I had to call the Rhode Island Fire Marshall this morning to check on some information related to my parents and their living situations. I thought the information was very valuable and needed to be passed on.
I would advise thinking about this aspect and checking with your State's fire marshall's office before making a decision on any facility.
He told me that in RI, nursing facilites and assisted living facilites are built differently. The nursing facilities are built to contain a fire for 2 hours, in order to enable staff to get everyone out safely. Assisted living facilities are not built that way. Residents in those facilities need to be able to get out quickly with minimum assistance.
One facility we were considering would not allow my father in the assisted living wing, because he is so physically frail, is prone to falling even with his walker, and is extremely slow with the walker. They will only take him in the nursing wing.
So I would encourage everyone to check the fire laws in your state to make sure whatever facility you are considering, follows those laws to the letter.