[Definitive Guide] 20 Questions to Ask During Facility Tours So You Never Get Stuck Again | Carefully Selected by an Active Consultant
“I went on a tour, but the explanation ended at the other person's pace.”
“I forgot to ask the most important things and felt anxious afterward.”
To prevent such regrets, an active consultant with 19 years of experience in the nursing care industry has narrowed down 20 key points that will give you peace of mind if you check them.
These are “winning questions” that can be used at any facility, with a focus on special nursing homes (Tokuyo).
💡 3 Tips to Make 120% Use of This List
You don't have to ask everything: Start with just the items marked with a “★”.
Draw out “concrete examples”: Check not just the content of the response, but whether they can provide specific episodes.
Don't decide on the spot: Take your notes home and compare them with your “Situation Organization Sheet”.
📋 20 Facility Tour Questions (Feel free to copy these into your smartphone notes)
A. Daily Life & Routine (Does it fit as a “place to live”?)
1★) How do residents spend their time during the day? Please tell me about the flow of a typical day.
2★) Do residents spend more time in their rooms or in the common areas?
3) Are there any hobbies or activities (recreation)? How often do they occur, and what kind of content are they?
4) How do residents who aren't in the mood or those with severe dementia spend their time?
B. Individuality (The Core of Compatibility)
5★) How are the resident's personal habits and preferences (likes/dislikes) reflected in their care?
6) When a resident is feeling unsettled, how do the staff members typically respond?
7) How is information about the resident's personality, provided by the family, shared among the staff?
C. System (The Foundation of Peace of Mind)
8★) What is the staffing structure like at night? (Number of staff and the flow of response)
9) What is the procedure for notifying family when an accident occurs, such as a fall or aspiration?
10) What specific measures are you taking to prevent accidents?
D. Medical Cooperation and Consultations (Directly Impacts Family Burden!)
11★) When a medical consultation is necessary, to what extent is family accompaniment required?
12★) Can the facility provide transportation for medical visits? If that is difficult, how do you handle it?
13★) Please explain the scope of care that the facility's attending physician (contracted doctor) can provide on-site.
E. Costs (Understanding the 'Total')
14★) Given our situation, what would the monthly total (base fee + additions + actual expenses) be?
15★) What items are typically charged separately (actual expenses)? I would also like to know the estimated costs.
16) Are there any points where costs increase significantly due to changes in health status?
F. Communication, Visits, and Roles (Preventing Complications)
17★) Who usually contacts us, and how frequently does that happen?
18★) What time of day is best to reach someone when calling the facility?
19) Please explain the rules for visits. (Reservations, hours, frequency)
G. Philosophy on End-of-Life Care
20★) Please explain your philosophy on 'end-of-life care' and your policy for sudden changes in condition.
🔍 'Follow-up Questions' for When Answers Are Vague
If an explanation doesn't quite click, try asking these:
'For example, what are some recent cases you've had?'
'In that case, to what extent does the family need to be involved?'
Is that a facility rule, or is it handled on a case-by-case basis?
🚩 Warning Signs to Watch Out For, According to an Active Consultant
If you keep receiving the following types of responses, proceed with caution.
They just say 'It's fine' without providing any concrete examples.
They won't tell you the 'total cost' (they just hand you a price list).
They describe how residents spend their day by simply saying, 'Basically, they stay in their rooms...'
🛠️ The 'Ultimate Set' to Bring to Your Tour
Along with this list, if you prepare the following two documents, you will be perfectly ready. *See separate article.
[Copy-Paste OK: Family Priority Sheet (Step 0)]
[Ready-to-Use: Situation Organization Sheet (Step 1)]
In Conclusion
A facility tour is not a place for you to be 'selected,' but a place for you to 'select'.
Over 19 years, I have seen many families, and I know that a little preparation can change how a facility responds to you. I hope this list helps you choose a facility with peace of mind.