What should I ask when touring a group home?
A plain-language answer for families and support coordinators in Virginia, with the official sources it is based on.
The short answer
When you tour a group home, ask about the things brochures rarely cover: who is on shift during the day and at night, how staff tell you when something changes, who else lives in the house, what would make the home the wrong fit, and what funding it can accept. Ask every home the same questions and compare the answers side by side.
Staffing
- Who will be with the resident in the morning, the afternoon and at bedtime, and how often do those faces change?
- What happens overnight? Virginia’s waiver rules count both awake staff during nighttime hours and asleep staff on the premises as ways of providing general supports, so ask which one the home uses.
Daily life
- What does a typical weekday and weekend look like?
- How are outings chosen, and how are appointments handled?
- How are a resident’s own routines and preferences written down and followed?
Communication
- How and when will the family hear from the home, and not only when something goes wrong?
- How does the home work with the support coordinator and the rest of the case team?
The household
- Who else lives in the home, and how many people? For Medicaid waiver reimbursement, newer group home settings are limited to six licensed beds.
- How are visits arranged so they fit the household and respect everyone’s privacy?
Fit and funding
- What would make this home the wrong fit? A provider who cannot answer has not thought carefully about fit.
- How quickly will you tell us no? A slow no costs weeks you may not have.
- Which license does the home operate under, and can it accept the waiver or other coverage you have?
What this means at At Home Family Services
At Home Family Services offers tours by phone or in person. You see the home, meet staff and ask the questions that are hard to settle over email, and support coordinators are welcome to join. We will be straightforward about whether our environment fits the support level you describe.
Sources
- 12VAC30-122-20, Definitions (DD Waivers)
- 12VAC30-122-390, Group home residential service (Virginia Administrative Code)
Sources reviewed November 2, 2026. Rules and programs change, so confirm current details with your Community Services Board or support coordinator. This page is general information, not legal or benefits advice.