Your Assisted Living Tour Checklist for Melbourne, Florida
A tour is your best chance to see whether an assisted living community is right for your parent. It is also easy to get caught up in a pleasant visit and leave without the answers you came for. This checklist is designed for Melbourne and Brevard County families. Print it, bring it on each visit, and take notes so you can compare communities later, including with siblings who could not come along.
Before you go
- List your parent's needs: medications, mobility, memory, and health conditions.
- Know your budget. CareScout's 2025 survey reports a median of $5,925 a month for assisted living in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area (CareScout Cost of Care tool).
- Look up the facility on FloridaHealthFinder.gov. Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration says facility profiles show license type, Medicaid eligibility, and inspection reports (AHCA, Assisted Living in Florida guide, PDF).
- Schedule ahead and ask whether you can stay for a meal or an afternoon activity.
- Bring your parent if possible, and a second family member to take notes and photos.
First impressions
- [ ] Is the entrance easy to find, with shaded drop-off and accessible parking?
- [ ] Were you welcomed warmly?
- [ ] Is the building clean, cool, and free of strong odors?
- [ ] Are hallways clear, well lit, and fitted with handrails?
- [ ] Do residents look comfortable and cared for?
- [ ] Do staff greet residents by name?
Care and staffing
- [ ] How do you assess new residents, and how often do you reassess?
- [ ] How many staff are on duty day, evening, and overnight?
- [ ] Is a nurse on staff, and when?
- [ ] How are medications managed and recorded?
- [ ] How do you handle falls and emergencies?
- [ ] Which hospital do you use?
- [ ] What training do staff receive, including dementia care?
- [ ] How long have key staff worked here?
Florida licenses
- [ ] Which licenses do you hold: standard only, or also Extended Congregate Care, Limited Nursing Services, or Limited Mental Health?
- [ ] May I see your most recent inspection report?
- [ ] How did you correct any findings?
Our guide to Florida assisted living licenses explains what each license means.
Hurricane and emergency planning
- [ ] What is your hurricane plan? Do you shelter in place or evacuate, and where?
- [ ] Do you have an alternate power source? Florida rules require one able to keep indoor temperatures at or below 81 degrees for at least 96 hours after a power loss (Fla. Admin. Code R. 59A-36.025).
- [ ] How much fuel, food, water, and medication do you keep on hand?
- [ ] How will you contact families before, during, and after a storm?
Suites
- [ ] What sizes and layouts are available?
- [ ] Private or shared?
- [ ] Private bathroom with grab bars and a walk-in shower?
- [ ] Can residents bring their own furniture?
- [ ] Is there an emergency call system in the bedroom and bathroom?
- [ ] Can residents control their own air conditioning?
Dining
- [ ] Ask for a week of menus.
- [ ] Are diabetic, low-sodium, and soft diets offered?
- [ ] Are snacks and drinks available between meals?
- [ ] Can meals be served in the suite when a resident is ill?
- [ ] Stay for a meal, and notice the food and the atmosphere.
Daily life
- [ ] Ask to see the activity calendar.
- [ ] Are there outings, exercise classes, music, and faith services?
- [ ] Is there shaded outdoor space residents can use safely?
- [ ] Is transportation available for doctor visits, shopping, and church?
Costs and contracts
- [ ] What is the monthly rate for each suite type?
- [ ] How are care levels priced?
- [ ] What is included, and what costs extra?
- [ ] Is there a community fee?
- [ ] How much notice do you give before raising rates? (AHCA's guide says at least 30 days in writing.)
- [ ] Do you accept SMMC Long-Term Care plans, Optional State Supplementation, or long-term care insurance?
- [ ] When might a resident be asked to move?
See our guide to paying for assisted living in Melbourne.
Memory care questions
- [ ] How are exits secured?
- [ ] How do staff calm agitation, and how often is medication used for it?
- [ ] What does a typical day look like?
- [ ] How do you meet Florida's standards for facilities advertising Alzheimer's care?
Keeping families informed
- [ ] How will you tell us about changes?
- [ ] Are there regular care plan meetings?
- [ ] Who is our main contact?
- [ ] Do you offer video calls for family members who live out of state?
Ask about the first 30 days
The first month in a new home is often the hardest. Ask how each community helps new residents settle in: whether a staff member checks in daily, how soon the care plan is reviewed, and how families are kept informed during the adjustment. Ask what they do when a new resident is homesick, anxious, or not eating well. A thoughtful, specific answer shows a community that has helped many people through this transition.
Watch the small things
Details often tell you the most. Are call lights answered quickly? Do staff knock before entering rooms? Are residents dressed and groomed by mid-morning? Is the activity board current, and are people actually taking part? Listen to the tone of conversations in the hallways and dining room.
Bringing your parent
If your parent comes along, let them set the pace. Build in rest, avoid the hottest part of the day, and do not try to see everything at once. Ask afterward what they noticed and liked, and take their views seriously. For some people, a short lunch visit works better than a full tour.
Comparing communities afterward
After two or three tours, rate each community from one to five on care, staff warmth, cleanliness, food, activities, emergency planning, location, and cost. Add a line for your overall impression. The totals will not make the decision, but they help you see differences clearly and explain them to family.
After the tour
Write down impressions while they are fresh, ideally in the car before you drive away. Return to your top choice at a different time, such as an evening or weekend. Ask yourself: Could I picture my parent here? Were staff patient, even when they did not know I was watching? Would my parent be able to keep doing what matters most to them?
Help if you have concerns
AHCA takes complaints about Florida assisted living facilities at 1-888-419-3456, and the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program offers free help to residents and families (Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program).
Tour Hibiscus Court
Hibiscus Court is at 540 East Hibiscus Boulevard in Melbourne. Preview our dining and life and activities, then call (321) 447-2934 to schedule a visit.
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for on an assisted living tour in Melbourne?
Cleanliness, how staff treat residents, meal quality, safety, and the hurricane plan. Ask about staffing, care, licenses, and costs.
How can I check a Florida facility before touring?
Look it up on FloridaHealthFinder.gov, where AHCA says profiles show license type, Medicaid eligibility, and inspection reports.
What should I ask about hurricanes?
Ask whether the community shelters in place or evacuates, what backup power it has, what supplies it keeps, and how it communicates with families.
How many times should I visit?
At least twice, at different times of day. A meal visit is especially useful.