Tips & Tricks for Finding the Right Senior Living Facility

Finding a nursing home or rehab facility? Tips and tricks for finding senior living care.

Choosing a senior living community is emotional and overwhelming — and there’s no perfect manual for how to do it. But there are some simple moves that make this process feel more informed and calmer.

Here are the tips I give families all the time:

1. Tour at the same time of day you expect most activity

A 10am tour looks different than 5pm. Activity levels change. Try to visit when residents are:

• eating lunch

• in common spaces

• engaged in programs

Walk around the facility and the floor your loved one will live on. You learn more from what you see in the hallways than what’s said in a sales office.

2. Ask: “What does a normal Tuesday look like?”

Most places can show you their best day. You want their average day. Look for:

• frequency of programming

• menu variety

• social stimulation

• how often residents leave their rooms

Remember, weekends may have more or less activity, depending on whether residents are off premises with family or friends, or if there are activities specifically for families and friends on-site. 

3. Tour the actual room or apartment they offer, or at most smallest room they offer

If you only see the premium model suite, it can skew expectations. Ask to see:

• the actual room or apartment your loved one will be moving into 

• smallest floor plan

• most standard design

• least-upgraded option

This helps you visualize what your loved one will realistically experience - and helps you make sure you have what you need to make the space a home (that’s where The Golden Move can help!)

4. Pay attention to what you hear

Tone and sound tell you more than décor. Is the building:

• full of music?

• quiet but peaceful?

• loud with stress?

Noise is data. What type of environment will help your loved one thrive? Do they need a social environment to help them fill their days? Or will a loud and active environment overwhelm and confuse them?

5. Meet an actual caregiver

Ask to speak with a floor nurse or aide. Not just sales. Ask:

• “What do you love about working here?”

• “What do residents here typically need help with most?”

• “How long have you been here?”

Tenure matters. High turnover is a flag.

Rachel Note: We had to move my mom to a new facility because she wasn’t working with PT at the rebab center. We met the physical therapist (Shoutout to Wendy, a lifesaver to this day!) and knew she would be able to take on the challenge of my mom’s special needs. Wendy delivered from their first session and got my mom ready to move out of the facility quickly and safely! 

6. Look for personalization opportunities

The space itself is only 50% of the experience. Is it a blank space or partially furnished?

Ask what residents can bring - and what they’re required to bring.

• all their furniture or just their own recliner?

• personal items like bedding, curtains and kitchen times - what’s provided?

• lighting?

• memory displays?

Personal comfort = emotional safety.

7. Sleep on it — literally

After the tour and conversation, pause. Check:

• How do you feel?

• Could you picture your loved one’s day here?

• Does the staff feel like people you could call at 8pm?

Use the information you gather, and trust your gut. You know your person.

Final Thought

There is no perfect facility — there is only the right support system. And the magic is in how you personalize the space afterward.

That’s where The Golden Move comes in — we help create rooms that feel like home from Day One.