A guided tour of an assisted living community may seem like a pleasant experience at first. The apartment looks comfortable, the dining room is bright, and the activity calendar is chock-full of amazing experiences. The most important details, however, often sit beneath the surface. Your family needs to understand how care works at night, what happens after a fall, which services cost extra, and whether the community can continue supporting your loved one as their needs change.
So, how best to ensure your loved one gets the care they need? With a helpful checklist, of course, which we have developed for those looking to make sure their loved ones are getting the care they need.
The goal is not to find the community with the longest list of amenities. The goal is to find a setting that can support your loved one safely while respecting their routines, preferences, and independence.
Use the checklist in three stages
The selection process becomes easier when your family separates preparation from observation and contract review.Before the tour: Define the support your loved one needs
Start with an honest and accurate view of what happens on a day-to-day basis at home. While a diagnosis can provide helpful background information, it is unlikely to account for all needs. Consider which areas your loved one handles independently and which have already involved someone else. Include the role of other family members as well, since they often provide behind-the-scenes support that might easily go unnoticed.
Bring this information to each tour. Give every community the same overview so you can compare its answers fairly.
Know what assisted living can provide
Assisted Living is for seniors who have daily activity challenges but do not require ongoing medical services.
Adult Residential Care Providers, or ARCPs, in Louisiana provide some form of long-term residential care and/or supervision to residents. Examples of possible services offered through an Adult Residential Care Provider could be housing, meal preparation, medication management, occasional/intermittent nursing services, transfer assistance, light housekeeping, and laundry.
A useful follow-up question: “Can you walk me through exactly how staff would help my loved one on a typical morning?”
A specific answer will describe who arrives, what assistance they provide, and how much time is available. A vague promise tells you much less.
During the tour, ask how care works each day
Begin with an evaluation of the quality of the resident’s care. Ask who evaluates residents prior to their admission, and how that evaluation is used to create a documented plan for their care. The plan should be based on what the person can do (abilities) and what he/she cannot do (needs). It should also include routines that help the resident feel comfortable.
Questions to Ask About Care and Daily Support
A strong assisted living community should describe the process by which it develops care plans for its residents and how residents receive hands-on assistance every day.
Care planning
- Who completes the initial assessment?
- Can family members participate?
- How are the resident’s preferences recorded?
- How often is the care plan reviewed?
- What triggers an earlier reassessment?
- How does the family receive updates?
- Will a change in care increase the monthly cost?
Hands-on support
- Which personal-care tasks can staff provide?
- Can staff assist with transfers or wheelchair use?
- What support is available during meals?
- How does the community respond when a resident refuses care?
- How does staff document a change in appetite, behavior, or mobility?
Always ask for examples, which a community should be able to provide you.
Find out who is available at night and on weekends
Staff coverage looks different after daytime leadership leaves. Ask which roles stay onsite overnight and who responds if residents need help. Clarify whether nurses are actually on-site, on call, or through some other arrangement. Different arrangements mean different things.
| Staffing question | What the answer should clarify |
|---|---|
| Who provides direct care? | The training and role of the employees who assist residents. |
| Who is present overnight? | The number and type of staff available after regular business hours. |
| When is a nurse available? | Whether nursing support is onsite or on call. |
| Who handles an urgent concern? | The escalation process when leadership is not in the building. |
| How does staffing respond to need? | Whether coverage changes as residents require more assistance. |
| How are caregivers trained? | Initial training, ongoing education, and dementia-specific preparation. |
Also ask about turnover among employees. Familiar caregivers learn to notice sooner how residents communicate and pick up on subtle changes faster.
Review medication support in detail
Medication Support may consist of: reminders, assistance with taking medication, or administering by trained personnel. The level of support that your loved one will need in order to live safely at a community should be matched to the type of services that are available at that community. It’s important to bring your loved one’s complete list of medications (prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, supplements, allergic reactions, and as needed) during the tour of a community so you have all the information before making a decision.
Medication questions to ask
- Who administers medication?
- Where is medication stored?
- Who updates the medication record after a new prescription?
- What happens after a hospital discharge?
- How are missed or refused doses handled?
- When does the community contact the family?
- Can residents use their current pharmacy?
- Does medication support carry an additional fee?
Look at the safety plan, not just the building
Having a “clean” building does not necessarily mean that there are no potential dangers. Families in Louisiana should ask their communities how they prevent falls and respond after a fall occurs. They should also inquire about emergency alerts for residents in their bedrooms, bathrooms, and other public areas. In addition to asking how staff members receive a resident’s alert, they should also find out what steps are taken next after receiving such a notification.
Safety questions worth asking
- How does the emergency call system work?
- How are falls documented?
- Who contacts the family after an incident?
- How are bathrooms designed for safe use?
- What happens during a power outage?
- Where do residents go during an evacuation?
- How does the community prevent residents from becoming lost?
