With Australians living longer and increasingly likely to need ongoing care as they age, taking the time to observe quality, safety and aged care standards and to understand the right questions to ask when choosing a nursing home can make all the difference.
To help with your decision on residential aged care services, here’s a practical checklist of things to look for, along with key questions and what potential red flags you need to be aware of.
How to Prepare Before Going to the Facility
Before touring an aged care facility, take some time to think about what matters most to you, from care needs and budget to lifestyle preferences, so you can assess whether the residence is the best fit. Bringing a notebook (or using your phone) to record observations can also help you compare facilities later.
Make a List of Questions to Ask When Choosing a Nursing Home
Going in with prepared questions ensures you don’t forget important details on the day. Questions to ask when choosing a nursing home may include:
- How many registered nurses are on site, and is there 24/7 clinical coverage?
- What are the staff-to-resident ratios?
- How are individual care plans created and updated?
- What lifestyle and social activities are available each week?
- How are dietary requirements or cultural preferences accommodated?
- What additional fees might apply beyond the basic daily fee?
- How does the facility communicate with families?
- What are the visiting hours?
- How are medical emergencies handled?
Arrive Ahead of Time
Arriving a little early allows you to experience the facility before the formal tour begins. Notice how staff interact with residents, whether common areas are clean and welcoming and how residents appear — engaged and comfortable or withdrawn and unattended. These first impressions can be telling.
Keep Your Needs and Preferences in Mind
Every person’s situation is different. Consider your and your loved ones’ current and future care needs, proximity to family and friends, access to medical services and the type of environment to make assisted living feel at home. Do you prefer a quiet setting? A place with plenty of opportunities to socialise? Or a convenient location with specialised clinical support? Being clear about your priorities will help guide your decision.
Things to Check When Touring a Nursing Home
Once you feel ready for residential aged care, it’s important to know what to look for during your visit. A well-run facility should demonstrate not only strong clinical care but also a welcoming environment, clear communication and thoughtful lifestyle support. Below is a comprehensive nursing home checklist to guide your tour.
How to Choose a Nursing Home Checklist
1. Care & Clinical Support
- 24/7 registered nurse coverage
- Clear staff-to-resident ratios
- Low staff turnover and continuity of care
- On-site allied health services (physio, podiatry, etc.)
- GP visit arrangements
- Pain management processes
- Wound care protocols
- Falls prevention programs
- Dementia-specific care programs
- Transparent incident reporting systems
2. Personalised Care
- Individual care plans tailored to medical, cultural and personal needs
- Regular care plan reviews with family involvement
- Respect for routines and preferences (wake/sleep times, meals)
- Support for cultural, religious or language needs
- End-of-life and palliative care planning
3. Social Activities & Lifestyle
- Daily and weekly events calendar
- Group social activities (games, music, art, exercise classes)
- Community outings
- Visiting entertainers
- Celebrations of cultural or seasonal events
- Access to gardens or outdoor spaces
- Social lounges and shared spaces
- Technology access (Wi-Fi, video calls)
4. Facilities & Environment
- Furnished or customisable private rooms
- Ensuite bathrooms
- Cleanliness and odour-free environment
- Safe, accessible design (handrails, ramps)
- Secure entry and exit points
- Memory support secure areas (if applicable)
- On-site hairdresser or beauty services
- Laundry services
- Fresh, nutritious meals prepared on-site
- Flexible visiting hours
- Pet visitation policies (or resident pets where permitted)
- Convenient location for family access
5. Communication & Transparency
- Clear fee structure and pricing information
- Open communication channels with family
- Resident and family feedback systems
- Accreditation and compliance history
The following areas are particularly important to consider in more detail during your visit:
A. Staff-to-Patient Ratios
The number of staff directly affects the quality of care. Ask about the ratio of nurses and care staff to residents during both day and night shifts. Strong residential aged care services should provide 24/7 registered nurse coverage and meet government-mandated staffing standards.
Continuity of care is equally important. High staff turnover can disrupt routines and relationships, particularly for residents living with dementia. A stable team allows carers to truly understand each resident’s needs, behaviours and preferences. You can also look at publicly available information about aged care staffing standards to better understand national requirements.
B. Personalised Care Plans
Every resident should have an individualised care plan developed upon entry and regularly reviewed. Facilities like those within TriCare work with residents, families, nurses and allied health professionals to tailor support based on medical conditions, mobility, dietary needs and personal preferences.
During your tour, ask:
- How often are care plans reviewed?
- Are families involved in updates?
- How are changes in health communicated?
Personalised care should go beyond clinical needs — it should respect daily routines, hobbies and cultural background.
C. Memory Care Unit
If dementia care is required, inspect the memory support unit carefully. A quality dementia care environment should include:
- Secure access to prevent wandering
- Calm, low-stimulation design
- Clear signage and orientation cues
- Structured daily routines
- Staff trained specifically in dementia care
Ask about behaviour support plans and how staff respond to agitation or confusion. A strong dementia care program focuses on dignity, engagement and emotional safety, not just supervision.
D. Medication Management
Medication management is a critical safety area. Reputable aged care providers conduct regular medication reviews, often involving an external pharmacist, to ensure prescriptions remain appropriate.
