Before moving into an assisted living community, there are several steps that should be taken to make the process smoother.
One helpful place to start is by speaking with a senior living advisor at Care Connect. A Care Connect coordinator can complete an initial assessment to understand your loved one’s care needs, financial considerations, location preferences, and other priorities. Based on that information, Care Connect can provide a list of community options that may be appropriate for your situation.
From there, families can tour the communities that fit their needs and preferences. Once you have narrowed down your choices, the communities you are considering will complete their own assessments. These assessments help the community determine whether it can safely meet your loved one’s care needs and whether they meet the community’s admission requirements.
Taking these steps in order can make the process easier to manage. Instead of contacting communities one by one without knowing what to look for, families can first understand their options, tour communities that may be a good fit, and then move forward with the communities that make the most sense.
What Does the Assessment Cover?
Most assisted living communities offer an initial assessment at no cost and with no obligation to move in. This gives families an opportunity to learn whether the community can meet their loved one’s care needs before making a decision. It is still a good idea to confirm this when scheduling the assessment, as policies can vary between communities.
The assessor will ask about everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, walking, and getting in and out of a bed or chair. They will want to know what your loved one can do independently and where they need reminders or hands-on assistance. Medication management is another common part of the assessment. Communities will need an understanding of medication regimen and whether your loved one manages medications independently or needs assistance.
The assessment information can come from several people who know the situation well. The individual can provide information about their daily routine and abilities, while family members can share additional details about care needs, changes they have noticed, and what support is needed at home. If the person is currently in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital or skilled nursing facility, staff can also provide information about their current level of care, mobility, medications, and other needs. Bringing information from these different sources helps create a more complete picture of the person’s needs and what type of assisted living setting may be appropriate.
What About Memory Loss or Dementia?
If your loved one has memory or cognitive changes, the assessor will likely ask about confusion, communication, judgment, behavior, and supervision. They may also ask about wandering, anxiety, or difficulty following routines.
Be honest about what happens on a typical day. Families sometimes focus on what their loved one can do on a good day, but the community needs to understand the full picture. This helps determine whether the residence can safely meet those needs.
What Happens After the Assessment?
The community uses the information to determine what services your loved one would need and whether those needs can be safely met. This helps community clinical staff to develop a support plan that outlines the resident’s care and service needs.
It is also important to understand that the level of care a person needs can affect the cost of assisted living. In some communities, care is included in the monthly rate, while others use a tiered pricing structure based on the amount of assistance a resident needs. The reason is that higher care needs generally require more staff time and attention. Assessments can allow families and loved ones to get an idea of monthly costs once completed.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that it can help to involve a Care Connect coordinator early in the process. A pre-assessment can help identify your loved one’s care needs before you begin touring communities. This allows the search to focus on communities that are more likely to accept your loved one and have the clinical capabilities to care for them appropriately.
Without that step, families can spend time touring communities that may not be able to meet their loved one’s needs. In some cases, a community may seem like a good choice at first, only for the family to discover later that the resident’s care needs have increased beyond what the community can provide. Choosing a community with your loved one’s current needs, as well as their likely future needs, in mind can help reduce the chance of having to move again later.
Sources
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. “Assisted Living Residence Regulatory Compliance Guide.” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/licensing/pch-alr-licensing/pch-alr-compliance-guides. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. “Assisted Living Residence Assessment-Support Plan Form.” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/licensing/bhsl-licensing/documents/Assisted_Living-Assessment_Support_Plan_Form.pdf. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. “Assisted Living Residences: Regulatory Compliance Guide.” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/licensing/bhsl-licensing/documents/Assisted_Living_Residences-2800_Regulatory_Compliance_Guide_RCG.pdf. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
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