1. Start with the support needed today
Write down the help already needed with meals, bathing, dressing, mobility, medications, transportation, household tasks, and nighttime routines. Note any recent falls, hospital stays, wandering, or changes in memory that should be discussed with qualified health professionals.
Separate immediate needs from preferences. Location, room style, activities, language, culture, pets, dining, and proximity to family can matter greatly, but a setting must first be able to support the person safely.
- Daily personal-care and mobility needs
- Medication and health-management needs
- Memory, behavior, and nighttime support
- Social, cultural, dietary, and location preferences
- A realistic monthly and long-term budget
2. Match the need to the right care setting
Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, often called assisted living or board-and-care homes, provide housing and 24-hour non-medical care and supervision for people age 60 and older. Continuing care retirement communities can offer multiple levels of care under a long-term contract. Skilled nursing is a different, clinical level of care.
If the right setting is unclear, ask a physician, hospital discharge planner, social worker, or care manager to explain which services are necessary. A directory can help organize the search, but it cannot assess medical needs.
3. Verify every facility independently
Use the California Department of Social Services facility search for licensed senior-care facilities. Review the license number, address, capacity, inspection reports, complaint information, and enforcement history. A current license does not replace a careful visit or guarantee that a community is the right fit.
For Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes, Medicare Care Compare provides federal quality and inspection information. Make sure you are comparing the correct facility and current record.
- Confirm that the name and address match the official record
- Read recent inspection and complaint documents
- Ask the provider to explain material findings or corrections
- Recheck the record before signing an agreement
4. Compare the complete cost, not only the starting rate
Request a written explanation of the base rate and every common added charge. Ask how care levels are assessed, how often rates can change, and what happens if the resident needs more support.
Review deposits, community or entrance fees, medication fees, move-out terms, refund rules, and notice periods. For a continuing care contract or a major financial commitment, consider review by a qualified attorney or financial professional.
5. Visit, observe, and compare consistently
Tour more than once when possible. Notice how staff speak with residents, whether call systems are answered, how meals and activities actually look, and whether the environment feels calm, clean, and respectful.
Use the same questions and notes for every visit. A simple comparison made immediately after each tour is more reliable than trying to remember several communities later.
6. Know where to ask for independent help
California’s Area Agencies on Aging connect older adults and caregivers with local information and services. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman assists residents with concerns involving care, safety, rights, transfers, and other facility issues. Ombudsman services are free and complaints are confidential.
Primary sources
Official resources
Use these government resources to verify information and find independent help.