Researching assisted living options can feel overwhelming. You want the absolute best for your loved one, but you’re not sure where to begin or what the best course of action is.
Touring a senior living community is an excellent place to start. You can walk through the facility, meet with staff members, and learn about what day-to-day life is like for residents.
At Vivante, we always appreciate the chance to meet potential residents and their families. We want every visit to be as helpful as possible, so we’ve put together these 10 questions to ask at an assisted living tour. We encourage you to print it out and take notes when you tour local communities.
Why Asking the Right Questions Matters
When you visit a senior living community, you have a limited amount of time to learn as much as possible. Coming prepared with key questions lets you focus on observing and getting to know the staff and getting a feel for the environment.
A question list also makes the comparison process easier. If you ask similar questions at every visit, you’ll walk away with a side-by-side list of responses, which you can use to understand your options better.
Finally, no one knows your loved one like you do. Caring staff will explain everything they can about their community, but certain factors are particularly important to you. Put those questions at the top of the list as a reminder to discuss them in detail.
Question 1: What Services are Included in the Monthly Fee?
Assisted living serves people who may need some assistance with day-to-day living, but don’t yet require 24/7 nursing care. The monthly fee typically includes:
- Daily meals
- 24-hour available support
- Care plans
- Personal assistance
- Medication management
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Recreational activities
- Local transportation
- Access to amenities
Some communities treat certain services as “extra” and charge an additional fee. Some of those services may be basic offerings in other communities, while others are generally considered to be add-ons. These include additional meal plans, personal storage, and garage fees. As you browse options, consider which communities best meet your needs.
Question 2: What is the Staff-to-Resident Ratio?
The quality of assisted living services depends largely on staffing levels. A high ratio means fewer staff members caring for the resident community, which may lead to delays in care and emergency responsiveness. A low ratio generally means more personalized attention and quicker response times to residents’ needs.
Community staff should provide ratios for day and night shifts. Communities generally require fewer staff members at night since most residents are asleep.
Use ratio numbers as a jumping-off point to discuss staff responsiveness. Ask how residents can communicate their needs and how long it typically takes for staff to respond. This is a good time to discuss emergency versus non-emergency protocol.
Question 3: How are Medical Emergencies and Needs Handled?
Medical services are not a standard part of assisted living, but some communities partner with providers for residents’ convenience. Vivante partners with Orange County’s Hoag Health Care Services to offer comprehensive senior care, including on-site doctor visits, physical and occupational therapy, diabetes screenings, and neurological evaluations.
The community should also have a standard emergency protocol. Ask what happens during a medical event, including how long ambulances take to arrive and what hospitals they transport patients to. Learn the procedure for communicating with families and who makes care decisions if providers are unable to reach family members.
Question 4: What Types of Activities and Programs Are Offered?
A well-rounded activity program engages assisted living residents physically, socially, and intellectually. A community’s program should include daily activity options across each of those three domains.
Look for activity programs that are diverse enough to suit a variety of needs and interests. Ask to take a look at that week’s activity schedule or speak with the activities director If the director is unavailable, ask the community representative about the program planning process. Discover how the team receives feedback on resident activity needs and preferences.
Engagement with the broader community is also valuable. Ask about opportunities for involvement, including whether non-residents visit the assisted living community or residents attend nearby events like concerts or sporting events.
Question 5: What Dining Options Are Available?
A pleasurable dining experience goes a long way toward helping assisted living residents feel healthy and at home. The best communities strike the ideal balance between wellness and pleasure with menus that accommodate special requests and individual dietary restrictions, while providing the variety of choice.
When discussing the dining experience at a particular facility, ask how menu planning happens. Ask whether residents have input and how the dining staff addresses health needs.
For example, Vivante’s skilled culinary team collaborates with wellness staff to align menus with individual health goals. The team tailors available choices to individual dietary needs and preferences while preserving taste and artistry, so that every meal in our dining rooms feels like fine dining.
The best way to experience dining services in any community is to experience it yourself. Ask if you can visit the dining area or talk with a member of the culinary team. If the kitchen’s schedule permits, you may even be able to enjoy a meal before you leave.
Question 6: How is Security and Safety Managed?
Any responsible senior living community takes resident safety seriously. Learn how each community secures the building and monitors outside visitors. Ask about the check-in process, visitor records, and conduct policies. You may also want to learn how the facility handles exceptions, such as a family request for visitor restrictions or after-hours visits during health crises.
Safety management also includes regular resident monitoring. All senior care communities should feature safety-aware design and have strategies in place for fall prevention. Ask how the community prevents accidents and how often staff check in on residents.
Question 7: What are the Visiting Hours and Family Involvement Policies?
Assisted living communities set visitor policies to ensure resident safety and comfort, while helping them stay connected to loved ones. Flexible visiting arrangements typically work best for families, provided the community can monitor visitor activity and maintain a calm environment.
Discuss when you could visit your loved one and how families can arrange special gatherings, such as birthday or anniversary parties. You may also wish to discuss visitor policies for holiday parties and other community events. Vivante encourages families to attend these events, as the presence of loved ones makes them even more special.
Finally, ask about the community’s policy for overnight guests. Many residents enjoy hosting out-of-town family or non-resident partners, which in turn supports their independence.
Question 8: Can I Speak with Current Residents and Families?
You can learn a lot by speaking with community representatives, but the best way to understand resident satisfaction and experience is to talk with someone who lives there. Residents offer firsthand accounts that mirror what your loved one’s experience might be like, without the inevitable filter a staff member would have.
High-quality communities recognize this and are happy to connect you with willing residents and families. Take advantage by asking questions like:
- On a typical day, how do you spend your time?
- What does the staff do to make sure you’re happy and healthy?
- What activities and amenities are particularly popular?
- How well do staff understand your needs?
- How safe do you feel here?
- What are the biggest challenges of living here?
- What brings you the most joy day-to-day?
If a resident’s family member is available, ask for their perspective as well. Notice how enthusiastically they speak of the community and staff. Ask follow-up questions about what they view as the community’s strengths and weaknesses, and don’t be afraid to ask if they’d recommend it.
Question 9: How Are Transitions Between Levels of Care Handled?
Care needs can change quickly in later life. Many people enter independent living knowing they will need assisted living in the future. Those in assisted living may need to move into skilled nursing or memory care communities.
Before committing to an assisted living community, ask how they plan for future health changes. When someone needs to move to a higher level of care, how does the community’s staff assist with that process? If there is a higher care level available on-site, ask about cost differences and logistical considerations, such as space availability.
Vivante accommodates changing cognitive needs with memory care communities at its Newport Mesa and Newport Center locations. Team members are happy to discuss what this higher level of care means.
Question 10: What Makes This Community Stand Out?
The best assisted living communities have qualities you can’t find anywhere else. If you don’t see them right away, ask your tour provider what makes their community unique. Compare the answers you receive and evaluate amenities side-by-side to find the communities that stand out.
Most importantly, look for a community that aligns with your loved one’s lifestyle, priorities, and values. You’re choosing a home, first and foremost.
Why Families Choose Vivante for Assisted Living
Vivante offers vibrant senior living in some of California’s most desirable locations. Residents enjoy luxury amenities, fine dining, and engaging programming that makes life feel like a vacation. Personalized care and support complete the packages and offer loved ones peace of mind.
See why our residents wouldn’t live anywhere else. Contact us now to learn more or schedule a tour.
