What to Look for and Ask During an Assisted Living Community Visit

When it comes to finding an assisted living community that’s a good fit for your senior loved one, a personal visit is one of the most important steps. It provides older adults and their families with an opportunity to assess whether or not the community meets their needs and feels like a place they could call home.

To help you make the most of your visit, we created a checklist of questions to ask and things to look for on your tour of an assisted living community.

What to Look for When You Tour

Here are a few things to keep an eye on when you make your way through an assisted living community for the first time:

  • As you drive up to the community, do the grounds and exterior of the building look tidy and well-kept?
  • Is there ample parking for visitors and good exterior lighting?
  • Are the exterior doors locked, or is there a receptionist/team member stationed in the lobby to intercept outsiders before they enter resident areas?
  • Are the lobby and other common areas in good repair? Do they look and smell clean?
  • Do residents look tidy and well-cared for?
  • Are interactions between staff members and residents positive? Do team members greet residents and family members by name?
  • Are residents engaged in life enrichment activities that promote healthy aging?