What Questions Should I Ask on a Facility Tour?

Go beyond "what does it cost" and ask about staffing: what's the actual caregiver-to-resident ratio, especially overnight, and what's staff turnover like. Ask how the community handles a medical emergency, and specifically who is on-site at 2 a.m. Ask what happens if a resident's needs increase -- will they need to move to a different level of care, and where. Ask to see recent state inspection reports, which are public record in Ohio. Ask how billing changes over time, since many communities increase rates as care needs grow. And ask current residents' family members directly, if the community allows it -- their answers are often more candid than a tour guide's.