Looking at personal care homes for my Mom. What questions should I ask during tour?

A staff ratio of 5 to 1 is exceptionally good. Ask how staff is supervised. Ask how often nurses come by. Talk to the residents themselves. Observe a meal, sample one. How do they transport residents? What are the recreational options? Ask to see licenses. Look for dirt, dust, messes.

We call them 6 PACKS. 6 residents and 2 caretakers. Czretakes are getting more and more lax...burnout? They seem to be changing more often at Moms place. Aunts place is pretty consistent. I love aunts place better. Wish I could move mom, but it's full. Ask what meals they have. How often they wash, clean, and do they help with dental hygene? DO WALK IN UNEXPECTEDLY. DO OBSERVE how long it takes them to answer the door. DO OFFER TREATS TO ALL WHO LIVE THERE, EVEN CARETAKERS, You want to make sure they are happy too. Doors and exits have audible system?Mom escaped, and Hospice came in to give her a bath, but she wasn't around. THAT WAS NOT GOOD. Now they are well aware of their faults....Social Services, police, and everyone is looking at that house......Do LOOK IN THE REFRIGERATOR, DO LOOK AT EVERYONE'S HEALTH. Do ask other residents and their family how they like the place, how long they have been there, and how long have the caretakers been there, or do they switch out too often?????? How much is the rent? ARe all safety regulations and official papers in place? DIET? ETC ETC..... Good luck...OH, most of the homes have wheel chair ramps in front. Walk and knock, and ask if they are a facility, and can you take a tour right now?///You will know immediatly if it is a 6 pack.... They should not have to hide anything and you should be able to tour quickly....Notices should be up about visiting hours etc...

Observe to see if the residents are in the family room or are they all tucked in the bedrooms? They should be out in the family room, and do taste the food, and stay for dinner or lunch....Strike up conversations with caretakers, have coffee with them in the facility. Walk about the premises, backyard. see seating arrangements at dinner table, treat them like extended family, eat and talk with everyone... Everyone wants to talk to someone..... Be nice content, ask if you can bring the family dog in for a visit. I don't ask, I just bring her in....WAtch amoveie with them, loook at the kitchen ware. It's your mom's place now too, do they need anything? Spatula, Pots pans? Large sppons? Do you have anything you don't need, but the home might be able to use???? Patio chairs? I put moms out, now they are old and need to be replaced...

Express this concern during your tour. And maybe ask what the assistance response time is. 3 minutes? 5 minutes? 10 minutes?

Good luck!

Is your Mom an exit seeker?The staff is always trying to locate someone.I always seem to know where they are.

go without announcing you are coming. Go during a meal time, look at the residents; are they clean and well groomed, do they have appropriate clothing, does anyone need assistance they are not receiving? are residents just sitting around or are they busy. Does the facility have an odor, are the floors clear of hazards. Speak with a few residents, what do they say about their stay? Is the meal appealing, are substitutes being offered when a resident doesn't like a food item?

I hear what terry jack is saying, but in my (limited) experience, I could not just walk in off . the street to any of the ALF I looked.at....they had a secure entrance with a guard, sign in, show ID, etc. I actually liked that (major metro.area) but maybe the six-pack model is different?

I would take what the residents might say about the place with a grain of salt... you could talk to one who is totally unhappy with the place and who will slam it left and right, but that's because the resident wants to be back living in their own home or their grown child's home. And/or some of the other residents have early stage of dementia and will say anything just to get attention.

Where my Mom has been since Feb.28(in Ontario), is actually a friendly and caring place, yet most Long Term Care facilities here, are short staffed.1 nurse per shift, with 3-4 personal support workers to assist.That's for 20+ residents.
I think it all depends on your loved one's needs, and level of dementia if any, also ability to walk of course.If so, I would ask if her room can be closer to the nursing station, rather than far away.
With my Mom she hates everything: the food, her room, the people.
I her defence the food isn't great.Her room is fine, but not home.The people have severe dementia.They wander and steal her things.She doesn't understand why she can't talk to them and make them understand that they need to stay out of her room.
Mom has short term memory loss due to a stroke but it quite lucid and doesn't get why she can't go home.
It really depends on your mom's mind-set, health, and physical capabilities as to the questions you need to ask.
Also when does a doctor visit?
What about dental and vision?
Do they believe in restraining individuals?
What is their belief if Mom refuses meds?
Is there a dietician, if Mom won't eat?
Are you able to bring in extra care givers if you can't be present?
Yes...many many questions... *hugs* B

I'm sorry I didn't read that your Mother has MS, and is quite young.
Yes you need to find a place where they are able to deal with the physicality of her specific needs.