When you reach retirement age, you may find your needs in a home changing. You may need more healthcare support on a daily basis or wish to find a community of similar age and values to yours. Many older adults move to a senior living community to reduce their cost of living, access more healthcare, and make more acquaintances in a similar life stage. Senior living ranges from a wide variety of types, care levels, and community cultures. To choose the best option for your lifestyle, you’ll need to know what to look for and how to match each option to your specific needs.
Define What Feels Like Home
The best senior living community will feel similar to your home in many aspects. Everyone defines home differently. Some people love a large kitchen, while others prefer a cozy space to read. Others prefer a sizeable outdoor space in which to garden. Define what necessities make life and home meaningful for you. Is it the city itself? The size? The layout? Consider making a list of the needs and wants of a home. You may not get everything you want, but your community should provide the lifestyle you need.
Get to Know and Tour a Community
Before making a life-changing decision to move into a senior living community, you will want to get to know your options first. Every space may appear inviting at first glance, but a more detailed tour and community immersion may reveal a more realistic picture. Talk with residents if you can. Tour a community as often as you need to. Consult with staff members about your needs, wants, and expectations. Attend community events or activities. Immersing yourself in each community can provide a more comprehensive overview of what to expect. You’ll also want to do some behind-the-scenes research. Review Medicare ratings or Google listing reviews for each community you’re considering. Ensure the community’s history aligns with your retirement goals.
Ask the Right Questions
You shouldn’t consider any senior living community without asking some important questions first. Inquire about costs, culture, and daily life in the community. Learn about the rules, regulations, and expectations that apply to residents and staff. Ask about community events, visitation policies, and pet policies if necessary. Determine the level of healthcare you can receive and if it aligns with your needs. Asking tailored questions from the community about your needs and lifestyle can help you determine if a community is the right fit for you.
Learn the Social Norms and Community Culture
Not all senior communities are alike. Some prefer a more private, individualistic lifestyle, while others are more group-oriented and community-focused. While you may value your independence and privacy now, your priorities may change with age or transitions in family dynamics. Get to know the community culture by attending events, participating in daily activities, and engaging with current residents. Learn about what they enjoy in the community and what improvements they’d like to see made. If you’re a chatty and social person, a more private community may not be the best fit for you. Understanding how the community works as a whole can make the decision easier for you.
Consider Long-Term Needs
What you need out of a senior community now may not reflect your needs later. As previously mentioned, your family dynamics or independence level may change, requiring more out of your community than you previously anticipated. How easy is it to transition to a more thorough level of healthcare in the community? Can you hire or access health aides or nursing staff on a regular basis? If you wish to transition to a more group-oriented culture, will the community be welcoming to it? How long will you want to stay in the community, and does it support long-term growth? Is there a memory care unit you can transition to? Compare your current needs with your long-term goals and anticipated lifestyle changes to determine if a community can help you throughout your entire retirement.
Compare Accessibility and Location
You may not retire in the same city you currently live in. As you age, you may want to remain close to family members. Your retirement community should reflect these desires. Select a location that is easily accessible, preferably near your desired location. If there is a certain city you love, find communities in that region. If you want to be near family, consider how close your community will be to your loved ones’ neighborhoods. Visitation policies play a major role in this; are family members allowed only during certain times or days? Ensure these policies reflect how your loved ones would visit or stay with you when desired.
Identify Red Flags
While many senior communities are safe and provide quality round-the-clock care for their residents, not all are highly rated. Medicare provides official ratings of many assisted living and nursing home communities for a clearer overview of any safety violations. It’s not unusual for certain communities to receive citations for issues related to sanitation, staffing, and other concerns. You’ll want to perform due diligence in vetting any community you consider for safety; otherwise, you may be more vulnerable to neglect or elder abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse. Thoroughly tour the communities to gain a good understanding of daily life, including staff numbers, resident care, sanitation, and community culture. Signs of a poor community include consistently foul smells, inadequate sanitation, residents left alone, insufficient staff, and more. If you witness or are a victim of any type of abuse, be certain to report it to law enforcement immediately. Certain types of abuse, such as sexual abuse, can be difficult to prove or document. You can seek legal help for sexual abuse in nursing homes with a qualified attorney specializing in these cases.
Conclusion
There are numerous senior living communities available, ranging from assisted living facilities to nursing homes. They span a wide variety of community cultures, locations, and regulations to meet the needs of all senior populations. You’ll want to thoroughly vet each community to determine that it aligns with your needs, lifestyle, and values. Tour each community and consult with both staff and residents, if allowed, to gain a better understanding of the culture and norms. Pay attention to any red flags that may arise during a tour or consultation, and be aware of your rights and options in the event of worst-case scenarios. An informed decision can help you make the most of your retirement in a community you enjoy for the rest of your life.