This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific situation.

Facility Comparison Worksheet — Evaluating Your Options Side by Side

If you're looking at assisted living facilities, nursing homes, memory care units, or other residential options for your parent or older relative, you're going to visit multiple places. And after the third or fourth tour, they all start to blur together. One place has a nice lobby but confusing medication procedures. Another feels homey but the staff seems overwhelmed. This worksheet approach helps you see what you're actually comparing instead of relying on first impressions or gut feelings.

The key is to look at the same things in the same way at each facility. You want to know not just whether something exists—like whether they have activities—but what those activities actually look like and whether they match what your loved one needs. You want to notice things that matter for their quality of life and your peace of mind. And you want information that lets you compare costs, care quality, and fit all in one framework.

This is structured information gathering, done systematically across visits. It takes some time upfront, but it's time that directly determines where your parent will spend potentially years of their life.

What You're Comparing

Start by listing the facilities you're visiting and the basic facts about each. Write down the name, address, type of facility (assisted living, memory care, independent senior living, skilled nursing), occupancy status (do they have openings?), and initial cost estimate. Ask directly about their occupancy and wait lists. If they're full or have a long wait, you need to know that now.

Get the bed types and room options. Do they offer private rooms, semiprivate rooms, or shared rooms? What does each cost? What's included in the room,is there private parking, a kitchenette, an ensuite bathroom? This matters because it affects daily life. A private room costs more but offers privacy and independence. A shared room is cheaper but adds the complexity of managing a roommate.

Staffing ratios are critical. How many residents do they have per staff member? The answer varies by time of day (day shift versus night shift matters enormously). What's the ratio during the night? If there's one staff member for twenty residents at night, that's different from one per ten. Ask about turnover. Do they have consistent staff, or does the team change constantly? Residents do better with familiar people.

What level of care does the facility actually provide? Some places handle bathing, toileting, and mobility help. Others can't manage someone with advanced dementia or complex medical needs. Some have nurses on site all the time. Others have nurses available by phone. Some can manage insulin injections but not feeding tubes. Ask directly about what they can and can't do. If your parent has specific medical needs, ask whether they can handle them.

The Physical Environment

Visit at different times of day if you can,morning, afternoon, and evening if possible. The same facility looks different depending on whether you're there at 8 a.m. when everyone's being helped with breakfast or at 3 p.m. when it's quiet.

Is it clean? Really clean? Walk into bathrooms. Look at the common areas. Is there a smell,and if so, what kind? A faint institutional smell might be unavoidable, but urine smell means incontinence isn't being managed well. Check the kitchen. Are residents eating food that looks appealing?

What about natural light? Can residents look out windows? Does the place feel bright and open or institutional and dim? Windows onto gardens or outdoor views matter for mental health.

Is there outdoor space? Can residents go outside easily? Is there a garden, a patio, a walking path? Can someone in a wheelchair access it? For people with limited mobility, outdoor access is valuable. For people with memory issues, safe outdoor access reduces feelings of being trapped.

What does the resident appearance tell you? This sounds odd, but look at the people living there. Are they clean and well-groomed? Are they dressed in clothes that seem to be theirs, or do many people look like they're wearing donated items? Are they engaged or sitting blankly in front of a television? What you see tells you about the standard of care. If many residents look neglected or withdrawn, that's information.

Is there adequate lighting everywhere? Poor lighting is a fall risk. It also creates a depressing atmosphere. Good facilities are well-lit, especially in hallways and bathrooms.

Questions for the Staff

Ask to speak with the activities director or program coordinator. What does a typical week look like? How many hours per week of activities are offered? What kinds,exercise, crafts, games, educational programs, outings? Are activities optional or encouraged? Do they adapt activities for people with varying abilities? One person might do a full exercise class while another does seated exercise while another watches. That's inclusion. If everyone's forced to do the same activity or sit alone, that's not good.

Ask about dining. How many choices are offered? Can they accommodate special diets? What if someone needs soft food because of swallowing issues? Do residents eat in a dining room with others (which encourages socialization) or can they eat in their room? Are meals appealing? Request to see a menu from the previous week.

What's the emergency protocol? If someone falls, how quickly is help available? If someone has chest pain, what happens? If there's a fire, how are mobility-limited residents evacuated? Who's trained in CPR? Ask about this directly and carefully observe the answer. A good facility has clearly thought this through. A vague answer is a red flag.

How do they handle behavioral changes or psychiatric issues? If someone becomes anxious or depressed or shows behavioral changes, is there a plan? Do they have psychiatric consultation available? Can they manage someone with mild dementia or significant memory loss?

What's their training and credential status? Are the aides certified? Do CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) have current certifications? Does the nursing staff have RNs (Registered Nurses) or only LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses)? Both are valid, but it affects what care can be provided. Does the facility require ongoing training? Do staff seem knowledgeable and competent?

What's the culture like? When you walk through, how do staff interact with residents? Do they seem respectful? Do they use names? Do residents seem to know them? Do they joke around or is it all very formal and rushed? A warm culture where staff knows residents and cares about them is qualitatively different from a facility where it's purely transactional.

Ask about admission and ongoing assessment processes. When someone moves in, what happens? Is there an orientation? Are they assessed for capacity and needs? If something changes over time, how is that handled?

Visiting Policy and Communication

Can family visit anytime or are there restricted hours? This matters if you work and can only visit evenings, or if you want to be there during lunch to see how meals are managed. Restrictive visiting policies are sometimes flags. There are safety reasons for some restrictions, but "we prefer family visits between 2-4 p.m. on Sundays" is different from "family can visit anytime they're comfortable."

Do they host family events? Some facilities do family dinners or holiday celebrations. Some have family councils where families meet regularly to discuss concerns. This kind of engagement is helpful.

How do they communicate with family? Do they call if something changes? Is there a portal where you can see updates? Do they send photos or activity reports? Some families need frequent contact. Others need less. Facilities vary in how much they communicate. Know what to expect.

What happens if there's a concern? If family raises an issue, what's the process? Is there someone designated to address concerns? Good facilities welcome family input and have a clear process for addressing issues. Defensive responses are worrying.

The Financial Picture

Write down the total cost. Is there a base fee with extras, or is it all-inclusive? What's included,meals, laundry, transportation, activities, medications? What costs extra? Some facilities charge separately for incontinence supplies, personal hygiene items, or activities. Those costs add up.

What happens if costs increase? Ask about the historical increase rate. Have costs risen 3% annually or 8%? What's projected for next year? This affects long-term planning.

What's their policy on leaving? If someone decides to move or passes away, how much notice is required? Is there a financial penalty? Some places require 30-60 days notice. Others will charge for the notice period.

Using This Information

After visiting three or four facilities, you'll have real information to compare. You'll know not just that they have activities but what those actually look like. You'll know their staffing ratios. You'll understand the physical environment and the culture. You'll know what's included in the cost and what's extra.

This framework isn't about finding a perfect place,you won't. But it is about seeing the real differences between options and deciding which combination of factors matters most for your parent. Maybe you're willing to pay more for a private room and smaller staff ratios. Maybe location near your home is the priority. Maybe the activity program is most important. You can't know what to prioritize until you have this information.

Take notes while you're there. Memory is unreliable when comparing multiple facilities. A good worksheet keeps everything straight and lets you make a decision based on facts rather than which place had the nicest lobby or friendliest tour guide.

How To Help Your Elders is an informational resource for families working through aging and elder care. We are not medical professionals, attorneys, or financial advisors. The information provided here is for educational purposes and should not replace professional consultation. Every family's situation is unique, and rules, costs, and availability vary by location and circumstance.