What questions should we ask when touring a care community?

The most important question is what the monthly fee actually includes: meals, housekeeping, laundry, medication management, transportation, and activities. The second is how care needs are assessed and what happens when needs increase, because level-of-care fees can change the monthly cost significantly.

Ask about staffing: how many caregivers per resident, how staff are trained, how turnover is handled, and who is available at night. Ask about the food, the activity calendar, and how new residents are welcomed and monitored in the first weeks.

Finally, ask about the practical details that affect daily life: visiting hours, family communication, what to bring, how the community handles medical appointments, and what the move-in process looks like. Write the answers down and compare them across communities so you are comparing like for like.