--- title: "How to Choose a Memory Care Community: What to Ask" description: "How to choose a memory care community: what to look for on a tour, the questions to ask about staff, safety, care and pricing, and red flags to watch for." url: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/how-to-choose/ updated: 2026-10-09 site: Senior Transition Assistance --- Memory care # How to choose a memory care community Choosing memory care is one of the hardest decisions a family makes. A good tour, the right questions and a careful read of the contract go a long way. Talk it through with a person[ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388) Free. We listen, explain your options, and introduce you to a few that fit. You decide. Quick answer Choose memory care by watching how staff treat residents, asking about dementia training and night staffing, checking the security and layout, and getting all pricing and discharge rules in writing. Visit more than once, including at a mealtime, and check state inspection records. [(800) 614-8388](tel:+18006148388) and we'll help you narrow the list. **Last updated October 9, 2026** Costs are published medians or typical ranges with a named source, never quotes. Every community and agency prices differently. **On this page** 1. [ What good memory care looks like](#g-what-good-memory-care-looks-like) 2. [Questions about staff](#g-questions-about-staff) 3. [Questions about care](#g-questions-about-care) 4. [Questions about cost and contract](#g-questions-about-cost-and-contract) 5. [Check the record](#g-check-the-record) 6. [Red flags](#g-red-flags) 7. [Questions](#g-faq) ## What good memory care looks like - Staff who speak calmly, make eye contact and know residents by name. - Residents engaged in activities, not sitting in front of a TV. - A secure but home-like layout with outdoor space residents can use safely. - Clean, calm common areas without strong odors. - Meals served with help for those who need it. ## Questions about staff 1. What dementia training do staff get, and how often? 2. How many care staff are on duty during the day, and at night? 3. Is a nurse on site, and when? 4. How long have most staff worked here? ## Questions about care 1. How do you handle wandering, agitation or refusing care? 2. How do you manage medications? 3. How do you avoid using medication to manage behavior? 4. What care needs would require a move elsewhere? 5. How do you keep families informed? 6. Can hospice come in? ## Questions about cost and contract 1. What's the monthly price, and what's included? 2. How are care levels set, and how often are they reassessed? 3. What are the move-in fees, and are they refundable? 4. How much has the rate gone up in recent years? 5. Do you accept Medicaid, now or if savings run out? 6. What notice is required to move out, and what are the discharge rules? ## Check the record Kansas (KDADS) and Missouri (Department of Health and Senior Services) license and inspect communities. Ask the community for its most recent inspection report, and check with the state agency. ## Red flags - Pressure to sign or pay a deposit on the first visit. - Vague answers about staffing or price increases. - Residents who look unkempt or left alone for long periods. - Staff who can't tell you how they'd handle your parent's specific behaviors. ### Want help choosing? Tell us about your parent and we'll suggest memory care communities to tour near Kansas City. Free. [ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388)[Have us call you](#g-form) ## Questions families ask ### How many memory care communities should we tour? Touring two to four gives you a fair comparison. Visit your top choice twice, at different times of day. ### Should my parent come on the tour? It depends on the stage of dementia. Many families tour first, then bring their parent for a short visit or meal. ### What's the most important thing to look for? How staff interact with residents. Kind, patient, skilled staff matter more than the building. ### Can we see inspection reports? Yes. Ask the community and check with the state licensing agency. ## Sources - [Alzheimer's Association: Caregiving](https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving) - [National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer's and dementia](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia) - [Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)](https://kdads.ks.gov/) - [Missouri DHSS: Senior and Disability Services](https://health.mo.gov/senior-disability-services) ## Related guides - [Memory care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/) - [When is it time for memory care?](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/when-is-it-time/) - [Tour checklist](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/assisted-living/tour-checklist/) - [Memory care costs](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/costs/memory-care/) - [Memory care in Kansas City](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/locations/missouri/kansas-city/memory-care/) - [Stages of dementia](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/for-families/stages-of-dementia/) - [Dementia care options](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/dementia-care-options/) - [Memory care vs. nursing home](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/vs-nursing-home/) - [Moving a parent with dementia](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/downsizing-and-moving/moving-a-parent-with-dementia/) --- Canonical page: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/how-to-choose/