you review care plans?
• How often can family members visit?
• Do residents have private rooms and bathrooms?
• What is your staff turnover rate?
• Do you have physicians and nurses on staff? How often are these providers on-site?
• What provisions do you have in place for infection control?

Questions for Alzheimer's and Dementia Care

If your family member has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, ask these questions while researching memory care facilities:

• Does your staff have specialized training to care for people who have dementia?
• What safety measures are in place at your facility?
• What special programming do you provide for residents who have Alzheimer's and dementia?
• Do you have strategies in place to prevent wandering?