Free checklist
Questions to ask on a senior living tour
Print it, take it with you and compare answers side by side.
Before you go
- Look up the license and inspection record (every Pairlo page links to it). Ask about any citations you see.
- Check the licensed capacity: a 6-bed home and a 120-resident community feel very different.
- Write down what your parent needs help with today, and what may change in a year.
Staff and care
- How many caregivers are on duty during the day, at night and on weekends?
- Is there a nurse on staff or on call? Who handles medications?
- How long have the administrator and most caregivers been here?
- What training do caregivers have, including for dementia?
Cost
- What's included in the monthly rate, and what costs extra?
- How are care levels priced, and how often are residents reassessed?
- How much has the rate gone up each year for the last three years?
- What deposits or community fees are there, and are they refundable?
If things change
- What happens if my parent needs more care than you provide?
- When would you ask a resident to move out, and how much notice is given?
- Do you allow hospice care here?
- How do you tell families about falls, illness or changes?
Day to day
- Can we see a menu, an activity calendar and a resident's room?
- Can we visit at any time? Can we come back for a meal unannounced?
- How do residents get to appointments?
- Can we talk to a resident's family?
General information, not medical or legal advice.
Want someone to tour with you?
A care manager can assess your parent, shortlist places that fit and come along. Find one, or join early access.