Five check-ins cover a new resident's first 90 days: a first-night visit on move-in day, a conversation with the resident at day 5, a call with the family at day 5, a settling-in check at day 30, and a 'does this feel like home' conversation at day 90. Use the same few questions every time so answers can be compared, write the answers down, and give every concern an owner and a follow-up date.
Most residents who leave early never complained formally. They mentioned something once, nobody wrote it down, and by the time the family raised it, the decision was already made. Scheduled check-ins fix that: they create a moment to ask, and a record of the answer.
Keep each check-in short and human. These are conversations, not surveys read aloud, but asking the same core questions every time lets you compare residents and spot patterns across move-ins.
The 5 check-ins
Move-in evening: the first-night visit
Who: The move-in owner or a resident services team member, in person.
Goal: Make sure the first night is not lonely or confusing.
- Is there anything you need tonight that you cannot find?
- Do you know how to call for help, and where dinner and breakfast are?
- Is there anyone you would like us to introduce you to tomorrow?
Day 5 with the resident: first impressions
Who: Resident services or life enrichment, in a relaxed conversation rather than a form.
Goal: Catch small problems while they are still small.
- What has been the best part of your first few days?
- Is anything in your apartment not working the way it should?
- Have you found someone you enjoy eating with?
- What would make next week better than this one?
Day 5 with the family: are we keeping our promises?
Who: The move-in owner, by the family's preferred channel.
Goal: Show the family that someone is paying attention before they have to ask.
- How do you feel the move went?
- Is there anything we told you before move-in that has not happened yet?
- How often would you like an update for the rest of the month?
Day 30: settling in
Who: Resident services with the resident, and a short call or message to the family.
Goal: Find out whether the resident is building a routine and relationships, or quietly withdrawing.
- How would you describe your week here now, compared with your first week?
- Which activities or people have become part of your routine?
- Is there anything about care, dining or your apartment that still is not right?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to tell a friend this is a good place to live?
Day 90: is this home?
Who: The Executive Director or resident services lead, with the resident and family together if possible.
Goal: Confirm the resident has settled in, and turn what you learn into improvements for the next move-in.
- Does this feel like home now? What made the difference, or what is still missing?
- Looking back, what should we have done differently in your first month?
- Is there anything we can do this month to make your day better?
A check-in only helps if someone acts on the answer. Every concern needs an owner and a date, or it is just a nicer way of hearing bad news later.
Making check-ins happen every time
- Schedule all five on move-in day, so they are on the calendar before the busy weeks start.
- Record answers where the whole team can see them, against the resident, not in one person's notebook.
- Flag anything worrying the same day, and route health or mood concerns to nursing.
- Review patterns monthly. If several residents say the same thing at day 30, the move-in process needs to change.
ResiOnboarding schedules resident check-ins at day 5, 30 and 90 automatically, collects the answers in one place, and raises an at-risk alert when the answers suggest a resident is struggling. See the product overview.
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Every new resident gets one first impression. Make it the one your team intended.
ResiOnboarding puts every task, owner and due date for a move-in on one shared plan, from deposit through day 90. Start with a pilot at one community: your team runs your next move-ins on it, and you decide based on what you see.