Finding the right assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one is a huge and often stressful decision. It can be challenging to find a location that provides the right level of comfort, safety, and overall enjoyment necessary for emotional well-being, while also providing the necessary level of medical care.
By taking the time to do a little research into what you should be looking for in an assisted living facility, you can be better prepared to find the ideal spot.
Finding the best assisted living facility for your loved one is worth the hassle, so the whole family can be happy and comfortable. Keep reading to learn more about assisted living facilities, and the types of questions to ask when you’re visiting one.
Contact Haven Health today to learn more about the assisted living options available to you in Arizona.
What Is an Assisted Living Facility?
According to the National Institute on Aging, assisted living facilities are intended for patients who require or would benefit from assistance with daily activities, but do not specifically require consistent medical care. For patients who require continued medical care, a nursing home (commonly referred to as a skilled nursing facility) is a more appropriate option.
Keep in mind that there can be some overlap between assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. For example, some assisted living nursing facilities offer skilled nursing care as well. And when they do not, some patients may only need a temporary stay at a skilled nursing facility to recover from an injury or illness, and then return to an assisted living community.
When Is Assisted Living the Right Choice?
Assisted living facilities offer care services that can be customized to a patient’s needs. The level of care depends on what the patient is struggling to do independently. This can range from merely benefiting from assistance with chores and meals to requiring assistance with medication management and mobility issues.
Some common signs that an assisted living facility may be an appropriate option for you or your loved one may include one or more of the following:
- Struggling to manage medication(s).
- Struggling to keep themselves and/or their home clean.
- Struggling to properly feed themselves.
- Struggling with loneliness and isolation.
- Friends and/or family members are struggling to help out.
- There are safety concerns.
- Experiencing more frequent falls.
- Noticeable trouble moving around independently.
Top Features Every Family Should Evaluate in 2025
Before choosing an assisted living facility, there are several important factors that a family should consider. The overall level of care provided by the facility is crucial. This includes understanding what types of medical assistance and support services are available, such as:
- Medication management
- Mobility assistance
- 24-hour nursing care
- Infectious disease care
- Complex wound care
- Memory care
- Rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy
It is also important to consider the overall comfort and enjoyment your loved one will find in the facility.
Other factors to consider include:
Safety and Security
When taking a tour, ask about what security measures are being taken, such as secure entrances, secure locks on the doors, and emergency response systems that are in place.
This also extends to physical safety precautions, such as:
- Grab bars in the bathrooms
- Handrails on all steps or inclines
- Staff oversight
- Post-COVID infection protocols that follow state guidelines for preventing disease spread
- Air quality systems are being well-maintained
- Residents having access to ways to communicate with family
- Residents have easy access to a way to get assistance from their room
Qualified and Compassionate Staff
Look for evidence of well-trained and compassionate caregivers who prioritize individual needs and provide personalized attention to residents.
You should also inquire about the following:
- Staff qualifications (ensure that staff are well-trained to handle personalized and high-quality care).
- Ensure that medical staff have the proper qualifications.
- Ask what the employee turnover is like at the facility.
- Ask about how care is customizable to your loved one’s needs.
- Ask about how patient-centered care is incorporated.
- Ask about how the staff accounts for patients dealing with dementia and/or trauma.
- Ask about family access to care team communication.
Personalized Care Plans and Levels of Care
A 2025 study published by the National Library of Medicine found that patients who are empowered to make medical decisions for themselves, after being given access to pertinent information, tend to experience superior healthcare outcomes. Personalized care options range from minimal help with daily tasks and meals to continuous observation in a skilled nursing facility, due to medical necessity or Alzheimer’s care.
Prioritizing varying levels of care makes treating patients like the individuals they are a priority in both a personal and medical perspective. Individualized care is not only important for medical purposes, but ensuring that a facility is ready to respect your loved one’s personal routine, needs, and preferences is also crucial to living comfortably.
Examples include:
- Access to customizable dining schedules and dietary needs.
- Making reasonable accommodations for a preferred sleeping schedule.
- Facilities that adhere to state regulations on person-centered care.
Cleanliness, Comfort, and Home-Like Environment
Assisted living facilities should be exceptionally clean and inviting (this goes for the staff as well). The environment of the rooms and communal areas should feel homely and cozy. Rooms should have personal belongings on display to achieve a level of personal comfort for each resident. The décor of communal areas should feel relaxed and comforting, and you should inquire about cleanliness practices, such as:
- What are the facility practices regarding COVID hygiene protocols?
- What is the facility doing to guarantee healthy air quality?
- How frequently is maintenance being done?
- Does this facility incorporate a fragrance-free policy?
- Are frequently touched surfaces anti-microbial surfaces?
- Ask to see the cleanliness logs, and how the facility works to guarantee transparency.
Common Areas, Activities, and Social Engagement
Common areas for socializing are an important aspect of assisted living as well. Especially considering that the Mayo Clinic reports that social relationships reduce loneliness, which reduces the risk of depression and anxiety.
Patients who have easy access to activities and opportunities for social interaction will encounter less loneliness and increased mental stimulation. Both of these things are fantastic for mental health, preventing cognitive decline, and improving the quality of life.
Families should explore the range of recreational activities and social programs to ensure residents have opportunities for engagement and enjoyment. A facility should offer ways that residents can engage in activities that are enjoyable and meaningful with other residents.
Examples include:
- Intergenerational programs
- Virtual travel
- Pet therapy
- Art classes
- Exercise classes
- Tech-based engagement for keeping in touch with family and friends or playing games
Dining Experience and Nutrition
It’s important to find a place that has plenty of dining options to meet everyone’s dietary needs. For example, facilities with the option for communal dining can be a great way for residents to socialize.
