Compare itemized written quotes
Use one column per community. Leave an unknown amount blank and mark the total incomplete. Write 0 only when the charge is confirmed as included.
| Line item | Community A | Community B | Community C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community and quote dateInclude the room and the person providing the quote | |||
| Base rent and included servicesMonthly amount | |||
| Care-level chargeBased on the care assessment | |||
| Medication managementAmount or confirmed included | |||
| Supplies, escorts and other monthly chargesList every recurring charge | |||
| All-in monthly totalLeave incomplete until every line is confirmed | |||
| One-time fees and depositsSeparate refundable and nonrefundable amounts | |||
| Rate-change and refund termsAsk what can change and how much notice is required |
Questions about Utah benefits
Ask the official program to confirm eligibility, enrollment, services covered and your remaining costs.
Could Medicaid help with long-term care?
Utah Medicaid requires both financial and medical eligibility. Ask the program to assess the situation rather than treating this checklist as an eligibility decision.
Already living in an eligible licensed institutional setting?
Ask about New Choices Waiver. Current-setting, minimum-stay and nursing-facility-level-of-care requirements apply; community services depend on eligibility and assessed needs.
Age 65 or older and asking about support in the community?
Ask the Area Agency on Aging about the Aging Waiver referral and assessment. Program spaces and services are limited.
Considering a particular assisted-living community?
Ask the program and the community to confirm enrollment, which services are covered and what rent, meals or other costs remain your responsibility.
Keep control of your inquiries
- Before submitting any inquiry, read who may contact you and who receives your information.
- Ask: “Please use email for this question. Do not call or text unless I ask.” Keep a copy of the consent you give.
- Ask how a service is paid and whether its suggested communities cover all local options.
- Check the license, care fit and quote yourself. A recommendation does not replace those checks.
Official lookup and coverage links
- Utah DHHS — find a licensed facility
Search licensing and available compliance history. Older records may require a GRAMA request.
- Medicare Care Compare — nursing homes
Use for Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes. These federal ratings do not rate assisted-living communities.
- Utah Medicaid — New Choices Waiver
Requires an eligible current institutional setting, a minimum stay and nursing-facility level of care. Ask the program whether the current situation qualifies.
- Utah Medicaid — long-term care and waiver programs
Program spaces and eligibility differ. The age-65-or-older Aging Waiver referral begins with the Area Agency on Aging.
- Medicare — long-term care coverage
Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care. Ask the plan about separate covered medical or skilled services.
Choose a setting that can meet the care plan
Assisted living
Ask which daily activities staff can assist with, what happens overnight and what care needs the license and staffing can support.
Residential care home
A smaller setting may suit your relative. Confirm licensed capacity, awake overnight coverage and backup staffing.
Memory care
Ask about exit-seeking, supervision, staff training and how the team handles changes in behavior or mobility.
Skilled nursing or rehabilitation
Ask the clinical team whether licensed nursing or rehabilitation is needed. Use Medicare Care Compare for certified nursing homes.
When a hospital discharge is approaching
Use these questions when decisions feel urgent, including a 48–72-hour discharge window. This checklist does not establish a deadline, extend a hospital stay or guarantee an admission.
- 1.
Ask what care is needed next
Ask the treating team for the written care plan, mobility needs, medication list and support needed during the night.
- 2.
Write down the expected discharge time
Keep the discharge planner's name and callback number. Ask what must be arranged before your relative leaves.
- 3.
Raise any concern about the plan
Tell the treating team if the proposed setting cannot meet a need. Ask about alternatives and the hospital's review or appeal process if you disagree.
- 4.
Confirm the care setting with the clinical team
Ask whether assisted living, home support or skilled nursing can meet the care plan. A vacancy alone does not establish a safe fit.
- 5.
Ask Aging Services about local support
Ask Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services or the Area Agency on Aging about caregiver resources and any services available while you arrange care.
- 6.
Look up the Utah license and compliance history
Use Utah DHHS's facility search for each proposed community. Request older or missing reports; no visible report is not proof of a clean history.
- 7.
Check certified nursing-home records
If skilled nursing is proposed, use Medicare Care Compare for inspections, staffing and ratings. Assisted living does not use this nursing-home rating system.
- 8.
Request an itemized care assessment and quote
Ask each setting to assess the same care needs. Record rent, recurring care charges, one-time fees and what is included.
- 9.
Confirm admission timing and limits
Ask whether the setting can accept the proposed date and care needs, which documents it requires and what would prevent admission.
- 10.
Check coverage with the insurer
Ask about authorization and covered skilled or medical services, plus your share of costs. Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care.
- 11.
Check Utah benefits directly
Ask Utah Medicaid or your Area Agency on Aging which program applies, what is covered and whether enrollment is available. Do not assume a waiver will be ready for discharge.
- 12.
Confirm the handoff before leaving
Confirm transport, medications, equipment, the receiving contact and who will help on arrival. Keep the written plan and phone numbers together.
Three questions for a community visit
How many caregivers are scheduled during the day and overnight, and how are absences covered?
Ask for the staffing that applies to your relative's unit and needs.
What is the complete monthly charge after the care assessment, and which lines can increase?
A starting price cannot show the full bill or future rate-change terms.
Which changes in care needs could require a move, and what notice and refund terms apply?
Read the agreement before committing to a setting.
Confirm care fit with the clinical team, prices and contract terms with the community, and benefits with the relevant program. Haven's family tools are free; participating communities may pay a placement fee. Using this worksheet does not submit an inquiry or send your information to a community.