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Tour Checklist New

When looking at a Assisted Living and Memory Care Community the following is a list of important things to remember and take into consideration.

  • Were you greeted promptly by front desk team and offered assistance.
  • As you tour the community, observe staff and resident interactions. Is the staff patient, helpful and kind? Were you greeted and welcomed by residents and staff as you toured?
  • Did you observe residents socializing with each other and/or attending activities? Ask a resident about their community experiences.
  • Was there an Activity/Life Engagement calendar posted? If so, do any of the planned activities meet your or your family member’s needs?
  • Is the building clean and odor free?
  • Are the hallways, doorways and common areas conducive for safe walking?
  • Take the time to have a meal. Is the service friendly and attentive? Are the dining hours and food choices flexible? Did the staff meet your food handling expectations?
  • Take time to meet the Executive Director and other key team members.
  • What is evening availability of Care Team, and the system for obtaining assistance 24-hours a day?
  • Ask about staff training and credentials. Meet the licensed nurse at the Community.
  • Is the most recent state survey available for review?

Tour Checklist New

Frequently Asked Questions

When touring an assisted living facility, pay attention to how the staff greets you, staff-resident interactions, cleanliness, dining quality, and whether residents seem engaged and socially active. It’s also worth meeting key team members and asking about staff training, 24-hour care availability, and the community’s most recent state survey.

Ask about staff training and credentials, evening and 24-hour care availability, dining flexibility, activity programs, and whether the community’s most recent state survey is available for review. These cover both daily quality of life and safety for your loved one.

Ask what training staff receive, how care team members are credentialed, and request to meet the community’s licensed nurse directly to understand the level of clinical oversight available in the assisted living facility.

24-hour care availability means staff are present and able to respond to residents’ needs at any hour, including overnight. On a tour, ask specifically about evening staffing levels and the system in place for residents to get assistance at any time, day or night.

Ask whether dining hours and food choices are flexible, and take the time to have a meal yourself to judge the food quality and how attentive and friendly the service is.

To check the level of activities in a senior living facility, look for a posted Activity or Life Engagement calendar, observe whether residents are actively socializing or participating in activities during your visit, and ask a resident directly about their experience with the community’s programs.

In California, assisted living communities are licensed as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) through the Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing Division, which maintains a public facility search showing licensure status, inspection reports, citations, and complaints. You can search the California Department of Social Services Facility Search database or can directly ask the community directly for their most recent state survey during a tour.