25 Essential Questions to Ask When Touring a Board & Care Home

Most families walk into a board and care home tour feeling a mix of hope and dread — hoping they've found the right place, dreading that they might miss something important. The 20-minute tour flies by, the operator is warm and persuasive, and you leave feeling unsure what to think.

The questions below will help you cut through the pleasantries and get to what matters. Organized by category, they're designed to give you real information — not reassurance.

Before You Arrive: Questions to Ask on the Phone

Filter out obvious mismatches before you spend time on a tour:

• ›Do you have availability now, or is there a waiting period?
• ›What is your monthly rate, and what does it include?
• ›Do you accept Medi-Cal or any long-term care insurance?
• ›Are you currently caring for any residents with [specific condition: dementia, Parkinson's, hospice, etc.]?
• ›How many residents live in the home right now?

Staffing Questions (Most Important Category)

Staffing is the single biggest predictor of care quality in a board and care home. The caregiver who is with your parent at 3am matters more than any amenity.

1. 1.How many staff members are on duty during the day? What about overnight?The right answer depends on the number of residents. For 6 residents, 1–2 daytime staff is typical; 1 overnight (awake) is ideal for memory care.
2. 2.Is someone awake overnight at all times?Some homes have "sleepover" staff who may sleep if no one needs attention. For dementia residents or those with fall risk, awake overnight staff is important.
3. 3.How long has the current lead caregiver been here?Turnover is a major quality indicator. High turnover disrupts routine and is hard on residents with dementia. If staff has been there 2+ years, that's meaningful.
4. 4.Who covers when the primary caregiver is sick or on vacation?Every home has a backup plan — the question is whether it's a well-trained consistent sub or a random agency worker.
5. 5.What training has staff completed in dementia care, CPR, or medication management?California requires specific training for RCFEs. Ask for documentation. A good operator will have it ready.

Care and Medical Questions

1. 1.How do you handle medication management?Ask specifically about how medications are stored, how they are administered, and what happens if a resident refuses a medication.
2. 2.What happens if my family member falls?The answer should include: assess for injury, call family immediately, call 911 if needed, document the incident, and review fall prevention measures. If they brush past this, press further.
3. 3.At what point would you ask us to move to a higher level of care?This is one of the most important questions you can ask. A good operator will give specific, honest scenarios (e.g., two-person transfers, unmanageable behavioral episodes). "We can handle anything" is a red flag.
4. 4.Are you comfortable with hospice care? Have you supported a resident through end-of-life care?If your family member may eventually need hospice, it's worth knowing now whether the home is comfortable with it — and whether they've done it before.
5. 5.How do you communicate with families when something changes?You want to hear: we call immediately for health changes, send daily updates via text or app, and schedule quarterly care conferences.

The Home and Environment

What you observe is as important as what you ask. While you're walking through, note:

• ›Smell. The biggest tell. A well-run home smells clean — like a normal house. Ammonia or urine odors suggest inadequate incontinence care or infrequent cleaning.
• ›Residents' appearance. Are they groomed? Dressed appropriately? Do they seem alert and calm? Are they engaged or sitting alone staring at a wall?
• ›Caregiver interactions. Does staff speak to residents warmly, by name, with patience? Or are interactions transactional and hurried?
• ›Kitchen and food. Is it clean? Ask to see the weekly menu. Can they accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences?
• ›Outdoor space. Is there a safe, accessible yard or patio? Can residents go outside? For dementia residents, outdoor access is meaningful.

1. 1.Can I see the bedroom my family member would have?Always ask to see the actual room — not a sample room. Note natural light, storage, privacy, and proximity to a bathroom.
2. 2.What do meals look like? Can I stay for a meal?Offering to join a meal during a second visit is a great way to observe daily life outside of a formal tour.
3. 3.How do you handle activities and daily structure?Even small homes should have some structure to the day — morning routine, activities, meals together, outdoor time. Ask to see a typical daily schedule.

Financial and Legal Questions

1. 1.Can I see the full admission agreement before signing?You should review the full contract before any commitment. Ask to take it home and have an elder law attorney review it if anything is unclear.
2. 2.How much notice is required to move out? What is your refund policy?30-day notice is standard. Be wary of contracts requiring 60+ days or non-refundable move-in deposits beyond first and last month.
3. 3.How are rate increases handled?Ask specifically: have rates increased in the past 2 years? By how much? Is there a cap in the agreement?
4. 4.Are you licensed and in good standing with CDSS?You can verify this on the CDSS Community Care Licensing website, or check our listing page where we display every home's license number and current status.

Red Flags to Watch For

• ›Operator is evasive or dismissive about violations in their record
• ›High resident-to-staff ratios with no clear backup plan
• ›Residents appear unengaged, poorly groomed, or isolated
• ›Staff seem stressed, rushed, or resentful
• ›No clear answer to "when would you ask us to move to a higher level of care?"
• ›Pressure to sign quickly or commit before you have reviewed the contract
• ›Urine or chemical odors in common areas or bedrooms
• ›Unrealistically low price — below-market rates sometimes signal under-staffing

After the Tour: Before You Decide

1. 1.Visit a second time at a different time of day (morning or evening)
2. 2.Check the Care Home Score and violation history on our listing page
3. 3.Talk to a current resident's family if the operator will arrange it
4. 4.Review the full admission agreement carefully
5. 5.Trust your gut — if something felt off, it probably was