In 2024 U.S. News conducted a survey of 754 U.S. adults who had moved into a senior living community within the past year or had a parent or spouse who had made such a move. They were asked how they navigated the process of researching and selecting a community, and what they thought of the community into which they had moved.

Most of the respondents said they had a positive attitude when beginning the search, in spite of being aware of some challenges they might encounter. Roughly a third of the respondents indicated they knew someone who had become lonely, felt a loss of independence, and had issues with safety and security at the community. More than one in four also said they knew someone who ran out of money to continue paying for their stay at the community and who had problems with the quality of health care offered there.

Regarding how they researched senior living community options, half said in-person tours were the most helpful; 86% of the respondents toured at least three communities before making their decision. The aspects they noted most during these tours were how clean and well-maintained the premises were, how welcoming the staff was, and resident safety measures.

About a third said that websites and online reviews were most helpful. A similar number relied on recommendations from family and friends. A factor they found most important, after information about safety/health and reviews from residents/family members, was transparent pricing information. About 73% said it was easy to find pricing information. More than half of respondents preferred an all-inclusive model, while a fifth preferred an a la carte model, paying only for what they needed.

When asked how they weighted the various aspects, about half said wellness services and safety were a priority. Only a third identified cost and value as their highest deciding factor. A “homelike environment” was most important to about 29%.

When asked about how they enjoyed living in the community they had chosen, most respondents reported being happy and said they were doing well socially. The majority (94%) said they had made friends there, and only 14% regretted their move.

U.S. News has an online search tool to help people located the top-rated communities by area: U.S. News’s location-guided online search tool 

More information about the findings from this consumer survey can be obtained from a webinar, “What Matters Most: The Search for Senior Living,” which was posted June 18, 2024.