Moving into a retirement community or accessing supports from senior care services providers is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Whether for yourself or a loved one, such decisions are personal, emotional and can also have a significant financial impact. They are not made lightly, and sometimes after months or even years of conversations, preparations and considerations before taking the next step.
So, shouldn’t it be one of the most informed decisions you make too?
There are many ways to evaluate senior care services to get a feel for the community, the amenities and all its offerings. Scheduling a tour and seeing the community for yourself is always a good place to start. But, that is a one-day snapshot. How can you learn about what happens at other times of the day or year? That’s where you turn to reviews to hear about other resident, family and co-worker experiences. These firsthand accounts, with a description and star rating, give a glimpse into daily life, quality of care, variety of activities, the friendliness and responsiveness of co-workers, as well as dining experiences and an assessment of overall atmosphere from the perspective of a real customer of the senior care services.
During the research phase of a journey in senior living, there is a lot to sift through, so having a pulse on what to look for in a review and how to read them might make this part of the process a little less stressful.
Pay attention to:
- Keywords that matter to you or your loved one (example: safety, socialization)
- Average overall rating of 3.5 stars or higher)
- Heartfelt and helpful responses from the senior care service provider and their reaction to receiving a negative review or criticism)
- A mixture of perspectives, from co-workers, residents and families)
Read Reviews Any Time and All the Time
The research process for senior care services does not have a timeline or order of operations. Every family will follow a process that works best for them. There are families or prospective residents who scour the internet first, looking at websites, news media coverage, photos and videos. Social media has also become a very helpful tool for seeing the types of activities, off-campus excursions and overall vibe of the senior care services before a tour or visit. Others talk to friends and trusted resources such as ministers or healthcare professionals to hear their recommendations. Rarely do prospects skip the step of reading the reviews.
Why? Because reviews can make or break your impression of a community. According to a 2025 report, nearly 50% of individuals trust a review as much as a personal recommendation from a friend or family member. Also, on average 94% of people say that reviews have made them avoid a business entirely. In addition to reviews being a way to validate your initial feelings on the senior care services, they are authentic and sometimes emotional. Reviews help paint the picture of what life could look like at the end of your own very important and life-changing decision.
Sample the Stars
In today’s savvy tech world, it is easy to identify the genuine praise and criticism and sniff out the disgruntled individual whose opinion will not be swayed. Other realities: not every day is perfect, and senior living communities are not one-size-fits-all. Often there are circumstances beyond control that impact a family member or residents’ satisfaction after their personal experience.
Sampling a mix of the 1 to 5 star reviews allows the researcher to spot the trends, read the areas the community or senior care services could improve and also highlight what the organization does incredibly well. Caring.com shares that people read between 20-100 reviews before trusting a star rating. This adds up because, by sampling the diversity of ratings and feedback, the picture of the organization can become clearer.
Remember: Don’t skip on reading the organization’s responses! A review is a one-sided account of the story or situation. With that said, every experience, good, bad and indifferent, should be validated and acknowledged because the feelings, perceptions and happenings were real for the reviewer. Notice if the senior care services offer solutions, continue the conversation with the reviewer and seek additional context to help alleviate the reviewers’ concerns.
Get the Resident and Co-worker Perspective
When evaluating the strength of the community, it could be a good idea to also research the perspective of the staff, because their satisfaction translates into the overall culture of a campus and attention and care provided. When the staff are happy, they see their role as a more than just a job and will be fully invested in their role throughout their shift. In the co-worker reviews, you get a glimpse into some of the behind-the-scenes happenings. You can hear what they love about their job, how they feel about the campus leadership and if they are proud to work there. In return, that could mean it would also be a place you or your loved one would be proud to call home.
Where to Read Reviews
Google is a very common place to start because there will be a mix of resident, family and co-worker perspectives. Caring.com and Senior Advisor are also popular websites where families share their experience. To get the co-worker perspective, Indeed and Glassdoor are trusted sources.
You Are Doing the Homework, and We Are Here to Help
In the end, it is about doing the homework and this kind of homework takes time – unfortunately, not something to leave to the Sparknotes. When you are evaluating senior care services-it’s more than amenities, it’s about comfort, care and peace of mind. Equipping yourself with the facts, a variety of perspectives and maybe even multiple tours and visits to the campus, with each inquiry, you are getting more prepared, confident in the decision-making process and building the team that will support you in finding the senior care services right for you.
Our team of expert advisors shares that families are often evaluating up to five other communities during the research stage. This could become a lengthy pro-con list, but that’s a good thing! You can never be too thorough, and you can never ask too many questions. Because, as we said in the beginning, for such a significant decision, take the time and do what is best for you.
No matter what stage of your journey and even if you are interested in other communities, we are here to help you. Contact a local advisor at a campus near you for guidance on your next step.
