5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility

May 21, 2025

Choosing a long-term care facility for yourself or a loved one is one of the most important decisions you can make. Beyond basic safety and cleanliness, the right facility should support a person’s independence, dignity, and overall quality of life. To help you make an informed choice, here are five essential questions to ask, along with key follow-ups that can give you a deeper sense of what daily life will be like at the facility.


1. How does the facility support independence and person-centered care?

Person-centered care means that residents are active participants in their care and daily routines. Ask:


  • Can residents choose when to wake up and go to bed?
  • Are meals and activities tailored to individual preferences?
  • Is there flexibility for “early birds” and “night owls”?


Look for signs that staff respect residents’ individuality—such as accommodating dietary preferences and encouraging participation in meaningful activities.


2. What medical and rehabilitation services are available on-site?

Quality care goes beyond assistance with daily activities. Ask about:


  • Access to hospice care and pain management
  • Availability of wound care and ostomy specialists
  • In-house physical, occupational, speech, and mental health therapies
  • Staffing levels—how many nurses and aides are on duty at different times of day?


These services can have a major impact on recovery, mobility, and comfort.


3. What is the atmosphere like during meals and activities?

Daily life should be engaging and social. Ask to observe a meal or an activity session. Consider:


  • Are residents out of their rooms and interacting with others?
  • Do meals look appetizing and meet special dietary needs?
  • Is assistance with eating provided promptly and respectfully?


Also ask about field trips, volunteer involvement, and whether there is an active activities room or calendar of events.


4. What do current residents and families say about their experience?

Talking to those already living in or visiting the facility can give you valuable insight. Ask residents:


  • Do staff respond quickly when you call for help?
  • Do you enjoy your meals and feel your privacy is respected?
  • Are you involved in decisions about your care?


Ask families:

  • Are you promptly notified of any accidents or health changes?
  • Do you feel comfortable raising concerns?
  • Is there a Family Council and does the facility listen to it?


5. How transparent and responsive is the administration?

A responsive leadership team is key to resolving issues and maintaining quality. When meeting with the Administrator or Director of Nursing, ask:


  • How do you handle complaints?
  • How are staff trained and how long do they typically stay?
  • What’s your policy on resident rights, such as refusing treatment?


You can also ask to review the admission contract, learn about costs and refund policies, and understand how care decisions are made if the resident is unable to speak for themselves.


Want more questions to ask?

Visit our full guide: Is This the Nursing Home to Choose?



It includes detailed sections on services, nursing care, residents' rights, and conversations to have with administrators, staff, and families.


At Kansas Advocates for Better Care, we believe everyone deserves compassionate, dignified, and person-centered long-term care. Asking the right questions is the first step to getting it.


A hand places a red pill into a weekly medication box, surrounded by pill bottles.

The Quiet Crisis

By Libby Hastings • March 25, 2026
On March 19, 2026, a Washington Post article highlighted a recent Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services investigation that brought renewed national attention to a troubling reality inside America’s nursing homes: powerful antipsychotic drugs are being used not as treatment, but as control. The report found that some facilities are misdiagnosing residents with schizophrenia to justify prescribing antipsychotic medications. These drugs are often not approved for people with dementia and carry serious risks, including falls, strokes, and even death. In many cases, these medications are used to manage behaviors that are not dangerous, such as calling out, resisting care, or expressing distress. The result is what advocates have long warned about: the use of chemical restraints to sedate residents for staff convenience. A National Problem Decades in the Making The misuse of antipsychotic drugs in long-term care has been documented for years. In April 2024, KABC highlighted this issue in our advocacy work, noting that hundreds of thousands of nursing home residents nationwide are given antipsychotic medications, often without appropriate clinical justification. These drugs carry an FDA “black box” warning for use in older adults with dementia due to an increased risk of death. Federal efforts over the past decade have aimed to reduce unnecessary use, yet as of early 2026, approximately 17% of long-stay nursing home residents in the United States are still receiving antipsychotic medications. At the same time, recent federal policy discussions in March 2026 have raised concerns among advocates that loosening reporting requirements could reverse progress made in reducing inappropriate use. Kansas Is Not Immune This issue hits close to home. In 2022, the Kansas Legislature’s Senior Care Task Force released a report to the 2023 Legislature identifying the administration of antipsychotic medications and protections against abuse and neglect as critical areas for reform. The Task Force emphasized that these medications could have serious and even fatal consequences for older adults, particularly when used inappropriately. Advocates in Kansas have reported that up to 26% of nursing home residents, and nearly 40% of those with dementia, have been prescribed antipsychotic medications in recent years, despite well-documented risks. While some facilities have made progress, reductions in use have stalled in recent years, raising concerns that systemic issues remain unresolved. Why It Happens At its core, the misuse of antipsychotic drugs is often a symptom of deeper systemic problems, many of which have been exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts and investigators point to: Chronic understaffing, intensified since 2020 Lack of training in dementia care Pressure to manage behaviors quickly Lack of person-centered practices in care Gaps in oversight and accountability Non-drug approaches, like personalized care, meaningful activities, and addressing unmet needs, are widely recognized as best practice. But they require time, staffing, and resources that many facilities continue to lack in 2026. When those supports are missing, medication restraint becomes the default. What Proper Care Should Look Like Clinical guidance has long been clear, and yet remains unchanged in 2026. Antipsychotic medications should be a last resort, used only when: Non-drug interventions have failed The resident poses a risk to themselves or others The benefits outweigh the serious risks Even then, they should be used cautiously, closely monitored, and regularly reevaluated. The Path Forward for Kansas Kansas has an opportunity, and an obligation, to act. Building on the 2022 Senior Care Task Force recommendations, advocates continue in 2025–2026 to call for: Expanded access to geriatric mental health specialists Stronger oversight and enforcement Improved training in dementia and person-centered care Greater transparency for residents and families Meaningful solutions to the ongoing staffing crisis At its heart, this is about dignity. Older adults in Kansas adult care homes deserve care that respects their humanity, not treatment that silences it.
Kansas State Capitol building at dusk in Topeka

Legislative Update

By Libby Hastings • February 16, 2026
Kansas Advocates for Better Care testified on FE waiver funding and supported bills on decision-making, dementia training, and memory care standards.