If your family is discussing the advantages of senior living, you may be ready to research communities to discover which one could contribute to the highest quality of life for your loved one.
A few tips might help.
When researching senior living, you’ll likely find that communities are designed to support their residents to remain independent. However, your goal should also be to discover the one that most closely aligns with the health and care needs, as well as personal preferences, of your parent.
Tips when researching senior living
Consider the following recommendations to simplify your search and help achieve success in finding the perfect place to call home.
Tip #1: Become familiar with the types available
There are several choices in senior living to ensure a resident’s needs are well matched. If you’re not familiar with the level of care and services offered, the following is a brief summary of the most common types:
Independent living: designed for older adults who live independently but are searching for a more active, convenient and maintenance-free lifestyle.
Assisted living: not only are activities and social opportunities available, but these communities also provide assistance with daily tasks, such as dressing, bathing or managing medications.
Memory care: These communities provide 24/7 support for those living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Care is provided by staff who are specially trained in the best practices of memory care.
Long-term care: Elderly residents who require 24/7 attention due to frailty or chronic conditions often call these communities home. Those seeking rehabilitation while recovering from an injury, surgery or illness may also take advantage of a short-term stay.
Tip #2: Define your loved one’s needs and preferences
Before choosing a particular type of senior living, you’ll want to assess and understand the health and personal care needs of your loved one, as well as their personal preferences. Consider their physical, emotional and cognitive requirements, such as whether mobility or memory impairment is a challenge.
Asking these questions may help you define the best fit more easily:
- Is assistance needed on a daily basis with basic tasks?
- Is your loved one able to shop and prepare healthy meals?
- Are safety and security becoming more of a challenge?
- Would your parent appreciate more opportunities to meet new people and make friends?
- Are you concerned your loved one is becoming socially isolated?
- Are you searching for more activities and social events to remain engaged in life?
Download our complimentary guide, Choosing the Right Senior Living Community – A Step by Step Guide for Making an Informed Decision.
Tip #3: What are the requirements for a community?
There may be a few services or amenities that your parents must have in order to live their best life, so you’ll want to eliminate any choices where these are not available.
If your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s, you may want to begin your search with memory care communities. If your parent has a passion for pickleball or golf, you might prioritize communities where this is offered. If no longer driving, eliminate those who don’t offer scheduled transportation.
Location is often a priority to allow proximity for family and friends. Some older adults also want the urban experience while others prefer the quieter neighborhoods in the suburbs.
You may not find everything on your list at one community but try to check off as many items as possible to help your loved one create their new home.
Tip #4: Discovering available funding sources
For many families, an early step in choosing the right senior living community will involve creating a budget and locating all the funding sources available to pay for expenses.
Many factors influence a community’s rate, including the level of care and services offered and the location. It’s best to talk to a community directly so you can accurately assess the fees and understand everything that is included.
One note of caution: families often assume that remaining at home is automatically more cost-effective but it’s important to include all of the services your loved one will receive at a community and factor in their costs if needing to pay separately.
Tip #5: Trust your instincts
A final recommendation when researching senior living communities is to trust your impressions of a community that you visit. Families often get a sense of which community would be best for their loved one, even if they’re not able to put it into words.
It might be the welcome received when arriving or the experience of watching other residents going about their day with smiles and laughter. It may be the way the staff interacts with others that creates a sense of home and the confidence you feel that the perfect place has been found.
The Charleston Senior Living Community
Locally owned and operated, we offer personalized care by our dedicated team members. Setting a new standard in Assisted Living and Memory Care, we don’t define our residents by their limitations or illness but instead believe in focusing on the positive and the possibility.
The Charleston Senior Community includes private apartments for assisted living residents and for those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Your loved ones will benefit from our attention to detail, routine health assessments, delicious dining and daily activity programs as we support everyone to live their best life.
Consider a few of our amenities:
- Chef-led dining program
- Community movie theater
- Salon
- Ballroom
- Live entertainment
- Outdoor patio
- Social lounges
- Housekeeping
If you or your family is thinking about Assisted living or Memory care, we hope you will consider The Charleston Senior Community. We are a trusted resource and are here to answer any questions.
We also invite you to download our complimentary guide, Choosing the Right Senior Living Community – A Step by Step Guide for Making an Informed Decision.
