Adult family home tour checklist
Touring a small care home for someone you love can feel heavy. This free downloadable PDF gives you a simple way to ask questions, compare homes, and keep notes in one place.
A simple checklist you can bring on every tour
Choosing an adult family home is a big decision. When you visit several homes, the details can blur together fast. Our free downloadable PDF checklist is made to help you stay organized and feel a little more steady.
You can print it and bring it with you, or save it on your phone and fill it out as you go. It is designed for families looking at small, family-style residential homes, sometimes called adult foster care homes, adult family homes, or board-and-care homes.
HearthRow does not provide care, medical advice, legal advice, or financial advice. We are a free service that helps families find and connect with licensed adult family homes near them. Rules, services, and costs vary widely by state, so always confirm details directly with the home and with your state's licensing or certification agency.
What is inside the PDF
The checklist is built to help you ask clear, practical questions during a tour. It includes space to write down what you see, what you hear, and what matters most to your family.
Inside, you will find sections for:
- Basic home details
- License or certification check
- Staff and caregiver questions
- Daily routine, meals, and activities
- Safety, cleanliness, and accessibility
- Room setup and shared spaces
- Services offered and services not offered
- Costs, deposits, and monthly charges
- Transportation and appointment support
- Your overall impressions after the visit
There is also a simple compare-and-contrast area so you can look at two or three homes side by side later. That can be especially helpful when family members are making the decision together.
How it helps you tour, compare, and budget
A good tour is not just about whether a place looks nice. It is also about whether the home feels respectful, calm, safe, and clear about what it can and cannot provide. The worksheet helps you notice those details without having to remember everything later.
For touring, it gives you a list of questions to ask in plain language. For comparing, it gives each home the same set of notes, so you are not relying on memory. For budgeting, it gives you space to write down the basic monthly cost, what is included, and what may cost extra.
Cost is often one of the hardest parts to sort out. In many states, room-and-board is usually paid privately, while Medicaid waiver programs may help with some personal-care services for people who qualify. That varies by state and by program. The checklist includes space to ask whether the home accepts Medicaid or a waiver, but families should confirm eligibility and coverage separately with their state Medicaid office, case manager, or benefits counselor.
Important questions the checklist reminds you to ask
Every home is different. State rules are different too. That is why the checklist includes reminders to ask practical questions and write down the answers clearly.
Some examples include:
- Is the home currently licensed or certified by the state?
- What level of help can staff provide each day?
- What happens if care needs change?
- Are there awake staff overnight, or on-call staff only?
- What is included in the monthly price?
- Are there extra fees for supplies, transportation, incontinence care, or higher levels of help?
- What is the notice policy if someone moves out?
- How are meals, language needs, routines, religion, and family visits handled?
It also reminds you to look beyond the brochure. Notice how staff speak to residents. Notice whether the home feels clean, comfortable, and respectful. And if possible, visit more than once, including at a different time of day.
Download it, then use it with your own list
You can download the PDF and use it as a starting point. Many families also add their own questions about language, food preferences, mobility needs, privacy, religious practices, or how the home communicates with family.
We encourage you to confirm a home's current state license or certification yourself, ask for the resident agreement or fee sheet, and tour the home before making any decision. No checklist can replace seeing the home in person and asking direct questions.
If you want help finding small licensed homes to tour, we can help you get matched. If you want to learn more first, visit our guides. Some homes pay HearthRow a flat fee when we connect them with a family. It never changes what you pay, and you are never under any obligation.
This free PDF helps you ask better questions, compare adult family homes, and keep cost notes in one place before you choose.