Editorial Independence

StarlynnCare receives no referral commissions, lead fees, or paid placement from any operator. Rankings are derived solely from state inspection records and verified family reviews.

StarlynnCare
§ Family toolkit · No email gate

37 questions to ask on a memory care tour

Use this list on your phone or print it. Checkboxes are for your notes — not a scorecard against staff humanity.

Letter from Star

A note from Star

I sat where you sit — reading brochures that promise “homelike care” while my mind scanned for the details regulators actually cite: egress controls, medication storage, whether night staff can hear a fall.

This checklist distills the questions that reveal whether a building can truly hold your person safely as cognition changes. If an answer feels defensive, slow down. If documentation does not match the lobby flowers, trust the record.

— Rebecca Lynn Starkey, BSN, RN, PHN · California RN License 95100373

Before you book

  • 1.What is the facility license number, and is memory care authorized under that license (care category / secured unit)?
  • 2.Can you email the full resident agreement, house rules, and fee schedule before we tour?
  • 3.How do you structure base rent vs. level-of-care fees — what was the average monthly increase last year for residents like mine?
  • 4.What staff positions are on-site overnight, and what is the typical awake staffing ratio by shift?
  • 5.When was your last routine inspection, and were there any Type A deficiencies or substantiated complaints in the last 24 months?
  • 6.How do you manage elopement risk — delayed egress, perimeter checks, wearable alerts?
  • 7.What is your policy on psychotropic medications and gradual dose reduction (GDR) per regulations?
  • 8.Do you accept Assisted Living Waiver or other Medi-Cal–related programs — and is there a waitlist?
  • 9.What hospice agencies have privileges here, and how do handoffs work after hours?
  • 10.Can we tour on a weekend evening to see staffing reality, not the weekday showcase?
  • 11.What items can families bring (furniture, locks, cameras) and what is prohibited?
  • 12.Who signs transfer agreements if hospitalization occurs — and what are the daily hold fees?

During the tour

  • 13.Show me the secured perimeter from the inside — how does a resident exit to the garden safely?
  • 14.Where do residents eat — small cohorts or one large dining room — and how long is breakfast service?
  • 15.May we observe medication administration (without violating HIPAA) or speak with the med aide supervisor?
  • 16.How do you cue residents who refuse meals or fluids — what is documented in the care plan?
  • 17.What happens when a resident has a fall — who assesses, who notifies family, and within what timeframe?
  • 18.How do you staff for behavioral expressions during bathing or transfers?
  • 19.What dementia-specific training do caregivers receive and how often is it refreshed?
  • 20.Who writes care plans and how quickly are they updated after hospital discharge?
  • 21.How do you prevent medication errors with look-alike/sound-alike drugs?
  • 22.What is the protocol for suspected abuse or neglect — internal and external reporting?
  • 23.Can we speak with a family council member or recent move-in family (with privacy respected)?
  • 24.How do you prevent urinary tract infections and skin breakdown in immobile residents?
  • 25.What is your nurse coverage — hours on-site vs. telehealth — and who takes physician orders?
  • 26.How do you manage diabetes or anticoagulation in memory care — partner pharmacies, labs, transport?
  • 27.What personal care supplies are included vs. billed separately (briefs, lotions, specialty nutrition)?
  • 28.How do you document refusal behaviors — and when do you call 911 vs. manage in place?
  • 29.What happens if my loved one outpaces staffing — discharge criteria and notice periods?
  • 30.How do you coordinate dental, vision, and psychiatry when residents cannot self-advocate?
  • 31.May we see a blank incident report template (redacted) to understand transparency?
  • 32.What wellness metrics do families receive monthly — weight, falls, infections?

After you leave

  • 33.Request references from three families whose loved ones had needs similar to ours.
  • 34.Ask for the administrator’s direct line — does anyone answer after 8 p.m.?
  • 35.Re-read the inspection narrative on StarlynnCare: does it match what we were told today?
  • 36.Compare this quote line-by-line with the second finalist property — where are the hidden stacks?
  • 37.Sleep on it — guilt is not a discharge plan. Re-tour if answers shifted under mild pressure.

Total prompts: 37. Pair with our glossary if a term is unfamiliar.