If you or a loved one is considering a move to a senior living community, you know that there are lots of options available. So, how do you pick the perfect one? You need to understand the senior living options in your area in order to make an educated decision that fits your lifestyle, personality, and budget. This takes time, but the effort is worth it! Learn how to best educate yourself and test for community “fit” to find the perfect senior living situation for you!
Exploring Types of Care
There are many types of care available to seniors. In order to choose the right one for yourself or someone you love, the first step is to learn more about the type of care you need. Assess your physical limitations and your social and mental needs. A physician can help identify barriers and provide guidance about the level of care necessary to accommodate them. Then, you can start investigating different types of care and the services and amenities they offer. The five main types of senior living care are home health, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities.
Read the Reviews
Living in the age-of-information has its benefits. Finding online reviews and recommendations for any senior living communityis one easy click away. While sometimes it can be difficult to trust reviews that are unsolicited and often written out of angst or anger, there are reputable sites that seek out resident reviews to gain candid opinions. Lilisity is an online review site that uses tailored community surveys to gather resident opinions and offerinsight into the reviewed community's daily life. In addition to consumer surveys, communities that are regulated by government oversight will have records such as state survey reviews on quality of care; these records are easily accessed from local state agencies.
Get the Scoop
Another way to find reputable referral sources is by asking local senior non-profits and senior community centers. These types of referrals not only are often close to residents and families living in senior communities, but as they are community resources, they don’t have any bias or partiality when providing a recommendation. They may be able to get you in touch with current residents or family members who can give first-hand accounts of the community's atmosphere, culture, and service. Word of mouth recommendations can have a lot of value; ask your friends, family, and acquaintances about senior living housing they would recommend. Finally, remember to cross-check your referrals; it never hurts to gather information from different sources.
Check It Out!
The final step is taking the leap, and jump in! Nothing can replace a first-hand experience in a community! Book appointments, tours, and overnight stays in the communities that catch your eye. Visiting with current residents can give you the best idea, of not only how good a community is, but also awards you the opportunity to converse with new potential friends and neighbors.
Make sure that you experience all the community has to offer! Even if a community lacks a service you were hoping for, you might find they offer an activity or have a more vibrant culture than other facilities that you visit. Many tours offer a free or reduced lunch so you can experience the food and meal times. Some communities let you stay overnight, which gives you more time to converse, look around, and experience what daily life would be like in your new home. Don't be afraid to ask or request more information or to see areas not covered by a "normal" tour. You and your family are making a big decision; you have the right to have all of your questions answered and concerns addressed.
Finding the right community takes time, patience and effort, so take the plunge and start your search today!