Useful resources

Questions to ask on a nursing home tour

• →What is your average staff-to-resident ratio on day, evening, and weekend shifts?
• →How long has the Director of Nursing been in this role?
• →How do you handle residents who wander or have memory issues?
• →What was cited in your most recent health inspection, and what did you do about it?
• →How does the facility communicate with families — and how quickly do you respond to concerns?
• →Can I see a sample of the weekly activity calendar and a recent menu?
• →What happens if a resident's care needs increase — can they stay, or will they need to move?

Questions to ask on an assisted living tour

• →What levels of care do you offer, and what triggers a move to a higher level (or a different facility)?
• →How are medications managed — does staff administer them or do residents self-manage?
• →What does a typical day look like, and what social activities are available?
• →How do you handle a resident who has a fall or medical emergency?
• →Have there been any complaint investigations or AHCA citations in the past two years?
• →What's included in the monthly fee, and what costs extra?
• →Can family members visit at any time, including evenings and weekends?

Medicare vs. Medicaid for long-term care

Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing facility stays — typically after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three days. It covers up to 100 days per benefit period, but only the first 20 days are fully covered; days 21–100 involve a daily copay, and after 100 days Medicare pays nothing. Medicaid, on the other hand, can cover long-term nursing home care for people who qualify financially. Eligibility rules are complex and vary by state, so if long-term coverage is a concern, it's worth speaking with a Medicaid planning advisor sooner rather than later.

What to look for beyond the star rating

Star ratings are a useful starting point, but they're a snapshot — not the full picture. Pay attention to staffing levels on weekends, which are often lower than weekday figures reported to CMS. Look at the trend in inspection results: is the facility improving, holding steady, or declining? Check whether deficiencies were corrected promptly. And consider turnover — facilities with stable, long-tenured staff typically provide more consistent, relationship-based care than those with constant staff changes.