How to find and shortlist assisted living communities

Once you have a sense of the type of care your parent needs and what you can afford, the search itself can start. It helps to go in with a plan, so you spend your energy on the few places that really fit.

This guide walks you through where to look, what to check before you visit, and how to get from a long list to a short one.

Start with what matters most

Before you open a single listing, write down a few basics. They will filter out a lot of options quickly.

• Location. Close to you or another family member who will visit? Near your parent’s doctors, friends or place of worship?
• Care needed today. Help with bathing, dressing, medications, mobility or memory? If memory loss is a concern, read about memory care too.
• Care likely needed later. Ask whether a community can keep your parent if needs increase, or whether a move would be required.
• Budget and payment. Private funds, long-term care insurance, VA benefits or Medicaid? Our costs guide explains the basics.
• Your parent’s preferences. Size, pets, a garden, a quiet setting or a busy one.

Good to know: Assisted living is regulated at the state level, so what a community can offer, and what it must disclose, varies from state to state. Always confirm details with the community and your state’s licensing agency.

Check the license and inspection history

Every state has an agency that licenses assisted living or residential care. The name differs by state, and so does what it publishes.

• Look up the community by name on your state licensing agency’s website, or call the agency.
• Confirm the license is active and matches the type of care you need.
• Ask whether inspection or survey reports are available, and read the most recent ones.
• Note any findings, and ask the community later how they were fixed.

Your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program works on behalf of residents in assisted living, nursing homes and other care settings. It can be a useful contact if you have questions about residents’ rights.

If you are not sure where to start locally, the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116), a public service of the Administration for Community Living, can connect you with your Area Agency on Aging and other local services.

How to use this site

You can browse assisted living by state and then by city. Each listing is built to help with the checks above.

• License information, so you can look it up with the state.
• Capacity, which gives you a sense of the community’s size.
• Care types offered, such as assisted living or memory care.
• Medicaid status, where known.
• Phone number to call the community directly.
• A “Facts last checked” date, so you know how recent our information is.

Every listing on this site is free. We plan to add an optional paid Verified upgrade for communities, which will always be labeled. Being Verified will not mean a community is better than others. You can read how it will work on our listing plans page.

Good to know: Details change. Treat any listing, including ours, as a starting point, and confirm license status, services and pricing with the community and your state agency.

Make a first phone call

A short call can save you a wasted trip. Keep notes on each call so you can compare later.

• Do you have openings, or is there a waiting list?
• Can you meet my parent’s current care needs? What about if they change?
• Do you accept Medicaid or VA benefits, if that applies to us?
• Can you send your pricing, fee schedule and a sample residency agreement?
• When could we visit, and could we come at a mealtime?

Pay attention to how the call feels, too. Were your questions answered clearly and kindly?

Narrow your list to three to five

Aim for a short list of three to five communities to tour. That is enough to compare, but not so many that visits blur together.

Cross off any community that:

• Has a license that is inactive or does not cover the care your parent needs.
• Has inspection findings that worry you and no clear answer about how they were resolved.
• Cannot give you pricing in writing.
• Does not accept the payment source you will rely on.

Our community shortlist checklist puts all of these checks on one page. Print one copy per community.

When you are ready to visit

With your short list in hand, you can plan tours. Our guide to touring and comparing communities covers what to watch for and what to ask, and the tour checklist keeps your notes in one place.

If you feel stuck, it is fine to pause. Talking with your parent’s doctor, a benefits counselor or an elder-law attorney can help you see the next step more clearly.