What Should I Ask When Touring an Assisted Living or Memory Care Community?

Care and staffing questions

Kimberly Diaz, RN recommends arriving with examples of real needs, not just a general description. With nearly three decades of nursing experience, she helps families distinguish a reassuring answer from a concrete care plan.

• Who performs the initial assessment and how often is it updated?
• How many staff are available overnight?
• How do staff respond to falls, distress or refusal of care?
• What services require an outside provider?

Costs and communication

Ask for an itemized estimate, the conditions for price changes and any move-in or discharge fees. Find out how incidents are reported, who the family calls after hours and how care-plan meetings work.

What to observe

Notice how staff speak with residents and whether routines look respectful and unrushed. A tour is one source of information; compare it with your loved one's needs, preferences and the community's written policies.