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Elderly Care Malaysia Enquire

25 Questions to Ask a Nursing Home Before You Commit

Published 2026-09-22 · By Elderly Care Malaysia (operated by Tenteram Care Sdn Bhd)

A notebook of questions to bring to a nursing home visit

Bring this list, printed, and ask every question on it. A good home will answer all 25 without flinching. The homes worth avoiding reveal themselves by which questions they dodge. The questions are grouped, and after each group we’ve noted what an honest answer sounds like.

Licensing and staffing

  1. Are you registered with JKM or licensed by MOH? May I see the certificate?
  2. How many registered nurses are on duty, and on which shifts?
  3. What is the staff-to-resident ratio on the day shift? On the night shift?
  4. How long have your most senior carers worked here?
  5. What training do carers receive: first aid, dementia care, safe lifting and transfers?

The honest-answer signal: ask for ratios by shift, in numbers. Adjectives (“enough”, “plenty”, “very experienced”) are a warning. A home that knows its numbers manages its numbers. You can verify any registration with the district JKM office; our JKM vs MOH guide explains what each licence actually guarantees.

Care and medical

  1. Who assesses my parent’s needs before admission, and is the care plan written down?
  2. How is medication stored, given, and recorded?
  3. What happens if my parent’s condition gets worse, can you still care for them, or must they move?
  4. Which hospital do you use, and who accompanies a resident in an emergency?
  5. Can my parent keep seeing their own doctor?

The honest-answer signal: ask to see a sample care plan. If care planning is real, there is paperwork. If it’s a folder they’ve never shown anyone, it isn’t.

Daily life

  1. What does a normal Tuesday look like for a resident?
  2. May I see today’s menu, and the kitchen?
  3. How often are residents bathed, and how often are diapers checked?
  4. What activities actually happened this week, not on the schedule, in reality?
  5. What are the visiting hours, and can family take residents out for the day?

The honest-answer signal: specifics. “Porridge, eggs, or roti for breakfast; lunch at noon” is a real answer. “Nutritious home-style meals” is a brochure. If you can, talk to current residents’ families. They have no reason to perform.

Fees and contract

  1. What is the exact monthly fee for my parent’s level of care?
  2. What is not included? Diapers, medication handling, special diets and one-to-one care typically add 20 to 30 percent.
  3. What deposit do you require, and under what conditions is it refunded?
  4. How much notice do you give before a fee increase?
  5. What are the discharge terms: if we want to leave, or if you ask us to?

The honest-answer signal: everything in writing. A verbal quote is worth nothing the moment a different invoice arrives. If the contract is vague on extras, refunds, or eviction, walk away, or get it amended before you sign. Our nursing home cost guide shows what the numbers should look like.

Emergencies

  1. What exactly happens if a resident has a medical emergency at 2am?
  2. Is there a doctor on call, and how fast do they respond?
  3. How are falls handled, and how are they reported to family?
  4. Who calls me, how quickly, and on what number?
  5. What is your complaints process, and may I see how the last complaint was resolved?

The honest-answer signal: speed and detail. A home that answers the 2am question instantly and specifically has done it before. Hesitation means improvisation, and you do not want your parent to be the rehearsal.

How to use this list

Ask the same 25 questions at every home you visit and write the answers down. Memory blurs after the third tour. Comparing written answers side by side makes the right choice surprisingly obvious.

One more thing: watch how staff react to the questions themselves. A home that welcomes scrutiny, fetches documents, and introduces you to the nurse on duty is a home with nothing to hide. Irritation, deflection, or “you don’t need to worry about that” tells you to keep looking. You are not being difficult. You are doing exactly what a good family does.

Our step-by-step guide on how to choose a nursing home covers the rest of the process, from shortlisting to trial stays.

If you’d like a second pair of eyes, our placement team visits homes regularly and knows which ones answer these questions well. Talk to a care advisor. It’s free, and it’s what we’re here for.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important question to ask a nursing home?

Ask for the staff-to-resident ratio by shift, including nights. Staffing determines almost everything about daily care quality, and vague answers are a warning.

How do I check if a nursing home is legal in Malaysia?

Ask to see their JKM registration or MOH licence certificate, then verify it with the district JKM office. A legitimate home will show you without hesitation.

What fees should I ask about besides the monthly rate?

Ask for the all-in figure: extras like diapers, medication handling and special diets typically add 20 to 30 percent. Also ask about deposits, refund terms, and notice periods for fee increases.