What’s Important for You in a Senior Living Community?
Whether it’s for you, or if you have a loved one in mind, choosing a senior living community requires careful consideration. After all, this is where you want to feel completely at home, relaxed, safe and cared for by people you trust.
Prioritizing wants and needs will give you more confidence in choosing the senior living community that is right for you or for someone you love. And of course, you will want to keep in mind how you want to feel in your new home.
As Steve Jobs once said, “Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know it when you find it.”
Choosing a senior living community: what’s important for you?
Lifestyle
Close your eyes and imagine the lifestyle that you’d feel comfortable calling your own—what does it look like? Great dining? Lots going on? Opportunities to get outside and mingle with others? Where one senior living community might feel a bit more formal, another could have a more downhome, casual atmosphere.
Think about which matches your personality best. Some communities are smaller and more intimate, while others are much larger and offer more amenities. For many, feeling at home in a warm and welcoming atmosphere is most important.
Friendly staff
Being around the right people can make all the difference. In the right senior living community, you’ll be surrounded by professional, cheerful people who truly have your best interests at heart. You will know you are not alone, and that assistance is there if needed, night or day. It gives you confidence to explore new possibilities and build new friendships with those around you.
Like they say, everything is better with friends—and in the right senior living community, you will be surrounded by them everywhere you turn!
Download our free guide, Financial Planning for Retirement Living.
Safety and security
A major advantage of living in a senior living community is the fact that it is designed top-to-bottom for your safety and wellbeing. Simply put, that means all the important details are there, such as wider hallways, grab bars in the bathrooms, amplified lighting and more. It also means the community adheres to state and local safety requirements and has formal plans for emergency situations.
Location
For sure, location matters. You might choose to be close to an adult child or close friend. You might like the buzz of a university town, or a pastoral setting with beautiful surroundings so every day you can enjoy the view. You’ll want to check out proximity to healthcare services as well. Convenience is another consideration, such as how close you are to favorite groceries, drug stores or eateries.
Just remember, neighborhoods change, and families often move for work reasons. Be sure the location you choose has what you will need now in the future.
A range of care options
Everyone agrees moving is no small task, so wouldn’t it be great if you did not have to relocate again should your needs change? You can avoid that by choosing a senior living community with multiple care options, such as independent living, assisted living and memory care. You not only can unpack once and relax, but also you can get to know those around you including the care staff. No more uncertainty about what lies ahead… with a plan in place, both you and your family can enjoy priceless peace of mind.
Services and amenities
Some staples you will find at most communities include personal care assistance, housekeeping, meals, transportation and home maintenance. Additional services and amenities may be community specific—for example, life-enrichment activities, an on-site beauty/barber shop, resident garden plots, pet policies and wellness programs are just a few.
Remember, retirement is your time to reap the benefits of a life well lived. So be sure to reward yourself with a lifestyle that not only meets your needs but satisfies your “wants” as well.
Senior living, the LSS Senior Living way
At LSS Senior Living, our goal is to offer seniors quality care and comfort in a friendly and warm environment that feels like home. We offer a continuum of services to lend a helping hand when you need them. Find out more about our communities:
Speak to an advisor today. We’re here to help. We’re here to help. We’re here to help. Learn more about planning to fund senior living – download our free “Financial Planning for Retirement Living” guide.
