How to Choose an Assisted Living Facility?
Date Updated: July 9, 2025
Written by:
Pilar Martland double-majored as an undergraduate at UC Davis and earned bachelor’s degrees in English and science. Following graduation, she spent two years as an AmeriCorps member working in the public school systems of California and Washington. She then completed a master's degree in education and became the author of multiple children's books.
Pilar has spent the past several years focusing on raising her family while continuing to pursue work on a freelance basis as a writer, editor, researcher, and fact-checker. She strives to make a positive difference by spreading awareness and empowering others through research-backed, educational, and informative content.
Edited by:
Matt Whittle is a freelance writer and editor who has worked with higher education, health, and lifestyle content for eight years. His work has been featured in Forbes, Sleep.org, and Psychology.org. Matt has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Penn State University.
Matt brings experience taking complicated topics and simplifying them for readers of all ages. With Caring, he hopes to assist seniors in navigating the systems in place to receive the care they need and deserve. Matt is also a freelance composer — you may have heard his work in global online ad campaigns for various products.
Assisted living provides help to seniors who need assistance with the activities of daily living (ADLs). Services vary at these facilities, with more expensive options offering amenities beyond basic support. Still, all assisted living facilities (ALFs) offer support for dressing, eating, bathing, and other activities.
Choosing the right assisted living facility for yourself or your loved one requires you to take stock of your specific needs, along with your budget. You should also research reviews about any potential facility for a look into its reputation and available services.
Key Takeaways
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While independent living facilities are intended for older individuals in relatively good health, seniors with significant medical conditions may benefit from residing in nursing homes or memory care facilities. Individuals with needs that fall somewhere in between may find the services offered in an assisted living facility to be an ideal fit.
ALFs help residents with everyday tasks, such as personal care and ADLs, but do not provide ongoing skilled nursing care. In the United States, there are approximately 32,000 assisted living facilities equipped to serve more than a million people.
If your loved one struggles with routine tasks, it may be time to begin talking to them about assisted living options. With the right approach, your loved one may be open to the idea, and you can avoid the dilemma of having a parent who needs care but is unwilling to relocate to a residential facility.
Identify Which Amenities and Services You Need
Choosing an assisted living facility depends somewhat on personal preference. While many facilities offer similar basic services and amenities, some provide unique options for their residents. Not all settings offer on-site physical therapy, for example. Many amenities found in higher-end facilities, such as pools or golf courses, are often not included in less expensive facilities.
Care services in assisted living
When choosing an assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one, identify the services all facilities provide and which options may only be available in certain settings. All assisted living communities will offer assistance with ADLs, which include:
- Eating
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Bathing
- Toileting
- Walking
Communities also typically have trained staff on site 24/7 and help with medication management, housekeeping, laundry services, and meal preparation.
Some, but not all, communities will have additional care services offered through other providers, such as:
- Mental health counseling
- Medication administration
- Physical and occupational therapy on site
- Podiatry services
- Dental services
Amenities in assisted living
In addition to personal care assistance, most ALFs offer amenities, activities, and other quality-of-life services. While most communities offer a similar baseline of care services, the amenities and lifestyle services can drastically differ. As such, choosing an assisted living facility for you or your loved one that meets your preferences also depends on your financial situation.
Standard amenities and lifestyle services you'll find at many assisted living communities include:
- Transportation
- Scheduled group activities and events
- On-site fitness center
- Activity room and other shared spaces such as a media center, library, or art studio
- Group outings to local attractions
- Basic salon or barbershop
Some more high-end communities may also feature:
- Heated indoor or outdoor swimming pool
- Chef-prepared fine and casual dining options
- Room service
- Well-equipped fitness centers and on-site classes
- Wellness and nutrition counseling
- Full-service salon and spa services
- Golf course or tennis courts
- Theater room
- Library
- Multiple on-site restaurants
- Pet grooming, walking, and other services
Research Assisted Living Communities
Choosing an assisted living facility for you or your loved one should be a process that considers your specific needs as well as input from others. Determine if you will need unique pet or visitor policies, as well as whether the provider offers meal options that accommodate any dietary restrictions.
Filter search for specific needs
Some people will be pretty flexible when it comes to the specifics they need. Choosing an assisted living facility may be more difficult for others with more specialized needs. In some cases, community rules or policies can make or break whether it'll work for you or your loved one. Some situations that may warrant this include:
- Pet Policies: If you have a pet, filter for pet-friendly communities. Check any breed or size restrictions, if relevant.
