Thanks for the helpful replies to my question about assisted living, including the several that came off-list. Their overriding message is to ask more questions and then beat the bushes to find accurate answers (e.g., don't just rely on the marketing department). I now realize I've been making too many assumptions about the retirement centers I've been visiting. Another message, especially important for those of us whose extended families are not participating in the search, is that there are social workers with specialized experience who are available to join people like me in searching out solutions to the assisted living puzzle. It is always heartening to learn again that the list comes through. Jack Noble, Washington, DC