Founded in 1993, CarePatrol is one of the oldest advisor-driven senior placement services in the U.S. It operates as a franchise model, with local advisors who work directly with families to recommend assisted living, memory care, independent living, and nursing home options. CarePatrol differentiates itself by having advisors personally tour and grade communities in their area, giving families a stronger sense of safety and quality assurance.
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Local advisors with first-hand knowledge of communities
- Advisors personally tour and evaluate facilities
- Free to families, paid by partner providers
- Long history and national footprint
Weaknesses
- Service quality depends on the strength of the local franchise/advisor
- Limited to communities that are part of the CarePatrol partner network
- Some families report feeling nudged toward certain providers
Process
Families begin by meeting (virtually or in-person) with a local CarePatrol advisor, who asks about medical needs, lifestyle preferences, and budget. Advisors then present a curated list of vetted communities, often including ones they’ve personally toured. Advisors may accompany families on tours, giving CarePatrol a more hands-on, concierge-style feel compared to self-service platforms. Families on Reddit often mention that the local expertise saved them time and stress during the search process.
Costs and Fees
CarePatrol is free to families. Like other referral networks, it is compensated by senior living communities for each placement made. This structure raises potential concerns about bias, but families often value the local, on-the-ground perspective more than broad online directories.
Customer Experience
CarePatrol has an A+ BBB rating and generally positive feedback. Families appreciate the local knowledge, hands-on support, and personalized guidance. That our team provides. Negative reviews tend to focus on inconsistent experiences across franchise locations — some advisors are highly engaged and helpful, while others offer less thorough support.
Comparison to Competitors
Compared to A Place for Mom, CarePatrol offers a more personalized, local experience. APFM has scale and brand recognition, but CarePatrol feels more hands-on thanks to advisors who personally evaluate communities.
In contrast to Assisted Living Locators, CarePatrol shares a similar advisor-driven model. However, Assisted Living Locators places greater emphasis on certified advisors and individualized planning, while CarePatrol emphasizes its community grading process.
When stacked against Senior Care Authority, CarePatrol is broader and more established, though Senior Care Authority often provides deeper, investigative-style evaluations (including state report checks). Families may choose CarePatrol for national reach, or Senior Care Authority for a more boutique advisory feel.
Our Rating
We compared CarePatrol to the best assisted living services, and here’s how it fared:
- Customer Experience (30%): 8.5 / 10
- Fees & Costs (25%): 9.5 / 10
- Service Options (20%): 8.5 / 10
- Speed of Process (15%): 8.5 / 10
- Overall Score: 8.7 / 10
AssistedKin’s Top 5 Assisted Living Locator Services
| Recommended For | Company | Starting Cost | Advisor Support | Editor's Rating (Out of 10) | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for Modern Tools and Transparency | Seniorly | Free | Optional | 8.8 | Find Senior Care |
| Best for Large Referral Network | A Place for Mom | Free | Yes | 8.4 | Find Senior Care |
| Best for Certified Advisors and Local Help | Assisted Living Locators | Free | Yes | 8.8 | Find Senior Care |
| Best for In-Home Caregiver Marketplace | Care.com | $12–$39/mo | None | 8.0 | Find Senior Care |
| Best for Reviews & Caregiver Resources | Caring.com | Free | Limited | 8.5 | Find Senior Care |
Final Thoughts
CarePatrol is a strong choice for families who want advisor-guided support and reassurance that someone has personally evaluated the communities they’re considering. While the quality of service can vary by advisor, the model’s emphasis on local knowledge and personalized care sets it apart from self-service directories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CarePatrol.
Yes, families do not pay for the service. CarePatrol is compensated by communities when a placement occurs.
CarePatrol focuses on local advisors who personally tour communities, while APFM emphasizes scale and national reach.
No, only those in CarePatrol’s partner network are included.
Families who want hands-on, local guidance and the reassurance of advisor-graded community recommendations.
