Now that you’ve narrowed down your senior living options, it’s time to visit your top choices. You need to know what questions to ask when touring senior living communities, what to observe when you visit and what considerations to make as you assess your choices.
If you’re ready for a visit, chances are you’ve got the basics down, such as general inclusions, available levels of living and location. Now, you need to drill down into the details to ensure you’re making the right decision for you.
What Are the Five Factors to Evaluate on a Life Plan Community Tour?
Specific questions matter, but so does what you notice on your own. Tap into all of your senses and be observant — examine everything closely and critically as you explore the grounds.
Remembering every single attribute to ask about can be tough, so having a checklist of factors to reference can be helpful in ensuring you don’t miss any essential details. Here are five primary categories you should consider when touring a senior living community:
Factor No. 1: Dining
Everyone has to eat! But, of course, what you eat matters, which means you need to know what dining options to expect at each community you visit. After all, if you’re not a fan of the food on campus, alternatives can be incredibly limited.
What To Ask
Residents have nearly all their meals on campus, so your dining-related inquiries should go beyond “Is the food good?” Be sure to ask about when and where meals are served and the flexibility of the dining options available. For example, does the kitchen make accommodations for allergies, intolerances or other dietary sensitivities?
Ask about the dining program, too. Communities that invest in professional kitchen leadership tend to show it in the details: seasonal menus, thoughtful presentation and food that goes well beyond the basics. HumanGood Life Plan Communities (sometimes known as continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs) have professionally trained executive chefs on our campuses. The presence of an executive chef can say a lot about the quality and consistency you can expect. Ask to meet our dining team during your tour!
To get a better grasp of the food quality and whether it aligns with your taste, you can try asking more specific questions, such as:
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Are restaurants cafeteria-style, restaurant-style or fine-dining-style?
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What type of cuisine does the main dining venue specialize in?
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Are there fine dining programs and events, such as wine tastings, for residents to participate in?
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How are menus determined, and how often do menus change? Ask to see a sample menu to get a feel for the variety on offer.
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Where are meals prepared (on- or off-site), and from where are ingredients sourced?
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Beyond the main dining venue, are there other options on campus, such as a cafe or a grab-and-go venue?
Also inquire about the guest dining policy and whether or not meal delivery services are available to residents who are unable to leave their homes.
What To Observe
If it's offered, take the community up on the chance to have a meal on-site during your visit. Nothing tells you more about the food — or the overall dining experience — than actually sitting down and trying it yourself.
See what your dining area options are. Is there more than one place to enjoy a meal? Check out all the options and assess the overall condition of these spaces. Are the areas in which meals are prepared, served and consumed clean and organized? For example, are dining tables and chairs wiped down frequently and old food cleared away in a timely manner?
Observe the affect and behavior of both team members and residents while you’re touring these areas. Does anyone on the kitchen or maintenance team appear stressed, short-handed or unsafe? Overall, do residents seem to be enthusiastic and enjoying themselves? Don’t be hesitant to ask their opinions about the food options on campus; most residents are eager to share their likes and dislikes.
What To Watch Out For
Take note of the variety or types of cuisine available. If the options are unappealing to you in any way or lack diversity, it’s likely not a good fit.
Visit the dining area during mealtimes and see how residents seem to be enjoying their food. Are people lingering, chatting and clearing their plates, or does the room feel rushed and disengaged?
Factor No. 2: Personal Living Space
Beyond the community's shared spaces, you'll want a clear picture of what your own home there would actually look like. When you see the residence, can you imagine yourself living there?
Your living space should reflect your lifestyle, and that means something different for everyone. For the most part, senior living residences are designed specifically for older adults, but residents with specific needs should inquire about whether the living spaces available can sufficiently support them.
What To Ask
Ask about the total number of residences on campus, including how many there are for each level of living (e.g., independent living vs. assisted living availability). See what different sizes, floor plans and types are available. For example, many HumanGood Life Plan Communities offer both apartment and cottage-style homes.
Check whether parking spots are assigned if you have a car, or what your transportation options are if you don't drive. Can you come and go at will? Can personal visitors come and go at will? The answers to these questions are especially insightful if people you love plan to visit often.
See about the maintenance schedule in terms of landscaping, sanitation, repairs and household upkeep. In regard to renovations and upgrades, what can the resident personalize or upgrade, and what are the limits on redecorating or renovating? What about if a resident ultimately needs modifications to the home for better accessibility?
You can get a clearer picture of the living situation by asking additional questions, such as:
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Can residents join a waitlist for a bigger floor plan if they start in a smaller size?
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What do the accommodations look like for higher levels of living?
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Can residents bring their pets?
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Are laundry services available, or do residences have a washer and dryer?
In some cases, communities will allow for a refurbishing period between residents. During this time frame, residents readying to move in are permitted to make certain renovations. Perhaps ask what, if anything, is done to the property after the previous tenant moves out and before the next resident moves in.
What To Observe
On your tour, pay attention to the cleanliness of the residences, taking note of how accessible they are. Do living areas have sufficient lighting, handles, grab bars, call buttons and low thresholds? Tour each of the different floor plans to determine what would be the best fit. See what common areas and shared spaces (private and public) are available for hosting or attending gatherings and community events.
What To Watch Out For
Most crucially, look out for and take note of any safety concerns, such as broken smoke detectors, malfunctioning signs or exits that aren’t clearly marked. Also keep an eye out for any signs of poor maintenance, such as torn carpets, broken locks, peeling paint or overgrown lawns. Evidence of neglect is, of course, a bad sign.
Factor No. 3: Shared Spaces and Programs
Chances are there’s lots to do and try on campus, but what specifically can you look forward to participating in when you get there? Resident programs, amenities and other offerings are a vital part of community life, so be sure to request information about extracurriculars and events.
