Tour preparation

Prepare for a useful community tour

A tour should test your shortlist assumptions. Send care and accessibility needs in advance, bring a second note-taker when possible, and leave with written next steps.

Before the visit

Ask who will lead the tour and request time with someone who understands care assessments. Share mobility, dietary, communication, and behavioral needs that affect fit. Bring a medication list only when necessary for a private clinical conversation; do not email sensitive health information to a general sales inbox.

During the visit

• Visit shared spaces as well as a model apartment.
• Ask how residents request help and what happens after hours.
• Observe cleanliness, odors, lighting, noise, and ease of navigation.
• Request a written list of included services and additional fees.
• Ask what circumstances could require a resident to move.

After the visit

Write observations before discussing impressions with other attendees. Separate what you saw from what you were told, and record unanswered questions. Confirm any important claim in writing and compare the same care assumptions across communities.

Our comparison guide offers a consistent evidence checklist, while the correction formlets you flag a public fact that appears outdated.