- Overnight Visitor Policies: If you have a spouse or partner who isn't planning on moving in with you, you'll likely want a community that allows overnight visitors.
- Dietary Accommodations: If you have dietary restrictions, prioritize communities that can accommodate your specific needs.
- Parking Availability: If you plan to continue driving, look for communities with resident parking.
- Continuing Care Options: If you plan to remain in one residence, look for a community that offers comprehensive care, including assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services.
You should have a general location in mind for where you want to live when you move into an ALF. Costs can vary even among cities in the same larger area. Research the cost of assisted living communities in your target area and surrounding towns to see if it's worth exploring lower-cost options outside of your initial target area.
You can also plug the addresses of any communities you're interested in into an online map tool to find nearby businesses. It may be valuable to know how easy or difficult it will be to access these places if you move in.
Read reviews
A simple way to gauge a community's quality is to search for its name on a search engine and see if any reviews, news articles, mentions on Reddit, or social media profiles appear. If so, read through them and look for any red flags.
You may also find positive information or images that confirm that you want to tour a community. Always keep in mind when using Google's AI search results — confirm any claims by scrolling through and reading results on multiple pages, along with checking its sources.
A business' website will always focus on the positives, so it's imperative to get firsthand accounts of residents and their loved ones' experiences with an ALF. Caring.com's methodology ensures that its more than 375,000 reviews are vetted for quality and accuracy.
Tour Assisted Living Facilities
As you learn how to choose an assisted living facility, you'll realize that visiting multiple facility locations is a critical step in finding the ideal setting. Consider each option's atmosphere and layout. Ask staff about available services and amenities and observe the current residents.
Prepare a list of questions
Ask about the facility's hiring policies, caregiver training requirements, and the current staff-to-resident ratios, which may affect the timeliness and quality of care. You may also want to inquire about special meal plans, activities, amenities, and accommodations offered at the facility, as well as measures in place to ensure resident safety. Lists of important questions to ask, grouped by subject, can be found on this Caring.com resource page.
Explore food options
If you or your loved one has a health condition, sensitivities, or allergies that require a specialized diet, make sure an assisted living facility can meet your dietary needs. Consider any cultural or religious preferences you may have, as well. Always review a facility's menu and ask about the availability of potential alternative meals.
Ask about care services
While all ALFs offer assistance with ADLs and other basic services, such as 24/7 on-site support, medication management, and housekeeping, other services may vary. For example, only certain facilities may offer occupational therapies or dental services.
Talk to staff members
Talking to staff allows you to inquire about facility policies and develop an idea about their attitude toward residents and their families. You will need to communicate with staff to make sure your loved one receives the care and respect they need.
Staff who seem easy to talk to, actively listen, and show empathy towards residents should be an important consideration when choosing an assisted living facility.
Compare rooms and apartments
Check online to see if any layouts of assisted living facility accommodations are available, along with if there are different unit sizes. Determine whether rooms are private or shared with other residents. When touring a facility, consider room size, cleanliness, and whether they are furnished.
Observe current residents
Observe current residents to see if they appear bored, content, or actively engaged in activities. Also, determine whether residents seem to have positive interactions with staff and one another.
Choose the Assisted Living Facility That Is Right for Your Loved One
The process of choosing the right assisted living facility for your loved one requires you to consider several factors. Take their overall care needs, finances, and interest in additional amenities into consideration as you research and tour available facilities.
When to Move to Assisted Living?
Signs it may be time for a loved one to move into assisted living include a decline in their personal hygiene and an inability to handle basic daily tasks. Struggling with finance management or home maintenance and deteriorating health may also indicate it's time for them to receive daily assistance. When transitioning from their house to a facility, proper planning can make the move less stressful for seniors and their families.
Who Pays for Assisted Living?
Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the everyday costs of assisted living; however, certain Medicaid waivers may help seniors cover assisted living community costs in some states. It is possible to use Social Security Disability Insurance or other resources, such as veteran's benefits or life insurance, to finance assisted living.
Bottom Line
Assisted living provides seniors who need help with ADLs and other care. Assisted living isn't covered by Medicare but may be funded by Medicaid waivers in some states.
Choosing an assisted living facility should be a process that includes identifying the services and amenities you need, conducting thorough research, and touring and comparing several facilities. Visit Caring.com's Assisted Living Resources hub for more information about assisted living and options to finance your stay in a facility.
Choosing Assisted Living FAQ
Sources
- Assisted living: An overview of this senior living option. (2024). The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program
- Facts & Figures. (2025). AHCA/NCAL
- Your guide to luxury senior living. (2024). Forbes