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Finding The Right Community

Moving to a senior living community is a major life event. Like any other big changes, you need to have a clear understanding of how it works, services offers, and payment options available. Knowledge in all these areas will help you make an informed decision for you or your loved one.

Here’s our checklist of important factors you need to keep in mind when checking senior living communities.

1. MISSION OR PURPOSE

By simply looking at their mission statement, you will understand the care approach of a particular community. You may find that some of their values align with yours. This can be a great starting point in narrowing down your list.

2. YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION

This isn’t the only factor you need to consider, but this is an important one. Does the community environment feel warm and welcoming? Or does it give off a cold atmosphere? How do the staff and residents make you feel? Do you see yourself living in this community?

3. LOCATION

The most paramount consideration is proximity to your closest family members. Other factors may include your preference for the kind of community you imagine. Do you like a peaceful rural setting? Or one placed in an urban area where it’s closed to shopping malls or your preferred doctor?

4. TYPE OF COMMUNITY

Some retirement communities are designed for assisted living only, while others are solely for independent living. There are continuing care retirement communities that may be a good option for those seeking long-term care. These communities also come in different shapes and sizes, from apartments to duplexes and single homes. Depending on your preference and financial situation, one community may be a better choice than another.

5. LEVELS OF CARE SERVICE

Not all communities provide the same service, and not all seniors have the same needs. So it is important to assess the kind of service you need. Residences with memory care are ideal and appropriate for seniors dealing with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

6. ACCREDITATIONS

Federal and state guidelines do not require senior living communities to be accredited. However, only accredited senior living communities can demonstrate the prescribed standard of senior care. Be sure to ask about their accreditation to ensure the quality of service.

7. REHABILITATION AND SKILLED NURSING CARE SERVICES

Some seniors may need to go to a residential care facility for rehabilitation or skilled nursing care. In some cases, this need may emerge over time so it would be good to know if such access is available within the community.

8. STAFF

The staff-resident ratio will tell you the availability of immediate care or assistance. Treatment of staff to their residents can also make or break an experience living in that community. Observe these relationships when you’re visiting the site. You may also talk with the staff to know their insights and how much they love serving in the community.

9. POSITIVE ACTIVITIES

Activities play a big role when you’re inside a retirement community. Some offer basic programs like arts and crafts, music, and fitness. While others offer a more enriched schedule of activities like cooking, gardening, or swimming. Knowing which residences offer the kind of activities you would want to participate in makes it easier to determine the community that’s fit for you or your aging loved ones.

10. GROWTH AND LEARNING

Aging doesn’t mean people stop learning. Studies suggest that successful aging highly depends on a lifestyle that supports growth and learning – may it be a new skill or new information. Check out if there are classes offered in the residence or a place to study such as a library or an intergenerational education room.

11. OCCASIONS AND EVENTS

In addition to regular activities, senior living communities also hold on-site events for residents and their families, especially on special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas. These events promote fun and build positive relationships within the community.

12. ENTERTAINMENT ACCESS

Do you or your loved one enjoy going out for movies, nine-hole games, or just eating out? Maybe one of your hobbies is fishing or shopping. It’s important to consider that the community has access to these entertainment destinations or perhaps, they have one inside the community.

13. TRAVEL

Affluent residents are frequent flyers so access to public transportations like airports and train stations is a must. You might also want to ask the facility if they provide transportations to travel hubs.

14. COST

Knowing the cost of living in a retirement home is only a fracture of the bigger financial plan. It’s also important to consider payment options, how the bill is paid, additional fees, where the money goes, and what happens when a senior resident runs out of money.

15. COMPANY FINANCIAL STATUS

While visiting a community will allow you to see how well the company is going, it’s just part of the surface. You have to delve deeper into factors like how many years has it been in business, its track record, expansion plans, and financial status to confirm it’s stable.

16. RESIDENT FEEDBACK

What better way to know if the community is staying true to its mission than to ask the residents themselves? Some communities allow you to meet their residents and ask what they like about living there. If you also know anyone from your family and friends in the same residence, they can offer valuable feedback.

Check out our other resources:

Financial Planning

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Making The Decision

Click Here

Making The Move

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Schedule a tour today!

At Bahama Bay, we understand the need for residents to remain physically and mentally active while lounging in a luxurious senior living community. We’ve pulled out all the stops to ensure a fun, fulfilling experience whether you choose to spend your time indoors or outdoors.