If the time has come for mom or dad to downsize to an apartment where they can receive extra help, assisted living is a wonderful next step.
Deciding to transition your parent into assisted living is emotional but asking the right questions will help whittle down the options to find the best new home for your parents.
Is the community aesthetically pleasing?
Shopping for a new home can be exciting, but nothing can cause more anxiety than the idea of living somewhere you’re not comfortable. How do the visuals make you feel?
The care for little details in common spaces could be a good indication of how the community will care for your loved one. If it feels cold and unwelcome to you, it’s probably not the best fit for your parent.How do you feel in the community?
How do you feel in the community?
While a sparkling new building might feel luxurious, it’s people that can make an experience great. Finding a warm, welcoming community will help your parent transition into their new home.
You’ll know it’s a good fit if you walk out feeling like you’re part of a new family.
Enriching Activities
No one wants to imagine their parent spending their days staring blankly at TV screens or walls. A vibrant community with a full calendar of activities is a good sign that your loved one will be lively and socializing regularly! As you walk through the building, look for these things:
Research has shown that seniors who live a socially active life have higher late-life satisfaction, making active communities vital to residents’ health.
How do the residents look?
The physical appearance of the residents is important to note.
Residents who appear healthy and clean are a product of a great care team.
How’s the food?
You’ll notice that most assisted living communities don’t have full kitchens in their apartments. Mealtimes are a wonderful opportunity to socialize, and ensures your parent will have three solid, nutritious meals per day. If you’re able to join residents for a meal, look for the following:
Additionally, feel free to ask how the community ensures your mom or dad stays hydrated. Dehydration is a common issue with seniors as their sense of thirst has diminished.
Is there transportation available?
Giving up a car can represent a loss of independence for many seniors, and you’re not always available to be a chauffeur. Does the community provide transportation services to get to and from appointments, or even take your loved one to the store if they need to pick something up?
Security
A major benefit of moving a loved one to assisted living is security. Knowing someone can tend to their needs at any time of day can provide peace of mind for you and your family.
Security measures are particularly important for residents in memory care. As their cognition declines, there’s a bigger risk of danger for seniors with memory decline if they wander somewhere that’s not safe or into a completely unfamiliar area. Providing a safe space where care managers can monitor the residents and provide immediate assistance eliminates risks and potential harm.
How do the residents feel?
As you tour a community, stop and talk to some residents. (There’s usually a self-proclaimed tour guide who will happily accompany you and chat as you tour!) Ask them what they love most about the community to get their honest opinion about their home. If some of the residents’ family members are present, ask them what the best experience has been not just for their loved one, but for them as a family. They will be the community’s best advocate and will give you the most honest feedback.
How’s the staff?
The employees of a community will become your parent’s surrogate family. You want to be sure the staff will be as loving to your parents as you are. Chat with some of the care managers as you tour:
If you walk away from a tour feeling confident that your parent will be well-loved in a community, it’s a good sign.
What’s the cost?
Understanding the costs associated with the community will help you narrow down your options. Assisted living communities charge for services in one of three ways—care points, care levels, or all inclusive.
Don’t be afraid to drop in for a tour. It will give you a good sense of how the community regularly operates, without the advanced warning of your arrival. If the community holds public events, attend one to see how they engage the neighborhood and residents.
Aegis Living communities are available to show you around anytime! Stay for a meal or a cup of coffee, sit in on a class, or mingle with staff and residents. We are happy to answer all your questions.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.