Some other things to consider include:
- Does the menu have a lot of variety and take resident feedback into account?
- Does the dining hall offer flexible dining times?
- Does the menu offer vegetarian, vegan, and Kosher options?
- Is there a diabetic-friendly menu?
- Are there healthy menu options for those dealing with renal issues?
- Are there texture-modified options for those struggling to swallow?
Additional Services and Amenities
Ensuring that the assisted living facility has everything you or your loved one will require is vital to their ability to thrive. Having access to additional services that will make the patient’s life easier can have a drastic effect on quality of life.
To find nursing home features and amenities that will suit you or your loved ones’ needs, consider enquiring about each amenity that you will require. Consider whether you will require any of the following additional services:
- What types of transportation options are available through the facility? Are these options ADA-compliant? If so, how does obtaining these rides work?
- Rehabilitation services such as physical therapy or occupational therapy.
- Are there options for Alzheimer’s memory care?
- What are the options for infectious disease care?
- Is there complex wound care available?
- Is there access to technology so seniors can stay in touch with loved ones?
- What does mobility assistance look like at the facility?
Transparent Pricing and Financial Flexibility
Understanding pricing structures, any additional fees or charges, and discussing payment options is essential to making informed decisions that align with one’s budget. Before deciding on an assisted living facility, it’s vital to sit down with someone in the financial office to discuss the exact pricing that will be involved with the type of care you’re looking for, and what your options are.
Be sure to inquire about:
- What will long-term care insurance cover? (When applicable)
- Will you or your loved one qualify for any Medicaid waiver programs?
- Are VA benefits accepted? (When applicable)
- What payment models are available?
- Ask specifically about the possibility of any hidden fees.
Communication and Family Involvement
A 2021 study published by the National Library of Medicine suggests that patients who are frequently visited by family members and have family members more involved in their care had superior health outcomes. In contrast, visiting restrictions and lack of involvement in their loved one’s care caused significant stress to family members.
The above study also suggests that effective and clear communication between family members and assisted living staff improves the quality of care. A strong facility will have options for you to build trust in your relationship with caregivers, stay informed, and be involved to whatever extent you and your loved one wish by incorporating one or more of the following:
- Technological “family portals”
- Care conferences
- Flexible visitation policies
Visitation Policies and Lessons From COVID-19
When visiting a facility, it is worth asking how the facility handled the COVID-19 pandemic and how it adapted to prevent future outbreaks. For example, at Haven Health in Arizona, we have updated our admissions process and visitor screenings to be appropriate for safety, while allowing some flexibility.
Location and Accessibility
It’s important to consider the location of the facility and its proximity to the patient’s preferred medical providers, regularly attending community gatherings, cultural activities, regular shopping locations, and their loved ones. You should also ask about what types of transportation options are available through the facility, whether these options are ADA-compliant, and how obtaining these rides works.
Why Families Choose Haven Health for Assisted Living in Arizona
At Haven Health, personalized care, comfort, and safety are a priority. We understand that transitioning to living in an assisted living facility can be a challenge for patients and families alike. This is why we prioritize family involvement and maintain strong communication with family members.
Haven Health offers assisted living at many of our Arizona locations. All of these locations provide patients with an environment that is comfortable, safe, clean, and homey. At these locations, patients are provided with the following:
- Qualified and caring caregivers
- Skilled staff
- Planned social activities
- Wellness programs that can be customized for individual needs
- A range of therapy services
To learn more about all that Haven Health has to offer for assisted living, explore our website or contact us to schedule a tour.
Red Flags To Watch for During a Tour
It’s imperative to pay close attention and follow your instincts about issues you may witness during your tour.
Some red flags to watch out for include:
- Unpleasant odors
- Residents being ignored
- Vague and unclear pricing
- Restricting access to protocols, paperwork, etc.
- Staff seem cold, moody, or checked out
- Messes are left unattended
- Poor lighting
- Broken equipment
Key Questions To Ask Assisted Living Facilities
When looking for a skilled nursing facility, in addition to printing out and bringing Medicare’s skilled nursing facility checklist, here are questions to ask assisted living facilities:
- What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
- How does the facility handle medical emergencies or unexpected health issues?
- What types of rehabilitation services and therapies are available on-site?
- Are there specialized programs or units for specific conditions, such as dementia or stroke recovery?
- Can residents bring personal belongings and furniture with them?
- Is there a visiting policy for family members and friends?
- What activities and social programs are offered to promote engagement and quality of life?
- Are meals provided, and can dietary restrictions or preferences be accommodated?
- What security measures are in place to ensure the safety of residents?
- How does the facility communicate with families about their loved one’s condition or any changes in care plans?
- How does the facility integrate technology for entertainment and medical purposes?
- How did the facility respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? What safety measures are they still taking against future COVID outbreaks?
- Is skilled nursing care an option at this facility?
- What options are there for activities in the common areas?
- What are the specific rules in the common areas?
Searching for the right assisted living facility for your loved one can be challenging. Thankfully, by arming yourself with the right information, knowing what questions to ask, and knowing the red flags to look for during your tours, you can be confident that you have made the right choice.
For more detailed information about the assisted living options offered at Heaven Health, contact us today and consider scheduling a tour. Before your visit, check out our assisted living checklist, and write down any questions you may have.
Contact Haven Health today to learn more about the assisted living options available to you in Arizona.
Sources:
A Surprising Key to Healthy Aging: Strong Social Connections. (2024).
Gaugler, J. (2021). Re-imagining Family Involvement in Residential Long-Term Care.
Long-Term Care Facilities: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Other Residential Care. (2023).
Young, M. (2025). Standards and Evaluation of Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Person-Centered Care.