We are fortunate to live in an area where many come to retire (Phoenix/Scottsdale). There are quite a few very nice retirement facilities that offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care. We had signed up to move into independent living a couple of years ago but backed out when I realized how difficult it would be for my husband to move.

I called that faculty's director of memory care to see if my husband could go into their memory care while I prepared to move into their independent living. She said they already had a waitlist for current residents, but she suggested three other faculties she had heard were good.

Since I'm my husband's sole caregiver, my daughter toured the three memory care faculties. Beforehand, we prepared a list of questions that were important to us. She thought I'd like one the best, so she stayed with my husband so I could tour it. We were looking for the cleanliness of the facility (no foul odors or that of disinfectant), the staff's appearance, and the residents. I met and spoke to the director, the caretakers, the physical therapist, and even the executive chef, who was very proud of his scratch kitchen.
I was very impressed with everything and still am.