13 Questions to Ask When Touring an Assisted Living Community: An RN's Tour Checklist

1. What is the caregiver-to-resident ratio during the day, evening, and overnight shifts?

2. Is there a licensed nurse (LPN or RN) on-site, on-call, or only by appointment?

3. How are care plans created, and how often are they reviewed when needs change?

4. What training do caregivers complete — especially for dementia, falls, and end-of-life care?

5. Who passes medications, and how are errors tracked and reported?

6. What is your response protocol when a resident falls or has a sudden change in condition?

7. Which hospital and hospice partners do you work with, and how is transport handled?

8. Can I see an actual resident apartment (not a model unit) and walk the dining room at a meal?

9. How do you help a new resident settle in during the first 30 days?

10. How do you handle resident concerns or complaints from families?

11. What's included in the base monthly rate, and what triggers a care-level increase?

12. How often have base rates increased over the past three years, and by how much?

13. What is the move-out policy if my parent's needs exceed what you can support here?

Specificity beats polish. A great answer sounds like a real example, not a brochure line.

Watch the caregivers, not the marketing director. The way staff greet residents in the hallway tells you more than any slide deck.

If anything feels vague, ask the same question a second way. The second answer is usually more honest.