Start with the care your loved one needs

Before you tour any home, write down what a normal day looks like for your loved one. Do they need help getting out of bed, bathing, using the bathroom or eating? Do they wander, get confused in the evening or need reminders for medication? Are there medical needs such as diabetes, oxygen or wound care?

This list keeps every tour focused. It also helps the provider tell you honestly whether they can meet those needs today and as they change.

Check the license and inspection history

Every adult family home in Washington must be licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The DSHS Adult Family Home Locator lets you search by city or license number and shows each home's licensed capacity, specialty designations and recent inspection reports.

Read the most recent reports. A single minor citation that was corrected quickly is common. Repeated problems in the same area deserve a direct question during your visit.

Questions to ask on a tour

  • Who lives in the home and provides care at night?
  • How many caregivers are on duty during the day and overnight?
  • How are medications stored, given and documented?
  • What happens if my loved one's needs increase?
  • Can we see a sample week of meals? How are special diets handled?
  • How do you communicate with families, and how often?
  • What is included in the monthly rate, and what costs extra?
  • Is a private room available, and can we bring furniture from home?
  • What languages do caregivers speak?

What to notice while you are there

Pay attention to how the home smells, how residents look and whether caregivers speak to them by name. Ask to see the room your loved one would use and the bathroom they would share or use. Visit around a mealtime if you can. The best tours feel unhurried, and the provider asks you as many questions as you ask them.

Red flags

  • The provider cannot show you the license or avoids questions about inspections.
  • Rates or care plans are vague and nothing is offered in writing.
  • You are pressured to decide or pay a deposit on the spot.
  • Residents appear unkempt or left alone for long periods.