Before you tour
The Nursing Home Tour Checklist
30 questions to ask, and the red flags to watch for. Print it and bring it with you.
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Before you go, look the home up on Ellery Care first. Note its star rating, its nurse staffing versus the state median, any federal abuse flag, its fines, and its antipsychotic rate. Bring those numbers with you and ask about anything that stands out. A good home will welcome the questions.
Staffing and care (ask these first)
- What is your nurse-to-resident ratio on day, evening, and night shifts?
- How many registered nurses are on site overnight?
- What was your staff turnover rate over the last year?
- Will my parent have a consistent care team, or does it change daily?
- How quickly are call lights usually answered?
- How do you handle a medical emergency after hours?
Safety and health
- What was your most recent state inspection result, and may I see it?
- Have you had any citations for abuse, neglect, or falls recently?
- How do you prevent and treat pressure sores?
- What is your policy on antipsychotic medication for dementia residents?
- How do you prevent infections, and what were your recent rates?
- Is the building fully sprinklered, and when were the systems last checked?
Daily life and dignity
- What does a typical day look like for a resident like my parent?
- Can residents choose when to wake, eat, and bathe?
- What activities are offered, and how many residents take part?
- How do you help new residents settle in during the first weeks?
- What is your visiting policy for family?
- How do you accommodate dietary needs and food preferences?
Food, staff, and management
- May I see today's menu, and may I taste a meal?
- What happens if a resident cannot eat or does not like the meal?
- How long have the administrator and director of nursing been here?
- How will you tell me about a change in my parent's condition?
- How do you handle and document complaints?
Cost and contracts
- What is the all-in monthly cost, and what is not included?
- How often do rates increase, and by how much recently?
- What happens if my parent's money runs out? Do you accept Medicaid?
- What are the move-out and refund terms in the contract?
Trust your own eyes (while you tour)
- Do residents look clean, dressed, and engaged?
- Does staff know residents by name and speak to them kindly?
- Is the building genuinely clean, with no lingering odor?
Red flags to watch for
- !Staff who dodge the staffing-ratio question.
- !Residents left alone, unresponsive, or restrained in wheelchairs.
- !A strong or persistent smell of urine.
- !Pressure to sign a contract or pay a deposit on the spot.
- !Call lights ringing for a long time with no response.
- !Reluctance to show you the last inspection report.
Put this to work for your family
Look up any Texas nursing home on the government's own records, see how long care is affordable, or get the full funding playbook.
Educational information only, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Figures are current for 2026, drawn from Texas HHS, the American Council on Aging, and CMS Care Compare. Ellery Care accepts no payment from any facility.