Choosing a nursing home: questions to ask
Questions to ask yourself before and while you search for a home.
Before you start browsing homes, it helps to pause and ask yourself a few key questions. This checklist walks you through the stages most families go through, so you can search with clarity and confidence.
Stage 1: Recognising the Need
Have you accepted that a nursing home is the right next step, rather than home care or another option?
[TBE]Do you know whose decision this is, and is the person involved in making it?
[TBE]Has a HSE care needs assessment been done, or do you know how to get one?
[TBE]
Stage 2: Understanding the Care Required
Do you know what level of care is needed, whether that is personal care, nursing care, or specialist dementia care?
[TBE]Do you know whether those needs are likely to change, and have you thought about a home that can grow with them?
[TBE]
Stage 3: Sorting Out Funding
Do you know about the Fair Deal scheme and whether you qualify?
[TBE]Do you know what the application process involves and how long it takes?
[TBE]Do you understand what costs Fair Deal does not cover?
[TBE]
Stage 4: Knowing What You Want
Do you know which area or county you want to search in?
[TBE]Have you thought about how often family will visit and how far is realistic?
[TBE]Do you know what amenities matter most to the person moving in?
[TBE]Have you thought about their daily routine, social preferences, and any cultural, religious, or language needs?
[TBE]
Stage 5: Evaluating Homes
Do you know what HIQA is and how to read an inspection report?
[TBE]Do you know what questions to ask when you visit a home?
[TBE]Do you know what to look for in a contract before signing?
[TBE]