What To Ask
If you haven't already inquired about transportation allowances and services for residents and guests, be sure to clarify these offerings, including whether parking spots are assigned. How often and to what locations do residents receive transportation if they don't drive? Can you request rides somewhere? How far?
Inquire about the programs and events available (both on- and off-campus) per level of living and whether or not they’re included in the price you pay or cost extra. Ask for an event calendar for examples and to assess frequency. If it’s important to you, ask about access to specific religious or worship services.
What To Observe
Apart from the basics, such as dining areas and parking lots, inquire about the presence of special services on campus, such as a salon, cafe, bank, gym or fitness center. Take tours of these areas to ensure they’re to your liking.
Note the variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, and talk to community members about their experiences and the quality of the amenities. "Moving to Valle Verde was the best decision we ever made," Craig, a Valle Verde resident in Santa Barbara, CA says. "Our life is filled with good friends, fun activities and a glass or two of wine."
What To Watch Out For
Naturally, gathering places should feel welcoming, safe and inclusive. Judge shared spaces by similar criteria as your personal living space. Are they clean? Inviting? Well-maintained? Look for any signs of neglect or safety hazards, such as dust or mold. Verify easy public access to restrooms where necessary.
Factor No. 4: Team Members and Support
Your neighbors aren’t the only people you’ll be seeing every day. The team members who work at the community are a huge part of the culture, so you want to ensure you’re compatible and that they can support you.
What To Ask
Ask specifically about which needs a community can and can’t manage. You can also ask about accreditations and the caregiver-to-resident ratio on an average day. (This value will likely vary by day and time.) Ask about team member qualifications, the training they receive, the turnover rate and whether clinicians are on campus.
You can also ask questions such as:
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How do team members handle medical emergencies and transportation to hospitals?
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How does a move between levels of living work, if it's ever needed?
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How does the community handle evacuations and emergencies, such as fires or natural disasters?
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Are there team members available to contact 24/7?
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What is the CMS rating for skilled nursing on campus?
What To Observe
Observe interactions between residents and team members and the overall affect and behavior of the people that work there. Are they generally warm and enthusiastic, or do team members appear passive and disinterested? Are half of them looking at their phones, or are they actively engaged with residents and one another? These answers can provide insights into the interpersonal dynamics of the community, allowing you to better gauge if this is a suitable environment for you.
What To Watch Out For
In general, do interactions between team members seem productive and positive? Keep an eye out for unprofessional demeanor or conversations among those who work at the community. Red flags to look out for include visible stress in the form of hurrying or rushing through tasks, suggesting potential for burnout.
Factor No. 5: Contracts, Financial Details and Availability
Lastly, you want to be sure that this community is the right fit for you financially. Not only do you want to gauge affordability, but you also want to be entirely clear on the terms of your contract so you know exactly what services and offerings are included in the costs.
What To Ask
What financial resources do you need? Ask about the financial qualification process, and if it's a Life Plan Community, what type of Life Plan contract it offers. This will give you a better idea of the pricing structure and any costs for additional services you may be interested in. Inquire about:
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Entrance fees
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Monthly fees
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Security deposit
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Included utilities and services
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Moving or cancellation fees
Also inquire about what happens if a resident outlives their financial resources. It's worth finding out whether the community is a nonprofit or for-profit organization, because that can influence how revenue is reinvested and what financial protections, like a benevolence fund, may be available to you. For example, the HumanGood Foundation’s Resident Benevolence Fund supports residents who outlive their financial resources so they can remain in their homes.
Ask about current availability, too — and, if applicable, whether the community maintains a waitlist. If there is a waitlist, ask how it works, what the estimated wait time looks like and whether a deposit is required to join.
What To Observe
Regarding the contract itself, does it include all the services you’re looking for? If not, what is the cost of adding on the desired service? What alternatives, if any, are available? Look closely at the contract language to ensure clarity on expectations.
Additionally, what is your impression of the representative assisting you? Are they friendly, receptive and knowledgeable? Do they provide you with all of the information and resources necessary to make a well-informed decision? Or are they more focused on simply closing a sale? The demeanor of this team member will likely set the stage for your entire tour experience.
What To Watch Out For
Always read the fine print, and ask questions about anything you don't fully understand. If it seems different from what the community salesperson is telling you, make sure to confirm what you’re agreeing to and verify the implications. Look out for lack of transparency in pricing; if the rep is dodging questions or providing intentionally vague answers to critical inquiries, you may want to reconsider your options.
Parting Advice
A few things to remember as you start scheduling visits and touring your top choices:
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Always trust your gut. If it feels off or simply not right, it probably isn’t the right option for you.
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Talk to the residents. Ask what they genuinely like — and don't like — about living there. Their honest firsthand perspective can tell you more than any brochure or tour script. "I encourage prospective residents to truly understand the community they're considering," says Will, a resident at Springhouse. "Sharing meals and conversations with current residents will make the decision easier."
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Advocate for your needs. Don’t compromise on your nonnegotiables simply because you can’t get a straight answer.
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Don’t go alone. Recruit a friend or family member to attend the tour with you to get another perspective.
Next Steps
Yes, there’s a lot to consider, but your choice of senior living community is a big decision! You want to make sure it’s a good fit for you and what you have planned for your next chapter, so don’t cut corners. Know yourself, your needs and specific questions to ask when touring senior living communities so you can make the most informed decision.
If you’ve got a visit on the books, The Complete Guide to Touring a Retirement Community offers detailed questions and considerations you’ll want to discuss on your tour to gauge if the community is right for you — and if it can meet your current and future needs.
