Tour Checklist

Assisted Living Guided Tour Questions

• Can I see a contract that details all the fees, rules and regulations?
• How are services billed?
• Can I continue to see my own physicians?
• Can I have a pet and my own furniture?
• Can I come and go as I please?
• Are any activities prohibited in private rooms or apartments?
• What training and background checks are required of staff?
• Is there a registered nurse or other medical professional available at all times?
• What happens if I run out of money?
• Do you participate in Medicare, Medicaid, VA Aid and Assistance, long-term care insurance or any other payment program?
• What circumstances would force a resident to move out of the facility?
• If I require a higher level of care in the future, is that available at this community?
• If I have a long-term stay in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, do you hold my residence?
• How many rooms or apartments are currently empty?  (A high number of empty beds or rooms can be a red flag that residents are unhappy with the facility and that the facility has financial trouble.)

After a successful tour, drop by the facility at least once during the day and once at night. During the day, observe the social atmosphere, including activities and meals. Try the food and read the menu to make sure your taste buds would be satisfied eating those selections on a daily basis. A night visit gives you a feel for the atmosphere during quiet hours, and it allows you to evaluate the night staff.

Assisted Living Visit Checklist

• Are the grounds well taken care of? Is anything run-down or broken?
• Do you see dirt, stains or smell odors? (An odor contained to a small area may suggest a recent accident, whereas an odor in a larger area suggests a problem.)
• Are appropriate safety measures in place? (Look for grab bars, emergency exit guides on walls, call buttons, safety locks on windows and doors, smoke detectors and overhead sprinklers.)
• Are the residents well groomed, happy and friendly? (Ask residents how long they have lived there and how they feel about the facility.)
• Do residents willingly participate in social activities or do they seem distant and bored?
• Are staff members friendly and attentive?