Senior living is about a lot more than just finding a place to live. It’s about finding a community where you or your loved one can thrive, engage with others, pursue passions, and enjoy a fulfilling life. It’s truly about finding a home where you’re cared for and all of your needs are met. But it can be difficult to choose the right senior living options.
When you’re picking a senior living community, follow these steps:
- Understand your options
- Confirm what you or your loved one want
- Plan your finances
- Think about location
- Check out the amenities
When your loved one is settled into their new home, don’t forget to visit!
Understand Your Options
Before making a decision, it’s crucial to understand one thing: there are several different types of senior living communities. Each of them can offer a different type of support tailored toward unique situations. There are 3 types of senior living support offered here at Harrison Bay Senior Living:
- Independent living, where you live on your own in a community-type setting. This can be ideal for seniors looking to avoid the hassle of home ownership while getting access to communal areas to socialize, enjoy their hobbies, and live their life their way.
- Assisted living, where seniors can receive help with some daily tasks while retaining their independence. This can be ideal for seniors who may need a hand with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or managing medication but want to remain independent where possible.
- Memory care, where seniors with memory impairment and cognitive challenges can receive specialized care designed to support those with conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s. This is an advanced level of care aimed at addressing the unique challenges these conditions can create.
Each level of care has its own benefits, so it’s crucial to understand what you or your loved one want—so you can get the right type of care and support for your needs.
Confirm What You or Your Loved One Want
Once you understand the different types of care, it’s time to talk with your loved one or sit down and confirm your own needs. It’s going to be a future home, after all! It can help to think about:
- How close you may be to friends and family
- How finances will be handled
- Legal paperwork, like power of attorney or healthcare information
- What type of care you want
- How you want to spend your time in retirement
Comfort and happiness should be top priorities, so take the time to really confirm your needs. This can make it much easier to make a decision in the future!
Plan Your Finances
Many people don’t enjoy talking or thinking about money, but it can be an important part of the process. It can be particularly helpful to plan finances long ahead of making any move—to help you gain a realistic understanding of what to expect.
For example, who’s going to be paying for care? Does your loved one have savings, or are they relying on others? What will happen if there’s a medical emergency? Making plans ahead of time can help you both be prepared for this change.
Don’t forget to read up on the fee structures of any potential communities. This can help you budget accordingly!
Think About Location
The location of a community can have a bigger impact than most people think. It can determine how close you are to friends and family, and your access to any hobbies outside of your community.
Think about the following questions:
- Do you love being near the water, or do you prefer living near open spaces?
- Do you want easy access to nature, or would you prefer being in the heart of a city?
Some communities can offer a blend of everything you’re looking for—but you need to know what you want. Once you have a general understanding of where you want to live, you can start narrowing down your options.
And don’t forget to check out the physical layout of the community and the available units, too.
Check Out the Amenities
Most senior living communities offer amenities, services, and programs to help you enjoy life. Spend some time looking at the options offered at different communities. For example, here at Harrison Bay Senior Living, we offer:
- Fitness classes ranging from yoga and Tai Chi to chair dancing and dance groups
- Religious services
- Social gatherings like coffee hours and bingo
- Art groups
- Movie nights
- Comedy events
- Garden clubs
We have an up-to-date events calendar as well, so you can look ahead of time to see what to expect. Every community is different, so make sure you take the time to see what’s going to be available for you or your loved one.
Don’t Forget to Visit!
The last step before picking a senior living community is simple: don’t forget to visit ahead of time! It can give you a real feel for what to expect. You can ask any questions you have left, and the staff may even be able to help you learn more about easing the transition to senior living.
At Harrison Bay Senior Living, our doors are open for you to come take a look. So why wait? Book a tour with us today!
