Questions to Ask Every Senior Living Community
The best way to compare senior living communities is to ask the right questions. This guide gives your family a clear set of questions to take on every tour, covering care, cost, staffing, safety, and daily life, so you arrive informed and leave able to compare.
This guide covers
Questions about care
- What level of care do you provide, and how are needs assessed?
- How is a resident's care plan reviewed and updated?
- What happens if a resident's needs increase?
- How do you handle medication and coordination with doctors?
- What is the ratio of staff to residents, and is it covered at night?
Questions about cost and contract
- What is included in the monthly fee, and what is extra?
- Are there entrance fees, and what do they cover?
- What is the policy on rate increases?
- What is the contract term, and what are the move-out terms?
- What happens if a resident runs out of funds?
Questions about daily life
- What activities and amenities are available?
- What are the meals like, and can residents have dietary needs met?
- How do residents get to appointments and outings?
- What is the visiting policy for family?
- How does the community handle family communication and concerns?
Free checklist
Questions to Ask Checklist
- Take a written list of questions on every tour.
- Ask about care levels, assessments, and what happens if needs increase.
- Ask about staffing ratios, including at night.
- Ask what is included in the price and what is extra.
- Read the contract carefully and ask about fees and policies.
- Ask about daily life: meals, activities, transportation, and visiting.
Want this as a printable download? Request it free from the Resource Library and we will include it in your follow-up, along with the option of a no-pressure conversation.
Browse the Resource LibraryWhen should we start asking these questions?
As soon as you begin touring, and ideally before. Tour scheduling support is part of what we coordinate, and we prepare questions for you to take along so you arrive informed.
How do we keep the decision in our hands?
You tour and choose communities yourself. We handle the coordination, research, and tour scheduling support, and we bring you the details. The decision always stays with your family.
Are there questions we should ask about the contract?
Yes. Ask about what is included, rate increases, entrance fees, move-out terms, and what happens if funds run out. Read the contract carefully, and do not be afraid to ask for clarity.