I am moving my mom into Steeplechase in the back of WalMart when we come down, it is not assisted living, it is a retirement home just outside of TV and serves three meals a day, has some activities, a bus, a pool, and there is a health care agency that you can hire to assist with care needs such as a shower assist. They are also building a new retirement home just like it, same company, right behind it. Retirement homes are good for no levels of care through some heavier duty care with an outside health care agency contracted, but you really have to be able to be mobile to get to meals, etc.
Assisted livings are different and some provide higher levels of care so you do not have to move unless you need care that is more intensive and requires hospitalization. Other assisted livings do less personal care and you have to move once you need a certain level of care. It is important to understand this and know exactly what the parameters are as well as the price points. Also it is better to find an assisted living that has a separate memory care community in case of dementia or alzheimers.
I have run two high end and high care assisted livings here in the Seattle area.
Here is my best advice once you find a few places you like.
Ask about staff retention, ie how much turnover is there in the administrator and the caregivers? Caregivers become critical to the residents and some places have a high turnover rate, this makes for an unstable property. Staff who stick around do so because they are treated well and compensated fairly, it is HARD work.
Second, talk to families who have their loved ones there and find out what they love about the care facility and what issues they have encountered.
Last, get the ear of some residents who seem engaged. They will give you more info than you may have been looking for.
Oh, and negotiate any move in fee. Assisted livings have targets to meet, it is a sales job to get you in there. Nothing wrong with that as they want you to love their property best. But some will charge you a lot for a move in fee. It is usually negotiable and "specials" often happen such a reduced or forgiven move in fee, particulary if they are having a slow month. Look for incentives as well as "refer a friend" bonuses.
You can PM me if you have questions.
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