SIGHT

The Resident's Condition

• Is the resident's hair clean and combed?
• Are men shaven? Are women free of facial hair?
• Are nails trimmed and clean?
• Do residents' teeth look clean (free of plaque)?
• Does the resident's skin look cracked and dry? Do lips appear chapped? 
• Are residents wearing clean and appropriate clothing, suited for the temperature?
• Are the resident's glasses clean?
• Is the resident's hearing aid in?
• Is the wheelchair, walker or cane in good repair and clean?
• Is there use of physical restraints? If a resident is in some form of restraint (lap cushion, bedside rails, waist belt), does the resident seem anxious or upset about it?
• Are residents sitting comfortably in their chairs? (Special wedged cushions can help prevent sliding out of chairs.)
• Are residents being helped to walk (if help is needed) in order to get regular exercise?
• Are individuals who are unable to leave their beds being turned every two hours?
• Is there evidence that measures are being taken for them to avoid contractures of knees and hands (e.g., a rubber device gripped in one’s fist)?

The Resident's Room

• Are call buttons accessible to the residents, wherever they are in their rooms?
• Are call lights on for long periods of time?
• Are needed items (eyeglasses, telephone, and books) within reach?
• Is there fresh (cool or cold) water within reach?
• Are the resident's bedroom and bathroom floors free of spills, grime, and trash?
• Is there a comfortable chair for each resident or a visitor to use?
• Are the places for storage (closet, dresser, and nightstand) in good repair?
• Are the bed linens in good condition (no holes, stains, or worn plastic covers on pillows)?
• Does the resident's toilet and bathtub or shower have grab bars for safety?

Environmental Conditions

• Is the lighting adequate and soft?
• Is there a clear, unimpeded path that ambulatory residents can take down a given hall, with sturdy handrails?
• Are benches or chairs strategically placed in long hallways for brief rests?
• Is the room temperature comfortable, free of drafts?

The Dining Room(s)

• Is the atmosphere pleasant and relaxed?
• Is the seating comfortable?
• Are many residents present? If a significant number are eating in their rooms, why is that?
• Are appropriate utensils provided (i.e., large-handled/easy-grip forks and spoons, or plates with a plate guard) if needed?
• Is staff providing needed assistance, such as opening milk cartons, or telling visually impaired people what and where food items are on their plates?
• Are residents who need assistance to eat waiting in the dining room for long periods while others eat (whether the food is or is not in front of them)?
• Is there enough staff to assist those who need to be fed?
• Does the staff sit down beside individuals who need to be hand-fed and take their time in feeding them?
• Do the residents consume most of the food served to them?

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HEARING

• Are residents constantly hollering out? Are they being ignored?
• Is the public address system overused, causing unsettling noise?
• Is a TV or radio blaring with the resident absent from the room?
• Is staff speaking or laughing too loudly?
• If music is playing, is it a type that would appeal to the residents?
• Do you hear staff discussing a resident's personal care or medical condition in a way that violates the person's privacy?
• Is staff speaking in English when providing care for a resident?

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SMELL

• Do you notice urine, fecal, or other odors that persist?
• Are odorous diaper and laundry bins not being emptied?
• Does the food served smell good, as well as look good?

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TASTE

• Is the menu posted?
• Is there variety in the menu?
• Are the residents served what is shown on the menu?
• Are fresh (versus canned) fruits and vegetables served regularly?
• Are the meals nutritionally balanced?

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TOUCH

• Are residents' hands sticky, dry, or chapped?
• Are residents' possessions or the furniture (e.g., overbed table) sticky to the touch?

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OTHER

Activities

• Are a significant number of residents present at a given activity? If not, why not?
• Are staff or volunteers available to assist in bringing residents to an event?
• Are residents aware of the scheduled activities?
• Is the calendar of events (whether posted or in the newsletter) written in large, legible print?
• Are the activities appropriate for the residents?
• Is the activity leader audible to the participants?
• Are there a variety of opportunities to suit different tastes?
• Do residents say that they enjoy the activities?
• Are activities offered on weekends or in the evenings?
• Are any activities held outdoors?

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