Twelve questions to ask before you choose
For the first call with any agency, home or center. Print it and take it with you. The answers that should make you pause are in the second line of each.
Written by [author name]. Reviewed by [reviewer name], [role], October 12, 2026.
Is there room today, and when could care start?
The honest answer is a date. "Call back next week" every week is a no.
Which Medicaid programs are you enrolled in, and is that enrollment current?
Check it against the listing. If the answer differs, ask why.
Who will actually give the care, and who covers when they are out?
Names and a plan, not "our team".
How do you tell me when something changes?
Falls, medication changes, a bad day. Ask for the last time they called a family and why.
May I read the last state inspection report?
Every licensed home and center has one. A provider who will not show it has told you something.
What is in the agreement, and how much notice before a fee change?
Georgia requires written notice. Ask how many days.
What does Medicaid pay for here, and what do I pay?
Room and board in a home is yours. Get the number in writing.
What happens if the needs grow beyond what you can provide?
A good answer names the next step and who helps with it.
How many staff are awake and on duty at night?
Georgia sets minimums. Ask what they actually run.
Who gives medications, and how is it recorded?
A medication record exists in every licensed home and center. Ask to see a blank one.
What do families say when things go wrong?
Read the reviews, then ask the provider about the critical one.
Can I visit unannounced?
The answer should be yes.