Free family checklist · 40 questions · Take to every tour
Aged Care Tour Checklist (Australia 2026): 40 Questions Every Family Should Ask
Touring an aged-care facility is the single most important moment in your family's decision — but it's easy to leave without the answers that actually matter. This checklist captures the 40 questions our editorial team would ask on every tour, organised by topic. Print it (Ctrl/Cmd+P) and take it with you.
★Key takeaways
- ✓40 questions across 6 categories: care, staffing, fees, dining, dementia, cultural, family.
- ✓Tour 3-5 facilities for meaningful comparison. Take this checklist to each.
- ✓Best practice: first tour without your parent (for hard questions about cost + complaint history), second with them (for the feel + meeting staff).
- ✓Look up the facility's ACQSC star rating + recent enforcement actions on the public register BEFORE you tour.
- ✓Never sign anything during the tour. Always request the Resident Agreement + Accommodation Agreement to review at home.
Care + clinical staffing
- What is the registered nurse (RN) to resident ratio overnight (10pm–6am)?
- How many minutes of care per resident per day, on average? (2024 regulation: 215 min/day minimum)
- Is there an RN on site 24/7? (Federal requirement from October 2023 for facilities >60 beds)
- What is the facility's current ACQSC star rating? Look at the four sub-ratings: Compliance, Quality Measures, Residents' Experience, Staffing.
- Has there been any ACQSC enforcement action or compliance notice in the last 12 months? Ask to see the public record.
- What is the GP visiting arrangement? Does my parent's current GP visit, or is there a panel GP?
- What allied health is on site or visiting (physio, OT, podiatry, dietitian, psychology)?
- How are medications managed? Is there a medication chart we can see?
Fees + accommodation
- What is the published RAD for this room? Is it negotiable?
- What is the equivalent DAP at current MPIR (8.38% as at Jan 2026)?
- Is there an extra services fee? What does it cover, and is it mandatory?
- Are there any additional fees not yet mentioned (e.g. premium room loading, garden room, view)?
- Can we see the Resident Agreement and Accommodation Agreement BEFORE we sign anything?
- How is the basic daily fee + means-tested fee billed? Monthly direct debit, in arrears?
- What's the cooling-off period if we change our mind after signing?
Dining + lifestyle
- Can we see today's lunch menu? Can we eat a meal during our tour?
- How are dietary requirements handled (vegetarian, kosher, halal, gluten-free, soft-textured, pureed)?
- How many activities per week? Can we see a recent weekly schedule?
- Are there outings? How are they organised? Who pays?
- What is the visiting policy — hours, restrictions, COVID protocols?
- Can family + friends stay for meals? Is there an additional fee?
Dementia + complex care
- Is there a dementia-specific wing or facility? Locked or unlocked?
- What is the dementia care philosophy (e.g. small-cottage Eden Alternative, large-campus medical model)?
- How is wandering managed? Is there a secure outdoor garden?
- Are there RN-trained dementia specialists on staff?
- How is challenging behaviour managed — restraint policies, psychotropic medication policies?
- Can we tour the dementia wing?
Cultural + spiritual care
- What languages are spoken by staff? Are bilingual staff rostered each shift?
- Is there a chaplain or pastoral care worker? What faiths are accommodated?
- Are there CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) residents currently? What's the cultural fit going to be like?
- Are LGBTI residents and partners explicitly welcomed? Rainbow Tick accredited?
- Are Indigenous Australian cultural practices supported?
Practical + family
- Is there an internal transfer process if my parent's needs change (e.g. low-care to high-care)?
- What's the waitlist for this facility? Are there respite beds available short-term?
- How are complaints handled? Who do I escalate to?
- Can I see the most recent resident + family satisfaction survey results?
- Is there family transport or shuttle service?
- What's the parking situation for visiting family?
- Is wi-fi free for residents?
- Pet policy — can my parent bring their cat? Are facility pets present?
Common questions
How many facilities should I tour?
Recommended: 3-5 facilities. Tour fewer and you don't have enough comparison; tour more and the visits blur together. Use our compare-up-to-4 drawer to short-list, then take this checklist to each.
Should I tour with my parent or without?
Ideal: both. First visit without (so family can ask hard questions freely about cost, complaint history, RAD negotiation). Second visit with the prospective resident (so they meet staff, see the rooms, get a feel). Best facilities welcome both visit types.
What red flags should I watch for?
Strong smell of urine on entry. Residents in distress without staff response. Locked-down activities room (suggests inadequate activity programming). Staff unable or unwilling to answer simple questions about ratios. ACQSC star rating of 1-2 stars (look up before tour). Recent compliance notices on ACQSC public register. Pressure to sign documents during the tour. Reluctance to show resident agreements before signing.
When should I ask about RAD discounts?
After 2-3 facility tours, when you have comparison data + are seriously considering. Mention you're looking at "comparable facilities at $X and $Y RAD" — and ask if there's flexibility on price or other terms. Many facilities will discount 5-15% to secure occupancy or accept a higher-DAP-lower-RAD arrangement that improves their cash flow.
Next step
Shortlist 3-5 facilities using our verified directory. Take this checklist to each tour. Use the means-test calculator to model true cost before signing anything.