Why We Only Suggest Homes We've Seen Ourselves (and Can Come on Tours with You)

Quick answer: A list of care home names doesn’t tell you which homes have an opening, which can handle your parent’s needs, or how a home feels when you walk in. We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves. We narrow it to two to four good fits, and we can come on tours with you. It’s free to your family.

You searched “care homes near me” late last night. You got a long list. Some had photos. Some had stars. None told you the one thing you need to know: will this place take good care of Mom?

So you started calling. Half the numbers went to voicemail. One home was full. Another couldn’t help with her walker. By the fifth call, you were more tired than when you started.

That’s the gap we fill. This page explains how we help you choose, and why we work the way we do.

The short version

• A list of names is a starting point, not an answer.
• We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves.
• Before you visit, we check that each home has an opening and can take your parent’s care needs.
• You get two to four homes that fit, not twenty.
• We can come on tours with you, and we offer video tours for out-of-state families.
• We tell you the downsides of each home, not just the good parts.

Why isn’t a list of care homes enough?

A list tells you a home exists. It doesn’t tell you much else.

It won’t tell you if the home has a room open this month. It won’t tell you if the staff can help with what your parent needs, like getting up at night, memory loss, or a special diet. And it can’t tell you how the home feels: the smell when you walk in, whether residents are up and dressed, or how staff talk to people.

Those are the things that decide whether a move works. You can find them out yourself, but it takes many calls and many drives. Most families we talk to don’t have that kind of time, especially when a hospital stay is ending.

What does “homes we’ve seen ourselves” mean?

It means we don’t suggest a home just because it showed up in a search. We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves.

It also means we can describe a home to you in plain words before you go. Is it a small house on a quiet street, or a bigger building with activities all day? Is it better for someone who likes company, or someone who needs calm? That helps you skip homes that were never going to fit.

You can still choose any home you like.

What do we do before you visit?

Before you spend a morning driving around, we do the calling for you. Here’s what usually happens:

• We talk with you first. A phone call to learn about your parent’s needs, budget, timing and the area you want.
• We check openings. We ask which homes have a room available, and when.
• We check the care fit. We ask whether each home can take your parent’s care needs today.
• We narrow it down. You get a short list of two to four homes that fit.
• We set up the tours. We find times that work for you and each home.

Have a few things ready for that first call. It helps us suggest the right homes faster:

• What help your parent needs each day, like bathing, dressing, meals or walking
• Any memory changes, like getting lost or forgetting to eat
• A rough monthly budget, and how you plan to pay
• The towns or neighborhoods you’d like, like near your home or near Mom’s church
• When the move needs to happen, especially if a hospital discharge is coming
• What your parent enjoys and what upsets them

What’s it like to tour with us?

Most families see two or three homes in one outing. Mid-morning or around lunch is often a good time, because you can see residents up and about and catch a meal being served.

We can come on tours with you. Some families like having someone along who has done this many times. Others want to walk through on their own. Either way is fine.

If your parent can come, that’s great. If not, many families take photos or a short video of the room to show them later. If you live out of state, we offer video tours, so you can see a home from wherever you are.

After each visit, we’ll talk it through with you. What did you like? What bothered you? What questions are still open?

The surprise: More choices don’t always make this easier. Many families find it easier to decide between a few homes that fit than to sort through a long list. A short list isn’t a limit. It’s the hard work, already done.

How do the two ways compare?

• Who makes the calls? Working from a list on your own: You. Working with Nonna Placements: We do.
• Openings. Working from a list on your own: You find out one call at a time. Working with Nonna Placements: Checked before you visit.
• Care fit. Working from a list on your own: You ask each home yourself. Working with Nonna Placements: Checked before you visit.
• Number of homes. Working from a list on your own: Often 10 or more. Working with Nonna Placements: Usually 2 to 4.
• Tours. Working from a list on your own: You set them up. Working with Nonna Placements: We set them up, and we can come with you.
• Out of state? Working from a list on your own: Hard to see homes. Working with Nonna Placements: Video tours.
• Cost to your family. Working from a list on your own: Free. Working with Nonna Placements: Free.
• After move-in. Working from a list on your own: You're on your own.

Will you tell us the downsides of a home?

Yes. No home is perfect, and you deserve to hear the downsides before you decide.

Maybe a home is lovely but far from you. Maybe the rooms are small. Maybe it’s quiet, and your dad loves people. We’ll say so. The goal is a move that lasts, not a quick yes.

We’ll also tell you if a care home isn’t the answer right now. If staying home makes more sense, call or text us and we can help you find in-home care options. If your parent needs more medical care than a care home can give, we’ll tell you that too, and you can talk with their doctor about next steps.

What happens after move-in?

We don’t disappear once your parent moves in. You can call or text us anytime.

The first couple of weeks can be hard. That’s normal. If the first home doesn’t work out, we find another one for free.

What don’t we do?

• We don’t give hands-on care. The care home does that.
• We don’t give medical advice. Talk with your parent’s doctor.
• We don’t give legal or financial advice. An elder law attorney or financial advisor can help.
• We never hold anyone’s money or property.

What should you do next?

• If you need a home this week because of a hospital discharge, then call or text us today and tell us the discharge date.
• If you’re just starting to look, then a short call can help you learn what kind of care fits and what it may cost.
• If you live far away, then ask us about video tours.
• If you already found a home you love, then tell us. You can choose any home.
• If you’re not sure a care home is needed yet, then read our guide on signs a parent needs more help.

Local help in Sacramento and Placer counties

A few local facts help families plan:

• Cost: Most licensed care homes in our area cost $4,000 to $15,000 a month, depending on the home and the care. A few homes charge less, but a price under $4,000 a month is rare. See our assisted living cost guide.
• Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care in assisted living or board and care homes (Medicare.gov).
• Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver can help pay for care services in some homes. It’s offered in Sacramento County but not Placer County, and there’s a waitlist. The person still pays the home for room and board (DHCS).
• Agency on Aging Area 4 gives free information to seniors and families in Sacramento and Placer counties: (916) 486-1876 or (800) 211-4545 (Agency on Aging Area 4).

How Nonna Placements works: Nonna Placements is free to families. Licensed homes pay us a placement fee when someone moves in. You can choose any home. If the first home doesn’t work out, we find another one for free. This article is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.

Let’s find the right home together

You don’t have to make fifty calls or tour twelve homes. Tell us about your parent, and we’ll do the narrowing for you.

Nonna Placements helps families across California, with a focus on Placer and Sacramento counties. We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves, and we can come on tours with you. It’s free to your family, and we reply within 1 hour, 24/7.

Call or text (916) 261-2644 or email roberto@nonnaplacements.com.

Related reading: Local Placement Advisor vs A Place for Mom or Caring.com · How Nonna Placements Gets Paid · Board and Care or Assisted Living: Which Fits Your Parent? · How to Talk to Your Parent About Moving · Senior living in Roseville

Sources

• Medicare.gov, Long-term care (checked October 27, 2026): medicare.gov
• California Department of Health Care Services, Assisted Living Waiver (checked October 27, 2026): dhcs.ca.gov
• Agency on Aging Area 4 (checked October 27, 2026): agencyonaging4.org

About the author

Roberto Hategan is the CEO & Founder of Nonna Placements, a senior placement service in Granite Bay serving families across California, with a focus on Placer and Sacramento counties. We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves. Contact: roberto@nonnaplacements.com