Assisted Living Tour Checklist Georgia: What to Ask and Look For

Most Tours Are Sales Presentations, Not Evaluations

Assisted living communities and personal care homes know how to make a good first impression. The dining room sparkles during the scheduled tour, the activity calendar looks full, and the marketing director highlights every amenity. None of this tells you whether the facility will meet your parent's actual needs six months from now.

This checklist turns a tour into an evaluation — structured questions and observations that reveal the things a sales presentation doesn't cover.

Before You Visit: Homework

Verify licensing on GaMap2Care. Georgia's DCH database shows current license status, bed capacity, and past inspection survey results. Look for the facility type — Georgia distinguishes between Personal Care Homes (fewer than 25 beds, basic personal services, no clinical care) and Assisted Living Communities (25+ beds, medication administration, limited nursing). Make sure you're touring the right license type for your parent's needs.

Check CMS Care Compare. If the facility operates a skilled nursing component, federal quality ratings are available here. Assisted living and personal care homes don't appear in CMS — only in the state GaMap2Care system.

Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Ask about complaint history and resolution patterns for the specific facility. The ombudsman tracks informal concerns that may not show up in inspection records.

During the Tour: What to Ask

Staffing

• What is the direct-care staff-to-resident ratio during the day? At night? On weekends?
• Georgia requires minimum ratios (1:15 awake hours, 1:20 sleeping hours for PCHs; similar for ALCs with minimum 2 staff per floor). Is this facility staffed above the minimum?
• What is the staff turnover rate? High turnover means constant new faces providing intimate personal care — a particular concern for residents with dementia.
• How many staff members are certified nursing assistants versus uncertified aides?
• Is there a licensed nurse (RN or LPN) on-site 24/7, or only during business hours?

Care Capabilities and Limits

• What level of care can you provide? Georgia personal care homes cannot provide hands-on clinical intervention. Assisted living communities can administer medications and provide limited nursing, but neither type offers 24/7 skilled nursing.
• What happens if my parent's needs exceed your license? At what point would you recommend a transfer to a higher level of care?
• If my parent develops dementia, do you have a certified Memory Care Center unit? Georgia Memory Care Centers must have enhanced staffing (1:12 waking, 1:15 sleeping) and 16 hours of specialized training for direct-care staff.
• How do you handle medical emergencies after hours?

Costs and Contracts

• What is the all-in monthly cost for my parent's specific care needs? (Not the base rate — the actual rate including care tier, medication management, and any add-on services.)
• How are care levels assessed, and how often are they reassessed?
• What triggers a care-level increase, and how much notice do I get before the rate changes?
• Do you accept Medicaid waiver funding? If so, how many current residents are Medicaid-funded, and is there a waitlist for Medicaid beds?
• Is there a community fee or entrance fee? Is it refundable?
• What is the discharge policy? Under what circumstances would you ask a resident to leave?

Daily Life

• Can I see a current week's activity calendar? (Not the sample from the brochure — the one from last week.)
• What are the meal options? Can I see today's menu and eat a meal during the tour?
• How are dietary restrictions and preferences accommodated?
• What is the policy on personal furnishings and decorating rooms?
• How do residents get to medical appointments? Is transportation provided?

What to Observe (Not Ask)

The most revealing information comes from watching, not asking. Schedule your tour during a weekday mid-morning or early afternoon — this is peak activity time.

Watch the residents. Are they engaged in activities or parked in front of a TV? Are they clean and appropriately dressed? Do they seem comfortable interacting with staff?

Watch the staff. Do they know residents by name? Do they make eye contact and speak respectfully? Are call lights answered quickly or ignored? How do they interact with residents who are confused or agitated?

Use your senses. Does the facility smell clean? Persistent urine odor in hallways is a red flag for inadequate hygiene care. Is the noise level comfortable? Are common areas well-lit?

Check the kitchen and dining area. Is the kitchen clean? Are meals served at consistent times? Is the dining area set up to encourage socialization?

Look at the grounds. Are outdoor areas accessible and maintained? Is there a secure outdoor space for residents with mobility limitations or cognitive impairment?

Red Flags

• Staff unable or unwilling to share the current staffing ratio
• No licensed nurse on-site during your visit
• Evasive answers about inspection results or complaint history
• A contract that includes a personal guarantee clause (prohibited by federal law for Medicaid-certified facilities)
• Resistance to letting you visit unannounced after the initial tour
• Locked medication carts left unattended in hallways
• High proportion of residents in bed during daytime hours

After the Tour

Visit at least two more facilities for comparison. Return to your top choice unannounced at a different time — an evening or weekend visit reveals the staffing reality that a scheduled weekday tour may not.

The Georgia Care Decision Guide includes a printable facility audit worksheet that covers each of these areas systematically, so you can compare facilities side by side using the same criteria.

See more Georgia guides →