Guide · Updated September 26, 2026 · By the Parent Move Plan team

Questions to ask when touring assisted living

41 questions in seven groups, and a simple way to score three or four communities so the nicest lobby doesn't win by default.

Before the tour

• Pick three or four communities. Tour them within about a week, on similar days and times.
• Ask to come at a mealtime and to see the actual available apartment, not only the model unit.
• Bring your parent's "top five" list (what matters most to them), a tape measure and your phone for photos.
• Print one question sheet per community, or keep the list open on your phone.

The full question list

Help and staffing

1. What kind of help is included in the base rate?
2. How many staff are on duty during the day, and at night?
3. Is a nurse on site? Which hours?
4. What happens if my parent needs more help later? What's the process and what does it cost?
5. Under what circumstances would a resident have to move out?
6. How do you handle falls and emergencies at night?
7. How are medications managed and delivered?

Costs and the agreement

1. What exactly is included in the monthly price?
2. What costs extra, and how are extras priced?
3. How often have rates gone up in the past few years, and by how much?
4. Is there a community or move-in fee? Is any of it refundable?
5. What is the notice period to move out, and what is charged after it?
6. Can we take the agreement home to review before signing?
7. Which payment sources do you accept? (Ask an elder law attorney which apply to your parent.)

The apartment

1. Can we see the actual available apartment, not only the model?
2. What are the room measurements? Can we have the floor plan?
3. What furniture and fixtures are provided?
4. Are pets allowed? Any size or care rules?
5. Can residents bring their own furniture and hang pictures?
6. Is there a kitchenette? What appliances are allowed?
7. Where is the emergency call button, and how is it answered?

Daily life and food

1. Can we eat a meal here today?
2. How flexible are meal times? Can meals be delivered to the apartment?
3. How do you handle special diets?
4. What does a typical week of activities look like? Can we see this month's calendar?
5. Is there transportation to appointments, shopping or church?
6. Are there outdoor spaces residents can use on their own?
7. Can we talk to one or two residents or family members?

Safety and inspection

1. When was your last state inspection, and can we see the report?
2. How are doors and exits secured?
3. What's your staff turnover like? How long has the director been here?
4. What training do caregivers get?

Family and communication

1. How and how often do you update families?
2. Who is our main contact, and how do we reach them after hours?
3. Are there set visiting hours?
4. How are care plan meetings scheduled, and can family dial in?

Moving in

1. Which forms and assessments do you need before move-in?
2. What are the move-in time slots? Do we need to book the elevator?
3. Do movers need a certificate of insurance?
4. Can we set up the apartment a day before my parent arrives?
5. What do most new residents wish they had brought?

What to notice without asking

• How staff speak to residents, and whether they greet them by name.
• Whether residents are doing things, or mostly waiting.
• How the dining room feels at a real mealtime, and how the food tastes.
• Whether you're pressed to leave a deposit or sign the same day.
• Whether the answers to staffing and cost questions are specific or vague.

How to score and compare

Score each community within 24 hours, before the places blur together. Everyone who toured scores on their own first, from 1 (poor) to 5 (great). Then compare: the big differences between your scores are the real conversation. Weight what matters most higher. This is the weighting we use in Parent Move Plan (3 = most important):

Multiply each score by its weight, add up, and divide by the maximum possible to get a score out of 100. Treat it as a starting point for the family conversation, not the decision.

After the tours

• Take the residency agreement and fee schedule home. Write down every question; get the answers in writing.
• Revisit your favorite at a different time, for example an evening or weekend.
• Bring your parent to the top choice if possible. Their reaction counts, and it has the highest weight in our scoring.

Next steps are in the 60-day moving checklist.

Questions

Other good tour checklists

• Seniorly, tour checklist with printable assessment guide: seniorly.com
• A Place for Mom, touring checklist (PDF): aplaceformom.com

Sources and further help

1. Eldercare Locator, U.S. Administration for Community Living (local Area Agencies on Aging): eldercare.acl.gov
2. National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys: naela.org

This guide is general information for organizing a move. It is not legal, financial or medical advice.