Observe the community while you ask questions
A tour does much more than give you information. A tour allows you to observe interactions among individuals that are unrelated to a sales process. Take note of whether or not the caregiver greets the resident(s) by name. Take note of whether or not the caregiver pauses to listen. Observe which residents appear to be comfortable in areas open to other residents. Watch out for the overall atmosphere as the facility transitions from one time period to another.
| What to observe | What it may tell you |
|---|---|
| Staff tone | Whether residents receive patient and respectful communication. |
| Resident engagement | Whether people are invited into daily life rather than left on the sidelines. |
| Cleanliness | How consistently the community manages personal and shared spaces. |
| Noise level | Whether the environment feels calm or overwhelming. |
| Dining support | Whether residents receive help without being rushed. |
| Staff familiarity | Whether caregivers appear to know residents as individuals. |
A polished tour shows you the building. Everyday interactions show you the culture.
Before signing, calculate the full monthly cost
The monthly cost may be much less than the total cost of assisted living services. Get a written estimate that describes the assessed needs of your loved one to determine how much the service will cost. Ask about care levels or individual services that are charged separately. What event would require a new assessment and more money?
Recurring costs
- Room or suite
- Personal-care level
- Medication support
- Incontinence care
- Laundry or housekeeping
- Transportation
- Personal supplies
One-time or changing costs
- Community fee
- Move-in fee
- Deposit
- Guest meals
- Apartment changes
- Annual increases
- Care reassessments
How would the bill change if your loved one goes into a hospital or rehabilitation facility for a short time? Check the refund policy if your loved one leaves shortly after paying the first month’s fee.
Generally, Medicare does not cover room and board at assisted living communities or long-term custodial care. However, it may help pay for eligible medical services provided to a person living in an assisted living community. Contact the health plan and/or government program appropriate to their coverage to verify coverage.
Decide whether assisted living or memory care fits better
Assisted living is generally for seniors who require assistance with personal care (bathing, dressing, etc.), medication management, mobility, and safe navigation throughout their community. Memory care communities provide a much more specialized environment for those experiencing cognitive decline that affects judgment, orientation, communication, and/or safety.
| Assisted living may fit when | Memory care may fit when |
|---|---|
| The resident needs help with daily activities. | Memory loss creates a recurring safety concern. |
| The resident can usually express their needs. | The resident struggles to communicate pain or distress. |
| The resident can navigate the community safely. | The resident wanders or becomes disoriented. |
| General activities remain accessible. | Dementia-specific routines provide better engagement. |
| Standard supervision meets the resident’s needs. | A secure environment and specialized support are needed. |
Your assisted living tour checklist
Use this list during each visit. Leave space beside every item for notes so you can compare communities later.
- ☐ The community is properly licensed.
- ☐ Staff can meet current personal-care needs.
- ☐ The initial assessment process is clear.
- ☐ The family can participate in care planning.
- ☐ Staffing coverage has been explained for nights and weekends.
- ☐ Medication services match the resident’s needs.
- ☐ Emergency response procedures are clear.
- ☐ The hurricane and evacuation plan has been reviewed.
- ☐ Meals can accommodate dietary needs.
- ☐ Activities fit the resident’s interests and abilities.
- ☐ Outdoor spaces are accessible and secure.
- ☐ Staff interactions feel respectful and unhurried.
- ☐ Family communication follows a clear process.
- ☐ The complete monthly cost is in writing.
- ☐ Rate increases and reassessments have been explained.
- ☐ Transfer and discharge policies are understood.
- ☐ The residency agreement has been reviewed.
- ☐ The community has explained its care limits.
- ☐ The resident has been included in the decision when possible.
- ☐ The setting feels familiar, respectful, and comfortable.
Choosing care at Peristyle at Beau West
Peristyle at Beau West provides memory care assisted living in Mandeville for families across the Northshore. The community was designed for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Its approach centers on each resident’s history, abilities, preferences, and daily routines.
Beau West includes 40 private and semi-private suites. Residents have access to shared dining spaces, therapeutic gardens, individualized programming, housekeeping, laundry, and family support. The locally owned team can help your family understand the assessment process and the type of support your loved one may need. A visit also gives you time to observe the setting and ask detailed questions without pressure.
Plan your visit
Bring your questions to Beau West
Meet the care team and explore how the community supports residents through familiar routines and individualized care.
Schedule a TourFAQ
Should my loved one attend the assisted living tour?
You should include your family member in this visit if it will help them understand what they are being asked to do. Many families first go by themselves for the tour because visiting can be confusing or anxiety-provoking.
What documents should I bring to an assisted living assessment?
You should bring a list of medications that you are currently taking; contact information for each physician who is treating you; a list of any significant events in your health history; how you currently get around (e.g. walker, cane); any special diet requirements (e.g. gluten-free, diabetic); and any other information regarding your typical day-to-day routine.
Can an assisted living community ask a resident to move out?
Yes, an assisted living community may require you to leave if it cannot safely care for you.
