Nursing Home Checklist
Name of Nursing Home: ____________________ Date of visit: ______________________
Basic Information
- The nursing home is Medicare-certified.
- The nursing home is Medicaid-certified.
- The nursing home has the level of care you need (e.g. skilled, custodial), and a bed is available.
- The nursing home has special services if needed in a separate unit (e.g. dementia, ventilator, or rehabilitation), and a bed is available.
- The nursing home is located close enough for friends and family to visit.
Resident Appearance
- Residents are clean, appropriately dressed for the season or time of day, and well-groomed.
Nursing Home Living Spaces
- The nursing home is free from overwhelming unpleasant odors.
- The nursing home appears clean and well-kept.
- The temperature in the nursing home is comfortable for residents.
- The nursing home has good lighting.
- Noise levels in the dining room and other common areas are comfortable.
- Smoking isn’t allowed or may be restricted to certain areas of the nursing home.
- Furnishings are sturdy, yet comfortable and attractive.
Staff
- The relationship between the staff and the residents appears to be warm, polite, and respectful.
- All staff wear name tags.
- Staff knock on the door before entering a resident’s room and refer to residents by name.
- The nursing home offers a training and continuing education program for all staff.
- The nursing home does background checks on all staff.
- The guide on your tour knows the residents by name and is recognized by them.
- There are licensed nursing staff 24 hours a day,including a Registered Nurse (RN) present at least 8 hours per day, 7 days a week.
- The same team of nurses and Certified Nursing
- Assistants (CNAs) work with the same resident 4 to 5 days per week.
- CNAs work with a reasonable number of residents.
- CNAs are involved in care planning meetings.
- There is a full-time social worker on staff.
- There is a licensed doctor on staff who is there daily and can be reached at all times.
- The nursing home’s management team (including the Director of Nursing and the Administrator) has worked together for at least 1 year.
Residents’ Rooms
- Residents may have personal belongings and/or furniture in their rooms.
- Each resident has storage space (closet and drawers) in his or her room.
- Each resident has a window in his or her bedroom.
- Residents have access to a personal telephone and television.
- Residents have a choice of roommates.
- Water pitchers can be reached by residents.
- There are policies and procedures to protect residents’ possessions.
Hallway, Stairs, Lounges, and Bathrooms
- Exits are clearly marked.
- There are quiet areas where residents can visit with friends and family.
- The nursing home has smoke detectors and sprinklers.
- All common areas, resident rooms, and doorways are designed for wheelchair use.
- There are handrails in the hallways and grab bars in the bathrooms.
Menus and Food
- Residents have a choice of food items at each meal. (Ask if your favorite foods are served.)
- Nutritious snacks are available upon request.
- Staff help residents eat and drink at mealtimes if help is needed.
Activities
- Residents, including those who are unable to leave their rooms, may choose to take part in a variety of activities.
- The nursing home has outdoor areas for resident use and staff help residents go outside.
- The nursing home has an active volunteer program.
Safety and Care
- The nursing home has an emergency evacuation plan and holds regular fire drills (bed-bound residents included).
- Residents get preventive care, like a yearly flu shot, to help keep them healthy.
- Residents may still see their personal doctors.
- The nursing home has an arrangement with a nearby hospital for emergencies.
- Care plan meetings are held with residents and family members at times that are convenient whenever possible.
- The nursing home has corrected all deficiencies
(failure to meet one or more Federal or state requirements) on its last state inspection report.
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Visit Nursing Home Compare at www.medicare.gov/NHCompare for more information.
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