If you’re starting your senior living journey, it can feel overwhelming in the beginning. There are a lot of options, a lot of lingo and a lot of priorities to sift through. What began as a subject you may have known little about may be shifting to information overload as websites offer resources, sales people ask questions and you still are looking to make a decision.
Your journey to finding a solution shouldn’t be difficult, so let’s simplify it.
Top 10 considerations for a senior living community:
- Cleanliness
- Is there an odor? Are common areas and apartments well-kempt?
- Staff friendliness and engagement
- Do associates seem happy and engaged? Do they greet each other and residents with a smile and by name?
- Resident engagement
- Are residents out and about? Do they seem happy?
- Care levels offered
- What care levels are offered? What are the limitations within those care levels (when would someone need to move for care reasons)?
- Safety and security for residents
- What is in place to ensure the safety and security of the residents 24/7?
- Programming (including transportation)
- Outside of the stereotypical bingo and bridge, what programs are offered that are unique? Is there an example of programming that is personalized based on resident want/need?
- Care Associate tenure
- What is the average tenure of the care associates? Remember: the care associates are who residents will interact with the most
- Food quality and nutrition
- Is the food good? Does the staff eat the food as well? What accommodations can be taken to meet nutritional needs of residents?
- State survey information
- What were the most recent state survey results?
- Affordability
- What financial options are there? What happens if a resident exhausts their funds?
Many communities have bells and whistles, but looking at the most important parts of daily life at a senior living community will help you focus on what the right solution really is. Are you visiting multiple communities?