March 24, 2026
15 Questions to Ask When Touring a Senior Care Home in Michigan
Most families tour a senior care home once and then decide. These 15 questions will tell you what a brochure never will — staffing levels, inspection history, emergency protocols, and more.
A tour of a senior care home typically lasts 45 minutes and shows you the common areas at their best. To understand what daily life is actually like, you need to ask specific questions — and pay attention to whether the answers are given confidently or deflected.
Staffing
- 1. What is your staff-to-resident ratio during day shift? Evening shift? Overnight?
- 2. What is your average staff tenure? How many caregivers have been here more than one year?
- 3. How do you handle call-outs? Do you use agency staff, or do regular staff cover absences?
High staff turnover is one of the strongest predictors of poor care quality. If the administrator can't answer question 2 without looking it up, that's telling.
Emergency Protocols
- 4. What happens when a resident has a fall? Walk me through the response.
- 5. Is there a nurse on-site 24 hours, or on-call?
- 6. What is your protocol for a resident who stops responding or shows signs of a stroke?
Medication Management
- 7. Who administers medications — a licensed nurse or a trained aide?
- 8. How are errors caught and documented? Has there been a medication error in the past year?
- 9. Is medication management included in the monthly rate or billed separately?
Activities and Social Life
- 10. Can I see this week's activity calendar?
- 11. How do you accommodate residents who don't want to participate in group activities?
- 12. Are there regular outings, and how are they staffed?
Family Communication
- 13. How and how often do you communicate updates to family members?
- 14. What's the best way to reach a staff member with a concern after hours?
Inspection History
- 15. Can I see your most recent LARA inspection report? Were there any findings, and how were they resolved?
LARA inspection reports are public record in Michigan. Any licensed AFC home or assisted living facility must make their most recent report available upon request. A facility that refuses or delays showing you the report should be treated with significant skepticism.
What to Observe During the Tour
Beyond the questions: watch how staff speak to current residents. Do they use their names? Are residents engaged or withdrawn? Does the kitchen area look used? Is the building clean in the hallways and bathrooms — not just the lobby? A 45-minute tour that includes the common areas at their worst is more informative than a curated showcase.