Facility-Tour Questions for Comparing Alcohol Rehab in California

Create a one-page comparison sheet with rows for public record, current services, admission process, accessibility, privacy, daily living, medication practices, family communication, costs, and continuing care. Add three rating columns: Confirmed, Needs Review, and Not Established. Avoid numerical scores until you have complete answers because a total can hide a serious unresolved issue.

For each claim, record the exact words used instead of writing “good” or “seems safe.” Better notes might say, “Staff member stated overnight coverage exists, but role and staffing pattern need written confirmation,” or, “Entrance had steps; an accessible route was not shown.” Ask whether policies are written, when they were last updated, and whom you should contact with follow-up questions. If a representative cannot answer immediately, mark the item Needs Review rather than treating uncertainty as a negative or a promise.

• Write down the facility name, street address, tour date, guide’s name, and guide’s role.
• Bring questions about personal mobility, communication, dietary, cultural, privacy, and medication needs without assuming they can be accommodated.
• Ask which public agency record applies to the location and independently verify the record after the tour when possible through California DHCS or another relevant authority named 

Ask where private conversations with family, legal counsel, employers, or other approved contacts can occur. Find out who may know that a person is present, how consent to share information is recorded, and how a resident can change that consent. Ask what happens to mail, personal documents, identification, and electronic devices. A statement that privacy is respected belongs in Needs Review until the actual process is explained.

Use scenarios to make vague policies concrete: “If I need to receive a time-sensitive family message, what happens?” “If a visitor arrives without approval, how is that handled?” “If phone access is limited, how are necessary calls arranged?” Ask whether rules vary by stage, circumstance, or safety concern and how residents receive notice of changes. Do not assume phone access, visitation, or family participation follows a statewide standard or remains unchanged.

• Request current written phone, visitor, mail, device, and information-sharing policies.
• Ask who can authorize exceptions and how a resident can request review of a decision.
• Record the policy date and distinguish a written rule from one employee’s informal explanation.

Observe ventilation, temperature, noise, lighting, cleanliness, storage, bathroom access, and the amount of personal space. Ask which elements are standard and which depend on assignment or current availability. If a particular room matters, ask whether it is merely a tour example. Never treat a photographed or toured space as a guarantee of room type.

Ask how maintenance concerns are reported, how shared-space conflicts are addressed, what residents may bring, and how prohibited or stored items are handled. If food, allergies, faith practices, sleep conditions, or personal-care needs matter, describe the need and request a current answer. Amenities can influence comfort, but they should not replace questions about qualified assessment, individualized planning, evidence-supported care, medication practices when clinically appropriate, and continuing care.

• Note what you personally saw, including the date and whether the space was occupied or staged for tours.
• Ask how sleeping and bathroom assignments are made and whether any requested arrangement can be confirmed before admission.
• Request written rules for belongings, laundry, food, storage, smoking or nicotine products, and personal devices when those issues matter.