Choosing a home
How to compare adult family homes, assisted living, and larger care settings without losing sight of fit.
Resources
For families, by experience.
Practical guidance for comparing homes, planning tours, understanding public records, and helping a loved one move with dignity.
Best next step
Visit before deciding.
A calm tour will answer more than a brochure can. Bring the checklist below and compare notes as a family afterward.
Schedule a tourTouring with confidence
What to bring, what to ask, and what families should notice during a calm in-person visit.
Licensing & inspections
Where Washington families can verify public records and how to discuss documentation during admissions.
Planning the transition
Simple ways to make move-in feel less abrupt for the resident and more organized for the family.
Guides
Useful before the first call.
What to Look for in an Adult Family Home
A short guide to what separates a true home from a facility, and the credentials that matter in Washington.
Questions to Ask on a Tour
A printable checklist covering staffing, safety, food, activities, and licensing — everything a tour should answer.
Understanding DSHS Inspection Reports
How to read an inspection report, what citations mean, and where to look them up for any Washington home.
Tour checklist
What to bring and ask.
- Bring a list of your loved one's medications and conditions
- Note any dietary, religious, or cultural preferences
- Plan for 45–60 minutes; the home is calmer mid-morning
- Ask to meet the caregiver on shift, not just the owner
- Walk the bedroom you are considering — and the bathroom
DSHS inspection lookup
Washington publishes inspection reports for licensed adult family homes. Licensing documentation is available upon request during admissions.
Open DSHS lookup →Frequently asked
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