20 Questions to Ask When Touring an Assisted Living Community

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Touring an assisted living community is an important step in finding the right home for yourself or a loved one. If you are still exploring whether now is the right moment to make a transition, you might find our guide on the Signs It’s Time for Assisted Living: A Guide for Portland Families a helpful place to start. 

This guide covers the 20 questions that matter most, organized by category, so you can walk into each tour feeling informed, confident, and prepared.

Before You Tour: A Little Research Goes a Long Way

Before visiting a community, it’s helpful to do a bit of research in advance. In both Oregon and Washington, assisted living communities are licensed and regulated by state agencies that maintain public information about inspections and compliance. Reviewing these resources, alongside Google and Facebook reviews, can help you identify communities that consistently provide a positive experience.

Most importantly, use your tour to discover how a community feels. Finding the right community is about more than services and amenities—it’s about finding a place where people are genuinely cared for and can thrive.

Questions About Staffing

The people who care for residents each day are the heart of any assisted living community. Everything else—the decor, the amenities, the events calendar—matters much less than who is in the building and how attentive they are.

  1. What is the caregiver-to-resident ratio during the day, evenings, and weekends? This is the single most important number to ask for. A lower ratio means each caregiver is responsible for fewer residents. Be specific—staffing often differs on nights and weekends.
  • What to listen for: A specific number. While most communities average 1 caregiver to 12 residents, Arcadia Senior Living averages 1 to 7, staffing by resident acuity (care needs) rather than just occupancy.
  1. Do you have licensed nursing staff on-site 24 hours a day? Every community has a different approach to nursing support. Some have nurses in the building around the clock, while others utilize on-call arrangements. Knowing this helps ensure it aligns with your loved one’s healthcare needs.
  2. How do you handle staff turnover and retain your team? High turnover is common in senior care and is a meaningful quality indicator. Consistent caregivers build trust and communicate better with residents. Ask how long the community’s longest-tenured caregivers have worked there.
  3. How are caregivers trained and supervised? Ask about initial training requirements, ongoing education, and how complaints from residents or families are handled.

Questions About Care and Care Plans

Every resident is unique, and quality communities recognize that care should be personalized and adaptable.

  1. How is a care plan developed, and how often is it reviewed? A care plan outlines the help a resident receives, from daily activities to medication management. Look for communities that view this as an ongoing process.
  • The Arcadia Difference: Care plans are reassessed after the first week, again at 30 days, every 90 days thereafter, or anytime a resident’s needs change.
  1. What happens if my loved one’s care needs increase? This is vital. Some communities require residents to move out once their care needs exceed a certain threshold. Others offer programs that allow residents to age in place.
  • The Arcadia Difference: At Arcadia Senior Living Portland, the Enhanced Care program enables residents to receive a higher level of daily support without ever having to leave the community.
  1. Do you assist with medications? How is that managed? Medication management is one of the most common reasons families choose assisted living. Ask how medications are stored, who administers them, and what safeguards exist to prevent errors.
  2. How does the community handle medical emergencies? Ask about the protocol for calling 911, emergency call systems in rooms/bathrooms, and the community’s relationship with nearby hospitals.
  3. Do you provide care for physical limitations beyond standard ADLs? “Standard” care typically covers bathing, dressing, and meals. Ask what else is—and is not—covered under a standard care level.

Questions About Pricing and Contracts

Understanding the financial aspects of assisted living helps you make informed decisions and avoid surprises later on.

  1. What is included in the base monthly fee? Request a written list. Most include the apartment, meals, housekeeping, and basic activities. Ask specifically what costs extra (e.g., incontinence supplies, transportation, personal care).
  2. How does the pricing model work? Some communities charge a flat all-inclusive rate, while others use a personalized care model based on individual needs.
  • The Arcadia Difference: We use a transparent, point-based model. You pay a base apartment rate plus a care fee determined by an individual assessment. Families who need less support, pay less.
  1. How often have rates increased in the past, and by what percentage? Rate adjustments are normal in senior living. Ask for historical data and whether increases are across-the-board or tied specifically to care levels.
  2. Are there any move-in fees, community fees, or buy-in costs? Some communities charge upfront fees ranging from $1,500 to $5,000+. Ask exactly what is due at signing and whether any deposits are refundable.
  3. What are the lease terms and notice requirements? Month-to-month leases offer flexibility, while long-term leases create financial exposure if circumstances change. Ask about move-out notice periods and what happens to a deposit if a resident passes away.

Questions About Daily Life

A vibrant community should offer opportunities for connection, purpose, comfort, and joy.

  1. What does a typical day look like for a resident? Ask to see a current activities calendar. The best communities offer a variety of opportunities—from exercise to educational programs—and treat activities as invitations, not obligations.
  2. Can my loved one bring their own furniture? Creating a familiar space is vital. Most communities encourage residents to personalize their apartments. At Arcadia, we encourage residents to make their apartments uniquely their own because home should reflect the memories that matter most.
  3. What is the dining program? Can I see a sample menu? Are meals prepared on-site? Is there a professional chef? How are dietary restrictions handled? If possible, ask to share a meal during your tour. Food quality matters enormously to daily life.
  4. Is the community pet-friendly? For many seniors, pets provide companionship and comfort. Ask about restrictions on size or breed. (Note: Both Arcadia Senior Living communities are proudly pet-friendly!)

Questions About Community Culture

The atmosphere and sense of belonging are often why families choose one community over another.

  1. How would you describe the community’s culture or personality? Listen to how the staff answers this. The best answers paint a specific picture of daily life—friendships formed over meals, celebrations, and a team that knows each person. Vague answers may signal a lack of distinct culture.
  2. Can I speak with a current resident or family member? Any community confident in its reputation should be able to facilitate this. Hearing firsthand stories provides reassurance and invaluable perspective.

What to Observe Without Asking

Some of the most important information isn’t found in the answers you receive, but in the things you observe during your tour:

  • The Atmosphere: Do residents appear engaged or disengaged? Do staff greet them by name?
  • Responsiveness: Notice how quickly call lights or requests are answered.
  • Cleanliness: Check that the community smells clean in hallways away from the main entrance, not just in the lobby.
  • The Kitchen Test: At a well-run community, the culinary team knows who takes their coffee black, who likes to sit at which table, and what dessert to make when a new resident moves in. That level of familiarity does not happen by accident.

Tip: Consider scheduling a second visit, perhaps during an activity or lunch, to get a fuller picture of daily life.

The Questions That Matter Most

Of all the questions on this list, the ones that reveal the most about a community are the ones that require specific, accountable answers: the caregiver ratio, the contract terms, the rate history, and what happens when care needs increase. Communities with nothing to hide will answer those questions directly.

At Arcadia Senior Living, we believe choosing an assisted living community is about finding a place where your loved one can feel safe, valued, and truly at home. We welcome questions and encourage families to take the time they need to get to know our team.

If you are exploring assisted living options in the Portland and Vancouver area, we invite you to visit Arcadia Senior Living Portland or Arcadia at Lookout Ridge in Washougal, WA. We’d be honored to show you around and answer every single question on this list.

Learn more or schedule a tour today: