Memory Care
How to Choose a Memory Care Facility: 12-Point Tour Checklist
Tour memory care with confidence. Staff ratios, secure units, activity programs, medication policies, and red flags to watch for.
10 min readUpdated 2026-04-04
Memory care is not 'assisted living with a lock.' The best communities invest in dementia-trained staff, structured programming, and environments that reduce agitation.
Use this checklist on every tour — and verify state inspection records before signing a contract.
On every tour, ask
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio on evenings and weekends?
- How are wandering and exit-seeking behaviors handled?
- Is there a dedicated memory care activity director?
- How are falls and elopements reported to families?
- Can you see the latest state survey deficiencies?
Verify before you sign
Use our facility safety lookup for your state and CMS nursing home ratings if the campus includes skilled nursing. Compare at least three communities.
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