Touring assisted living can blur together after the second or third visit. Every lobby looks welcoming, and every guide is friendly. A checklist keeps you focused on what will actually shape your parent's life: the care, the people, the food, the safety and the costs.
Print this list or keep it on your phone. You won't need every question at every community, but the sections below cover the essentials. For general tips on planning visits, see our guide to touring senior living.
Before you go
- List your parent's needs: help with bathing, dressing, medicines, mobility, memory, diet.
- Note must-haves: location, pets, a private room, faith services, a garden.
- Set a monthly budget and know what benefits or insurance may help.
- Look up the community's state license and recent inspection reports. Our guide to checking a license shows how.
- Ask for the residency agreement, price list and a sample activity calendar and menu ahead of time.
- Schedule the tour around lunch, and ask if your parent can join for a meal.
First impressions
- Is the building clean, bright and free of odors?
- Do staff greet residents by name and speak to them kindly?
- Are residents up, dressed and engaged, or mostly sitting alone?
- Is it easy to get around, with handrails, wide hallways and places to rest?
- Does it feel like a place your parent would enjoy living?
Care and staffing
- How do you assess a new resident's needs, and who writes the care plan?
- How often are care plans reviewed, and are families included?
- How many care staff are on duty during the day, evening and overnight?
- Is there a nurse on site? What hours? Who's on call at night?
- What training do caregivers get, and how long have most of them worked here?
- Do residents usually have the same caregivers, or does it change often?
- How quickly are call buttons answered? Can you show me response records?
- What care needs can you not meet, and when would a resident have to move?
Health and medicines
- Who manages medicines, and what training do they have?
- How are medicine errors tracked and prevented?
- Do doctors, therapists or podiatrists visit on site?
- Can my parent keep their own doctor and pharmacy?
- How do you handle falls, emergencies and hospital transfers?
- Can home health or hospice providers come in if needed?
Our article on medication management in assisted living explains how medicine help usually works.
Safety and security
- Are there emergency call systems in apartments and bathrooms?
- Are bathrooms equipped with grab bars, walk-in showers and non-slip floors?
- What are the fire safety and emergency evacuation plans? Is there a backup generator?
- How are entrances secured, and how are visitors checked in?
- If your parent has memory loss, how do you prevent wandering? Is there a memory care unit?
The apartment
- What sizes and layouts are available, and which are open now?
- Is there a kitchenette, and are small appliances allowed?
- Can residents bring their own furniture and decorate?
- Is the bathroom private? Is it accessible?
- Are utilities, internet, phone and cable included?
- Can my parent move to a different apartment later?
Food and dining
- Taste a meal. Is it fresh, appealing and served at the right temperature?
- How many meals a day are included, and are there choices at each?
- Can special diets be accommodated (diabetic, low-salt, soft foods, cultural or religious needs)?
- Are snacks available between meals and in the evening?
- Can residents eat in their apartment if unwell? Can family join for meals?
Activities and social life
- Can I see this month's activity calendar? Are activities happening today?
- Are there exercise classes, outings, clubs, faith services and volunteer opportunities?
- Are activities adapted for people with limited mobility or hearing loss?
- Is transportation provided to appointments and shopping?
- How do you help new residents make friends?
Loneliness affects health, so a lively social life is more than a perk1. Our guide to assisted living services describes what's typical.
Read moreAssisted Living Services and Amenities: What's Usually Included
Costs and contracts
- What does the base monthly rate include, and what costs extra?
- How are care levels decided and priced? How often are they reassessed?
- How much have prices gone up in recent years, and how much notice do you give?
- Is there a one-time move-in charge or deposit? Is any of it refundable?
- Do you accept long-term care insurance, VA benefits or Medicaid?
- What happens if my parent's money runs out?
- What notice is required to move out, and when can the community ask a resident to leave?
For help weighing costs, see our assisted living costs guide.
Talk with residents and families
- Ask a resident what they like most here and what they'd change.
- Ask whether there's a resident council or family council you can speak with.
- Ask staff what they enjoy about working there.
- Contact your local long-term care ombudsman to ask about complaints2.
After the tour: compare
Right after each visit, jot down scores while it's fresh. A simple 1 to 5 scale for each area makes it easier to compare.
| Area | Community A | Community B | Community C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care and staffing | |||
| Health and medicines | |||
| Safety | |||
| Apartment | |||
| Food | |||
| Activities | |||
| Costs and contract | |||
| Gut feeling |
Revisit your top choice at a different time of day before deciding.