Ask about:
- How often medication reviews are conducted
- Whether a pharmacist conducts Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMR)
- How overmedication is monitored and prevented
- Policies around chemical restraint
Strong medication and health management processes should prioritise the least restrictive treatment options and careful monitoring of side effects.
E. Insurance
Understanding aged care financing is essential for peace of mind. Accommodation can be paid via a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD), Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) or a combination of both. Ongoing fees may include the Basic Daily Fee and means-tested care fees.
Importantly, residents are not automatically required to leave if their financial circumstances change. Government safety nets exist for those who qualify, and providers work within regulatory frameworks to support residents receiving financial assistance.
Families may also wish to assess:
- Partial RAD/DAP combinations
- Financial advice specific to aged care
- Government accommodation supplements
- Hardship provisions in certain circumstances
A transparent provider should clearly explain all aged care financing options and outline what happens if funds are reduced over time.
Common Red Flags to Watch Out for When Touring a Nursing Home or Aged Care Facility
While many aged care residences provide safe, compassionate and high-quality care to support every resident in an aged care facility, it’s important to know the warning signs that may indicate deeper operational or care concerns. Here are some common red flags, what should be in place, and how TriCare prevents them:
1. Persistent Unpleasant Odours
Tell-tale signs:
A strong or ongoing smell of urine, faeces or general uncleanliness in corridors, bedrooms or common areas may indicate inadequate continence care, poor cleaning standards or delayed response times.
What should be in place:
Quality facilities maintain strict infection control and cleaning protocols, routine continence management plans and housekeeping schedules. Occasional odours can happen, particularly in high-care environments, but they should be addressed promptly.
How TriCare addresses this:
TriCare residences follow structured cleaning schedules, infection prevention protocols and personalised continence care planning. Regular audits, environmental inspections and staff training support hygiene standards. A clean, fresh-smelling environment is considered fundamental to resident dignity and comfort.
2. High Use of Unanswered Alarm Systems
Tell-tale signs:
Frequent call bells sounding without timely staff response may suggest staffing shortages, workflow inefficiencies or poor monitoring systems.
What should be in place:
Facilities should have clear response-time expectations, adequate staffing levels aligned with government-mandated care minutes and systems to track and review response times.
How TriCare addresses this:
TriCare operates in accordance with national aged care staffing requirements and 24/7 registered nurse coverage standards. Call systems are monitored and care delivery is structured to prioritise prompt assistance. Ongoing workforce planning and rostering aim to ensure residents receive timely support.
3. Avoidant or Disengaged Staff
Tell-tale signs: Staff who avoid eye contact, appear rushed, dismiss questions or seem reluctant to engage with residents or visitors may signal low morale, burnout or insufficient training.
What should be in place:
A positive workplace culture, ongoing training and leadership support are essential to staff engagement. Facilities should encourage open communication and professional development.
How TriCare addresses this:
TriCare promotes a person-centred care model, emphasising respectful communication and relationship-based care. Staff undergo regular training and performance review processes, and leadership teams are present on-site for accountability and engagement.
4. Lack of Interaction Between Residents and Staff
Tell-tale signs:
Residents sitting alone for long periods without engagement, minimal conversation during care delivery or a quiet and inactive environment can suggest limited lifestyle programming or task-focused care.
What should be in place:
A well-run residence offers structured lifestyle programs, activity calendars and encourages social interaction throughout the day. Staff should engage residents beyond clinical tasks.
How TriCare addresses this:
TriCare homes have lifestyle coordinators and programs with extensive planned activities that are based on what the residents like to do. Care plans incorporate emotional and social wellbeing alongside medical needs. Staff are encouraged to build meaningful connections, not just complete tasks.
5. Residents Spending Too Much Time in Common Areas / Hallways
Tell-tale signs: Residents left in wheelchairs parked in hallways or common spaces for extended periods without engagement may indicate understaffing or insufficient activity planning.
What should be in place:
Residents should have access to comfortable, purposeful spaces, whether participating in activities, resting privately or socialising by choice.
How TriCare addresses this:
TriCare facilities are designed to provide safe, welcoming communal areas while supporting personalised routines. Residents are encouraged to participate in activities suited to their abilities, and care staff monitor wellbeing throughout the day to prevent social isolation or neglect.
6. Restrictive Visiting Hours
Tell-tale signs: Strict or inflexible visiting policies without clear health-related justification may reduce family involvement and transparency.
What should be in place:
Modern aged care practice supports open communication and family engagement. While temporary restrictions may apply during outbreaks (e.g. infectious disease control), visiting policies should otherwise be flexible and clearly explained.
How TriCare addresses this:
TriCare knows how important family connections are and does not have restrictions for visiting hours. Families are kept up to date through communication channels, and outbreak management policies are implemented in line with government guidelines to keep residents safe while maintaining connection wherever possible.
Get the Clarity You Need to Choose a Home for a Loved One. Book a Tour of TriCare Facilities Today
From your first enquiry through to your on-site visit, our Aged Care Specialist Team takes the time to answer all the questions you may want to ask when choosing a nursing home, explain fees and care options openly and guide you through what to expect.
Booking a tour is simple, and during your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the residence, meet staff and see daily life in action, without pressure or obligation. We’re committed to helping you make a well-informed choice with full transparency and support.
