Virtual Tours: What to Look For + Red Flags in Senior Care Facilities

Not everyone can visit a facility in person—but you still need to know what you're looking at. In this deep-dive episode, Stella walks you through exactly how to evaluate a senior care community through virtual tours, video calls, and online research.

But here's the critical part: you also need to know what signs suggest you should keep walking.

Learn what to actually look for in a virtual tour (beyond the beautiful production), how to supplement with detective work, and the red flags that indicate safety, quality of life, or operational concerns. From neglect and abuse indicators to understaffing and hidden costs, Stella breaks down five levels of red flags—and tells you which ones mean you should walk away immediately.

This episode includes practical checklists, supplemental research strategies, how to talk to current residents and families, and Stella's personal story of trusting her gut to avoid a community that later had serious incidents.

Your takeaway: You don't need to be an expert to spot red flags. You need to be honest about what you're seeing—and brave enough to trust your instincts.

Key topics:

• How to watch a virtual tour actively (not passively)
• What communities are hiding (and how to find out)
• 5 levels of red flags: from critical safety to financial
• Supplemental research strategies (Google reviews, regulatory databases, Street View)
• How to ask the hard questions
• Why consistency between marketing and reality matters
• Real families' current experiences as your best indicator

For Central Texas families: If you need help evaluating communities in Travis, Williamson, Hays, or Bastrop counties, visit stellawilliamstx.com or tourseniorliving.org.

Runtime: ~30 minutes