12 Things to Consider Before Moving to a Nursing Home
Deciding to move to a nursing home means making a major transition in your life. It’s a decision that can come with a mix of emotions, practical choices, and maybe even a few nights of tossing and turning. Whether you’re making the choice for yourself or helping a senior loved one through the process for safety or comfort reasons, there’s a lot to think about and a few things worth considering to help ensure the move is successful and happy.
1. Your Personal Needs and Level of Care
Before anything else, you need to assess your own needs—or the needs of your loved one. This step is important in ensuring that a nursing home is the right choice to match the level of care you or your loved one needs. Are you finding it challenging to bathe and dress without assistance? Is incontinence a concern?
Do you need specialized care for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, dementia, or Parkinson’s? These are all reasons to make the change and move to a nursing home. Also, consider that different nursing homes specialize in providing care for different needs. One facility may provide a memory care unit for Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Another may offer more nursing care support, specializing in helping seniors who are bedbound or require a higher level of medical support. Assessing your own needs (or your loved one’s needs) is the best way to ensure you choose the right facility to meet them.
2. The Quality of Nursing Home Care
Not all nursing homes are created equal. Some have fantastic reviews from family caregivers and strong reputations across the medical community, while others… well, let’s just say it’s important to do your homework. Visit any facility you are considering in person if possible. Try to schedule a tour, do a drop-in visit that is unannounced, and schedule more than one tour during different times of day. Look at online reviews, and talk to your friends, neighbors, and trusted care providers. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios. And don’t be shy about chatting with current residents to get an inside perspective about day-to-day life.
3. Location, Location, Location
Where do you want to live? Five minutes away from family and friends? Near your favorite doctor or hospital? Maybe you prefer to live in a warmer climate, or perhaps you love the mountains. Being in a place that feels right can help to make a nursing home facility feel more like a home. Know that you have options, and consider them carefully. Your choice makes all the difference in your overall happiness.
4. The Feel of the Community
Whether independent living, assisted living, or nursing home, every facility has its own culture, atmosphere, and vibe. Some have robust calendars of activities and social events every day of the week, while others are more low-key and offer some planned activities but mostly leave residents free to socialize on their own. Think about what kind of atmosphere makes you or your senior loved one feel most comfortable. If you’re more outgoing, you might enjoy endless planned activities. If you’re a bit more reclusive, perhaps a quieter setting appeals to you more. Take a tour, talk to the staff, ask to see the activities calendar, and even attend an activity or meal to get a feel for the environment and make sure it’s one that you feel comfortable living in.
5. Food and Dining Options
We all love to enjoy a great meal now and then, and we want to have access to food that we find appealing and that fits our dietary needs. You’ll be eating in the facility most every day, so the quality and variety of meals are important. Ask to see a menu, and if possible, try a meal. Find out if they accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences, if those apply to you. Also, make sure that the dining room is clean, comfortable, and accommodating to any physical limitations. A good nursing home should be able to meet your needs while still serving meals that are properly seasoned, contain fresh ingredients, and are enjoyable to eat.
6. Cost and Payment for Nursing Home Care
Nursing home care can be expensive, so it’s important to understand the costs and cost structure upfront. Does the facility accept Medicaid or long-term care insurance? Are there hidden fees? What happens if you run out of money? How is billing handled? How often are rate increases made, and will your contract protect you in any way from them? Have you reviewed the contracts pertaining to cost? Understanding your financial options before you commit will save you and your aging loved one a lot of stress later on.
7. Care Facility Safety and Cleanliness
A clean and safe environment is non-negotiable when it comes to deciding on your long-term care options. Look at the condition of the rooms, common areas, and bathrooms. Are they well-maintained, clean, and sanitary? Ask about infection control policies—how do they impact the way staff continue to support patients during any outbreak or pandemic, and what measures are in place to keep other residents safe if one is sick? Also, check how they handle falls and medical emergencies. Each facility should keep a log of medical events and emergencies. Ask to see it, and if events are excessive or remediation isn’t clearly documented, consider that a red flag.
8. Activities and Social Life
Staying active and engaged is key to maintaining a good quality of life, health, and fitness. Find out what kinds of activities are available in the nursing home. Are there exercise classes, is there a gym, is a pool available? For social events, do they offer movie nights, tea parties, bingo, or outings? Do they encourage hobbies and offer things like knitting groups or cooking classes? The right nursing home should have a social calendar and activities coordinator to help you stay connected and engaged, not just leave you to your own devices to socialize and provide a place to sleep and eat.
9. Staff Friendliness and Training
The staff can start to feel like family in an exceptional nursing home. They will play a huge role in keeping you safe and comfortable throughout your daily life. They’re people you will socialize with and turn to when you have a question, need, or problem. Pay attention to how they interact with residents when you visit. Are they patient and kind? Do they seem overworked or rushed? Also, ask about training requirements for things like fall prevention and dementia care. Well-trained and compassionate staff can make all the difference in your nursing home experience and quality of life.
10. Nursing Home Visits from Family and Friends
It’s so important for seniors to stay connected with friends and family members after moving to a nursing home. This helps to give them a sense of purpose and can boost emotional and cognitive health. Ensure that any facility makes visits from family and friends as easy as possible. Some nursing homes have flexible visiting hours, while others are more restrictive. If restricted hours make it difficult for loved ones to visit on weekends or after work, the facility might not be the right fit. Inquire about policies for in-person visits, phone calls, and even video chats.
11. What Happens If Health Needs Change?
Right now, you or your senior loved one’s health and care needs might be minimal, but what if your health changes? If there were a diagnosis of dementia later in life, how would your care needs be met? If hospice care was needed, is that an option in the nursing home, or would you be required to switch facilities? Moving again is stressful, so it’s best to understand how the nursing home manages any declines in health or more advanced care needs. Choose a facility that can adapt to your evolving needs.
12. Trust Your Gut
At the end of the day, you have to feel good about your choice of a nursing home. If the place doesn’t feel comfortable, safe, or home-like, make sure you get your questions answered to your satisfaction before choosing it. Does the nursing home feel warm and welcoming? Do you see yourself (or your senior loved one) feeling happy there long-term? Sometimes, your intuition can tell you more than any checklist ever could, so go with your gut above all else.
More Nursing Home Resources
Moving into a nursing home is one of the biggest transitions we face in life, but with careful planning and the right mindset, it can be a positive change that promotes longevity, health, and happiness. Take your time touring facilities, ask the staff all the questions, consider social activities and the social calendar, and make sure you’re making the best choice for yourself or your senior loved one. And remember—you’re not alone in making this important decision. Senior care resources and support systems are available to help you gather information and make thoughtful choices throughout the process. Search for them, heed their advice, and trust your gut to make an educated choice about moving to a nursing home.
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Originally published April 15, 2025
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