Searching for senior living options for yourself or a loved one can often be a long, sometimes difficult process. Whether you’re after assisted living, a continuing care community, or even just a classic nursing home, there are several factors which you’ll want to consider before signing any contract or agreement. Follow these 5 tips and you’ll be a pro in finding the best senior living community for you or a loved one!
Finding the best senior living community can be a great experience overall!
Senior living communities are more than just somewhere to live — they are places to grow, meet new friends, and stay in top health as you enter those golden years with pride! Although there are many options and it can be hard to navigate this new stage in life without the help of a trusted senior care advisor, there are basic things to look for while finding the best senior living community out there.
5 Tips for Finding the Best Senior Living Community
1. Cleanliness is a Top Priority
Though many people have the idea that senior living communities are all fraught with unpleasant sanitation and stuffy conditions, this is just simply not true. And yet, this aspect of someone’s senior living experience is incredibly important. Follow your nose and observe any and all issues with cleanliness whether in terms of odor, unkempt areas, trash, and other maintenance issues.
The main questions you’ll want to ask here should be about the schedule of housekeeping, how often laundry services are provided, including any costs involved with these amenities.
Keep in mind that specific odors or issues with cleanliness might be a result of a recent incident, however, you should make note of this all the same.
2. Take a Tour During an Activity Session
It can be very beneficial to schedule a tour while senior living community events are taking place in order to get a feel for the community and how well residents get along. If there is any question of the whether the vibe is right during fun or communal activities, it’s possible this isn’t an isolated incident.
- Do the staff seem to enjoy facilitating the event?
- Are residents happy and smiling?
- Do newcomers feel welcomed?
These can be the best examples of a community’s culture as a whole, helping you or your senior loved one to really feel like they’ll fit right in! Take this chance to consider what other activities are on the calendar and whether they fit interests for the long-term.
3. Observe the Staff
Finding the best senior living community really means making sure the staff who work there are the top professionals for the job. You can have the most scenic, inviting, and picture perfect community but if it’s staffed by jerks the whole arrangement can be ruined.
Do staff:
- Make eye contact and genuinely listen?
- Talk calmly and compassionately?
- Understand how to communicate with seniors?
It can be good to ask about how many staff are available at any given time, along with whether any trained medical professionals are available and what their schedules are. Additionally, ask current residents how they feel about the staff and support they receive here.
4. Get Lunch or Dinner
Food and nutrition are huge when it comes to how much someone will enjoy their experience in any given retirement community. Finding the best senior living community means you’ll need to essentially live a “day-in-the-life” of someone who’s settled in. During your visit, be sure to get a meal and consider whether there are reasonable food choices that seniors will be satisfied with.
Are there:
- Reasonable meal plans?
- Options for those with dietary restrictions?
- Snacks available throughout the day?
- Nutrition counselors or other professionals?
Mealtimes are often some of the most social times for seniors so it’s important that a community provides a clean, comfortable space for everything from feasts to tea time.
5. Go with Your Gut
Though you may not immediately find the best senior living community — though we hope you do — it’s best to trust your instincts while touring a facility. If everything appears to be of the top quality you’re after but there is just something you can’t quite put your finger on, it could be best to keep searching. Many times people pick up on a certain “funk in the air” that just doesn’t seem right.
Although if you or a loved one can envision themselves thriving in a particular community, then that is really all you can ask for! Explore your senior living options by clicking here, or by contacting one of our trusted senior care advisors today!
