25 Questions to Ask When Touring Assisted Living in Dallas
A tour is your best chance to see how a home really works. Bring these questions and watch for the answers no brochure gives.
A tour tells you more than any website, including this one. You can see how caregivers speak to residents, smell the kitchen, and feel whether the home is calm or rushed. Bring this checklist to every assisted living or memory care tour in Dallas so you can compare homes fairly.
Care and staffing
- How many residents live here, and how many caregivers are on duty during the day and overnight?
- Are caregivers awake and on-site 24 hours a day?
- What training do caregivers have, especially in dementia care?
- How long have your caregivers worked here?
- How do you assess a new resident and write the care plan? How often is it reviewed?
- Who administers medications, and how do you coordinate with doctors and pharmacies?
- What happens if my parent’s needs increase? Will they have to move?
- Do you work with hospice and home health providers?
Safety and licensing
- What type of license do you hold from Texas HHSC? (You can read how licensing works on the HHSC assisted living page.)
- How do you prevent and respond to falls?
- How do you keep residents who may wander safe?
- What is the plan for medical emergencies and severe weather?
Daily life
- What does a typical day look like?
- Who cooks, and can meals accommodate diets and preferences?
- What activities are offered, and can residents choose quiet time instead?
- Can residents bring their own furniture and decorate their room?
- Are there private rooms, semi-private rooms, or both?
- When can family visit, and how do you keep families updated?
Cost and contracts
- What is included in the monthly rate, and what costs extra?
- How and when can the rate change?
- Is there a move-in fee or deposit?
- Which payment sources do you accept? (See paying for assisted living in Texas.)
- What is the notice period if we need to move out?
Gut-check questions to ask yourself
- Did caregivers speak to residents with patience and respect — even when they didn’t know I was watching?
- Can I picture my parent at that table, in that chair, on an ordinary Tuesday?
Tour Chattington Manor
We welcome tours 7 days a week, in person or by video call. Ask us every question on this list — we would rather you know exactly how we care for residents before you decide. Schedule your tour, or read how a residential care home compares with a large community first.