Touring Assisted Living in Texas: A Checklist of What to Ask and Check
A practical list of questions, observations and record checks for families visiting Texas assisted living facilities.
A tour is short, and a good one is guided as much by you as by the sales person. Use this checklist to stay on track and to compare two or three facilities on the same terms.
Before you go: check the record
- Find the facility on this site and note its license number, type (A or B), licensed capacity and expiration date.
- Look it up in the HHSC provider search (linked on each profile) and read what the state shows.
- Ask the facility for its latest inspection report and read it before you visit, so you can ask about specific findings.
- If memory care matters, confirm the Alzheimer's certification and certified capacity.
The type of license and care level
- Is the facility Type A or Type B? What happens if my family member's needs outgrow the license?
- Who assesses care needs, and how often? Who decides when the price changes?
- Can the facility manage medication, diabetes care, incontinence, mobility aids, hospice visits?
Staffing
- How many staff are on duty during the day, evening and overnight, and how many residents are there per staff member?
- Is there a nurse on site, and for how many hours? Who is called when a nurse is not on site?
- How long has the administrator been there? Staff turnover tells you a lot.
- What training do caregivers receive, and how often?
What to observe
- Do staff greet residents by name and speak respectfully?
- Are residents dressed, groomed and engaged, or left alone?
- Smell, cleanliness and temperature of common areas and the room you would be given.
- How long does it take for a call button to be answered? Press one and see.
- Eat a meal. Is the food appetizing, and are alternatives offered? Can residents who need help eating get it?
Safety and emergencies
- Smoke detectors, sprinklers and exits. Ask for the emergency plan, including evacuation during a storm or power outage, which matters in Texas.
- Does the facility have a generator or a plan for extreme heat or cold?
- How are falls handled, and who is notified?
Money
- Get the admission agreement and fee schedule in writing and take them home to read.
- What is the base monthly rate, and what is extra?
- How often have rates increased, and with how much notice?
- What is the refund policy if the resident dies, leaves or is discharged? How much notice is required for a move-out?
- Does the facility accept Medicaid, and under what conditions?
Resident rights and complaints
Texas assisted living residents have rights set out in state law and rules, including the right to be free from abuse and neglect and the right to complain without retaliation. Ask where the resident rights are posted and who handles complaints inside the facility. If a concern is not resolved, you can contact the HHSC licensing unit through its assisted living facilities page. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program advocates for residents at no cost; the Eldercare Locator can help you reach it. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
After the tour
- Write down your impressions the same day, while they are fresh.
- Talk to a resident or a family member, away from staff if possible.
- Visit again at a different time, such as a weekend or evening.
- Compare the numbers, not the brochures.
- Ask a trusted friend, your family member's doctor or a local Area Agency on Aging counselor to review your notes before you decide.
We list state license records for each facility. We do not rate or recommend them, and a listing here is not an endorsement. Use the checklist to make your own comparison.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Texas Assisted Living & Memory Care Index is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor, nurse, discharge planner or other qualified professional. Do not use it to make decisions about diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.