The most useful questions to ask on a dementia care community tour are about people, not buildings: how staff are trained, how daily life adapts to each person, how the community talks with families, and what changes as needs change. Ask for real examples, watch how staff speak with the people who live there, and leave with costs in writing.
Many families start this search in the first year after a diagnosis, often while still working out what kind of support their parent or spouse needs. A tour is your chance to see past the brochure. Use the checklist below on every visit in Connecticut, and bring the person living with dementia into the decision wherever you can.
What Should I Look for in a Dementia Care Community?
Look for a community that treats each person as someone with a history, interests and strengths, not as a diagnosis. Watch how staff greet people, how they respond when someone is confused or upset, and whether people are invited to take part in daily life or simply kept busy.
Questions to ask:
- What training do staff receive in supporting people living with dementia?
- How do you learn about each person’s history, routines and preferences?
- How do staff respond when someone feels anxious or overwhelmed?
- How do you balance personal choice with safety?
- How do you tell families when support needs change?
Ask for a recent example for each answer. “We always treat people with dignity” tells you little. “Last week a resident wanted to garden at 6 a.m., so we…” tells you a lot.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s guide to long-term care suggests visiting more than once, dropping in at different times of day, including mealtimes, and talking with staff, residents and families.
What Should I Ask About Daily Life and Activities?
A good tour shows you an ordinary day, not a staged one. Ask to see an activity in progress and notice whether people can join, watch or step away.
Questions to ask:
- How are activities chosen to reflect each person’s interests and abilities?
- Can people choose quiet time, social time or time outdoors?
- Are there activities in the evenings and on weekends?
- Can people bring familiar belongings and furniture?
- How do you help people find their way around shared spaces?
LiveWell is guided by The LiveWell Approach®, which focuses on building a community where everyone who lives at, works at and visits LiveWell feels seen, heard and valued.
What Should I Ask About the Living Environment?
Pay attention to how the space feels as well as how it looks. Is it calm? Can people move around freely? Is there somewhere private to sit with a visitor?
Questions to ask:
- Which care levels do you offer on this campus?
- How are neighborhoods or living areas organized?
- What happens if someone needs a different care level later?
- Where can families visit privately?
LiveWell’s residences are on one campus at 1261 S Main St in Plantsville, in Southington. The campus offers assisted living and skilled nursing. Its neighborhoods are The River Homes, Garden Spring and Meadow Spring, plus the Skilled Nursing Neighborhoods: The Well Spring, Hill Spring and Mountain Spring.
How Do I Find a Dementia Care Community for a Parent in Connecticut?
Start with your parent, not the listings. Write down what support they need day to day, what matters most to them, and what they would want if they could choose. Ask their doctor which care level fits their needs now.
Then:
- Make a shortlist based on location, care levels offered and how each community approaches dementia.
- Book tours and bring the same question list to each one so you can compare answers.
- Check records. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests asking for the most recent survey or inspection report.
- Know who can help. Connecticut’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for people living in skilled nursing, residential care homes and assisted living communities across the state.
- Involve your parent in visits and decisions wherever possible.
What Should I Ask About Family Communication?
Moving does not end a family’s role. It changes it. Find out exactly how you will stay informed and involved.
Questions to ask:
- Who is our main contact for day-to-day questions?
- How and how often do you share updates?
- How can we share our parent’s history and preferences with staff?
- How are concerns raised and resolved?
- How can families take part in community life?
LiveWell also supports care partners directly. LiveWell Dementia Specialists offer navigation, resource coordination, coaching and occupational therapy for families working through dementia-related decisions.
What Should I Ask About Costs and Changing Needs?
Ask for every cost in writing before you commit. Questions to ask:
- What does the quoted price include?
- Which services cost extra?
- How do you assess changes in support needs, and how do they affect cost?
- What happens if someone needs a different care level?
- What are the terms for leaving?
The Alzheimer’s Association also suggests asking whether the community accepts Medicare or Medicaid, and what happens if private funds run out. Take written agreements home and read them before you sign.
How Should I Prepare for a Tour?
Bring this checklist to every visit:
- The support needs and daily routines that matter most to the person moving.
- Your question list on staff, daily life, environment, communication and costs.
- A notebook for answers and first impressions.
- A request for written information on services, policies and fees.
- A plan to return at a different time of day.
After each tour, talk it through together. What felt right? What worried you? What still needs an answer?
Visit LiveWell in Plantsville
LiveWell has partnered with people living with dementia and their care partners for over 30 years. If you are touring dementia care communities in Connecticut, contact LiveWell or call 860.628.9000. A Resource Coordinator will get back to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Questions Should I Ask When Touring a Dementia Care Community?
Ask about staff training, how daily routines are personalized, how staff respond to distress, how families are kept informed, which care levels are offered, and what costs are included or extra. Ask for recent examples, not general promises.
How Many Times Should I Visit Before Choosing?
At least twice if you can. Visit at different times of day, including a mealtime, so you see more than one routine.
How Can I Talk to a Parent Who Does Not Want to Move?
Listen first. Talk about what matters to them, visit together, and give them time rather than pushing for a quick decision.
What Documents Should We Prepare Before a Move?
Ask the community for its list. It often includes identification, medical information, a medication list, emergency contacts and any legal documents covering decision-making.
What Happens If a Parent’s Needs Change After Moving?
Talk with the care team about the change and ask which support is available on campus. Ask this before the move as well, so you know the answer in advance.