You thought you had found the perfect community for yourself or a loved one. That turned out not to be the case. Whether the current community is lacking quality care, sufficient social interactions, or in general is just not what was promised, you might feel like you don’t know where to go next. How do you make a better decision the second-time around? Who do you trust if you felt like you were lied to by the community? The good news is that by taking a more structured approach to research, you can find a better community and make a senior living decision you feel great about.
What is Missing?
The first step to a better decision is understanding what is driving the desire to move. Whether you feel like your personal care support is inadequate, the staff is rude, or all your resident neighbors are sticks-in-the-mud, there will be one or more reasons you feel it’s time to go. Make a list and then turn those negatives about the current community into desirable attributes you would like to see in your new community. In this example, your new search would include seeking out a community with quality personal care, friendly staff members, and a more social atmosphere. Now that you know what you want, you can start looking!
Find More Communities
There are lots of local and senior living referral sources to help you find communities that will match your list. Narrow your search first by care level needed (i.e. assisted living vs. independent living), location, and amenities and services. There are several online tools and resources that make this step simple. Once you have a list of communities that meet your basic needs and criteria, you can start drilling down and seeing if they will be a better fit for you.
Online Reviews and Word-of-Mouth
The next step is to start getting feedback from residents and family members. This can be done online or in-person. Online sites like Lilisity collate reviews from current residents to help show you a "pulse" of the community. Other review sites like Yelp can be helpful, but remember, usually only extremely happy or angry customers take the time to review, so this can lead to more biased opinions. If you have connections in your community, asked for word-of-mouth recommendations about senior living or housing options. If you get a great referral from someone you trust, that can go a long way in assuaging fears about a community.
Going to Visit
Finally, you need to visit the community to truly understand what the environment, staff, and residents are really like. Many communities are now offering overnight stays to help you better gauge the atmosphere. Spend the evening talking with staff and residents to get a feel for the atmosphere, but also take time to sit back and observe. How does the staff treat the residents already there? Do the residents look well-groomed and cared for? Is everyone social amongst each other, or are they just being kind to you as a visitor? Use your prior senior living experience to compare several communities and find a better fit!
It can be scary to make the jump after you have lived in a community you don't like, but your happiness and quality of life is more important! Take the rights steps and choose a better community for you today!