There’s no way to get around the fact that, at some point, you will have to choose a senior living community for your loved one. This may be one of the most important decisions you and your family can make.
Fortunately, you have several methods to help you decide which senior living community is the best. One of the best methods is touring the community in person.
These tours can provide a chance to see the environment firsthand, but the truth is most families walk away without asking key questions or noticing important details. This can make choosing the right senior living community much harder than it has to be.
In order to help you decide which senior living community is the best for your loved one, we’ve created this guide with senior living tour tips designed to highlight the five things families often miss.
1. What is the Philosophy of Care?
Most families usually focus on the appearance of a senior living community when they tour it, and to be fair, the neatness of the dining room, the appearance of the resident suites, and the activity calendar are quite important. What matters even more, though, is the philosophy guiding the care team.
At The Kensington Bethesda, for instance, our guiding principle is Our Promise: “to love and care for your family as we do our own.” This commitment means care is not only professional but deeply compassionate.
Questions to ask assisted living providers:
- How do you ensure individualized care for each resident?
- What is your approach to aging in place?
- How do you balance independence with assistance?
These three questions can help you uncover whether the community truly prioritizes dignity, respect, and personalized attention, or if it simply provides the basics.
2. What Levels of Care Are Available?
A tour may give the impression that all assisted living communities offer the same services. However, care levels vary greatly. Families often overlook asking whether their loved one will need to move if care needs increase.
At The Kensington Bethesda, our assisted living programs support residents from early assistance with daily activities through advanced memory care.
For more insight, explore our guide on the levels of care in senior living neighborhoods to see how assisted living and memory care can evolve as needs change.
Why This Matters
- If your loved one has Parkinson’s or dementia, they may require specialized care in the future.
- Communities with higher staff-to-resident ratios provide more attentive support.
- Aging in place reduces stress by minimizing moves to new settings.
Being proactive ensures your chosen community is prepared to meet long-term needs. If you’re not sure what level of care your loved one needs, we can help you figure out how to choose between assisted living and memory care. This will help you see how needs can evolve.
3. What Dementia Care Programs do They Have?
Another commonly missed detail is the quality of memory care programs. Families often ask about dining or activities, but overlook the specialized needs of those with cognitive changes. Kensington communities offer tiered neighborhoods for memory care, including:
- The Kensington Club for early-stage memory support
- Connections for early-to-middle-stage dementia
- Haven for advanced memory care
When evaluating dementia care, consider:
- What training does the care team receive?
- Are there dedicated neighborhoods tailored to different stages of memory loss?
- How do programs encourage dignity and meaningful engagement?
You can also visit our memory care neighborhoods if you want to explore this further.
4. Beyond the Basics: The Complete Senior Community Checklist
It’s easy to focus on the obvious during a tour, decor, dining, or activities. But there are other essential items on a senior community checklist that families should consider:
Key Checklist Questions
- Is there a registered nurse on site 24/7?
- What security measures are in place, especially in memory care neighborhoods?
- Are enrichment activities tailored to residents’ personal interests?
- How are families included in care planning and daily life?
- Can menus be customized for dietary preferences or restrictions?
If you need additional guidance on what other questions families should ask before choosing a senior living community, check out the AARP’s Senior Living Checklist.
5. Taking the Next Step: Scheduling a Tour with Purpose
Evaluating a senior living community shouldn’t end when the tour is over. Instead, see if you can schedule a follow-up tour if you have any unanswered questions. You may also want to speak to some team members about personalized care options.
At The Kensington Bethesda, we encourage families to take their time, ask detailed questions, and schedule additional visits if needed.
Don’t Miss the Details on Your Senior Living Tour
A senior living tour is more than a walk through beautiful spaces, it’s an opportunity to evaluate whether a community can become a true home for your loved one.
By focusing on the philosophy of care, levels of service, dementia programs, a thorough senior community checklist, and purposeful follow-up, families can make informed and confident decisions.
The Kensington Bethesda is built on the belief that care should be both clinically excellent and deeply compassionate. If you are seeking a trusted partner for this important journey, we invite you to join our family.
If you’re ready to explore compassionate, trusted senior care, schedule a tour of The Kensington Bethesda today. We welcome families to experience firsthand how we uphold Our Promise.