Choosing the right senior living community isn’t easy. These 6 tips will help you choose the right one!
When you are looking for a suitable senior living community, whether for yourself or a loved one, there are a number of factors to consider. There is a wide range of retirement living options open to seniors today and each one offers different services and levels of care/independence.
In this blog post, we will highlight 6 practical tips that you can follow to help you choose the most suitable senior living community. These include learning more about the background of the community, factoring in your budget, meeting with residents and taking a tour, learning about the available services, and more.
Parsons House Active Assisted Living is the premier senior living community in Omaha, offering assisted living, memory care, and an Alzheimer’s unit for seniors. Let’s get started with our tips for choosing a senior living community.
1. Understand Your Options
First of all, there are several different community types that you should be aware of. At Parsons House Active Assisted Living, our active assisted living amenities and services are perfect for people who wish to enjoy an active and fun lifestyle while receiving everyday care and support.
We are also memory care and Alzheimer’s care specialists, perfect for families looking for specialized residential care for a loved one.
Other options for senior living and retirement communities include Continuing Care Retirement Communities, nursing homes, and skilled nursing facilities. The right option for you or your loved one will depend on the level of care they seek.
2. Decide on a Price Point
Senior living communities are available at different price points, so we recommend that you establish a realistic price point that is based on available resources. A Family Advisor can be of tremendous benefit here, as they will be able to help you explore all of the potential sources of money. For example, potential sources of money to pay for senior living may include:
- Social security
- Long-term care insurance
- Pensions and other retirement income
- Life insurance
- Family contributions
- Veterans Benefits
- Real estate assets
- Local government programs
- Medicare and Medicaid
When looking at a particular community, it is important to get detailed information about fees (including what fees do and do not include). This will allow you to make an informed decision based on your available finances.
3. Check Out the Background & Reviews
It is recommended that you take some time to learn about the history and stated vision of a senior living community. It is essential that a senior living community is properly accredited and meets the high standards for operations, services, and finances. It is beneficial to read online reviews about a community to understand its strengths and weaknesses.
Here at Parsons House Active Assisted Living, we are family-owned and family-focused. Our team is highly-trained, experienced, and committed to providing the highest level of care to our residents. We are happy to speak to you about our background, credentials, services, and vision.
4. Take a Tour and Meet With Staff
When you have identified a senior living community that is of interest to you, arrange an appointment for a tour so that you can meet with staff as well as residents. This is an opportunity to walk around, inspect the facilities, sample the food, and ask any questions you might have.
By speaking to residents, you will be able to learn about their experiences living in the community. Click here to look at our floor plans and explore our facilities from the comfort of your home.
5. Understand the Available Services
Every senior living community will offer different services as well as recreational and social activities. It is important to understand what services are available in a community, so you can determine whether or not it is suitable for you or your loved one. As noted, we specialize in care for people who are suffering from poor health, memory loss, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other health conditions.
Recreational and social activities are also key in a senior living community. With regards to our active assisted living, some of the services and amenities offered include:
- Homemade meals
- Weekly housekeeping
- Pet therapy
- Daily wellness and exercise classes
- Daily activities and social events
- Laundry service
- Nurse Practitioners
- Two beautifully landscaped secure outdoor courtyards
- Transportation to scheduled medical appointments
- Routine wellness reviews
- 24-hour emergency response system
- Arrangements for in-house physical therapy, podiatrist, physician, dental care, massage therapy, etc
Activities also include:
- Garden club
- Book clubs
- Bowling and billiards
- Arts & crafts
- Visits to Champions
- Bible studies
- Field trips
- Shopping trips
Our calendar of events is continually evolving and we encourage our residents to be active and sociable.
6. Consider the Location
For many seniors, it is preferable to live close to family and friends, so it is important to consider the location before making a final decision.
Take some time to consider the surrounding community and the facilities that are available there, including places of worship and doctor’s offices. By speaking with existing residents during your visit, you will be able to get first-hand information about this topic.
Tips for Choosing
If you are considering a senior living community for yourself or a loved one, your premier choice is Parsons House Active Assisted Living.
To learn more or schedule a tour of our community, please call our Residential Specialist at 402-249-6050 or use our Contact Us Form. We look forward to speaking with you about our active assisted living and memory care facilities.
Choosing the right senior living community is never easy. We hope these 6 tips will help you make an informed decision.