The three ways to search
Quick answer: A local advisor knows the homes near you and usually tours with you, for free. National referral websites are fast and easy to find, but they often pass your contact info to several communities or partner advisors, and the person helping you may never have seen the homes. Doing it yourself costs nothing and gives you full control, but it takes the most time.
None of these is wrong. The best choice depends on how much time you have, how complex your parent's care is, and how much help you want.
Side by side
| Local advisor | National referral website | Doing it yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to your family | Usually free | Usually free | Free, but it costs your time |
| Who pays | The home you choose pays a referral fee | Partner communities pay a referral fee | No one |
| Who gets your info | Varies, so ask. Good ones share only with homes you approve | Often several communities or partner advisors | Only the places you contact |
| Has been inside the homes | Usually | Often not. Many work by phone | Only the ones you tour |
| Small board and care homes | Usually knows them | Often limited to partner communities | Hard to find online |
| Checks state inspection records | Good ones do | Varies | Up to you |
| Tours with you | Often | Rarely | You go on your own |
| Best for | Families who want local help and a short list | Early browsing, or searching far from home | Families with time and a simple situation |
Local advisor
A local advisor lives and works in your area. In the Valley, that means knowing the difference between a big assisted living community in north Fresno and a small board and care home in Clovis, and which ones take memory care residents or the Medi-Cal waiver.
Upside: in-person tours, real local knowledge, one contact person, usually free. Downside: they only know their area, and they're paid by homes, so ask how that works. Our guide on what a senior placement agency does lists the questions to ask.
National referral websites
These are the big sites that show up first when you search "assisted living near me." You fill out a form or call, and a phone advisor sends you options. They cover the whole country, which helps if your parent lives in another state.
The thing to know: many of these sites share your contact info with several communities or partner advisors, so expect calls and emails from places you didn't pick. Read the privacy terms before you hit submit. The person helping you often works remotely and may not have been inside the homes. And their lists tend to lean toward partner communities, so small local homes can be missing.
Tell us what's going on. We'll text you licensed homes that fit, with real prices, and tour them with you.
Doing it yourself
Plenty of families do this well. Here's what you'll need:
- A clear list of your parent's care needs and your monthly budget.
- The state's Care Facility Search to find licensed homes and read their inspection reports.
- Time for calls, tours and second visits, often a few weekends' worth.
- A list of tour questions. Our step by step guide has them.
Upside: full control, and no one else involved. Downside: it's slow, small homes are hard to find, and it's tough to judge a place on one visit when you're stressed and worried about your parent.
Questions to ask any referral service
- Who will you share my information with, and can I approve each one?
- How are you paid, and by whom?
- Have you been inside these homes yourself?
- Did you check each home's state inspection reports?
- Will I work with one person the whole way?
Which one fits your family?
- Hospital discharge in a few days? A local advisor who knows which homes have openings. See our hospital discharge guide.
- Parent lives in another state? A national site can get you started. Then look for someone local there.
- Just exploring, no rush? Doing it yourself works fine. Start with our Fresno cost guide.
- Memory loss, behaviors or heavy care needs? Local knowledge matters most here, because the fit is everything.
Where we fit
We're a local advisor in Fresno. We're free to families, licensed homes pay us a referral fee, and your monthly price stays the same. We share your parent's details only with homes you approve by name, and one of us tours with you. Learn more about our placement services.
Updated September 2026 by Shaun and Nick, co-founders of CalValley Senior Living Advisors.