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ToggleSenior living communities are an attractive prospect for retirees. They’ve been gaining popularity over time with an estimated two million seniors now living in some form of senior living community. That number is expected to grow in the years to come. As people’s ideas of retirement continue to evolve and seniors’ needs become more diverse, the range of senior living options is expanding as well.
If you’re looking for the right senior living community for your parent, having numerous options to choose from can ensure that they get the the perfect balance of the care they need and the independence they want. Of course, it also makes the selection process more difficult. Several factors need to be considered here to pick the one that fully meets your parent’s needs and expectations.
Your Parent’s Needs
First of all, think about your parent’s needs both now and in the future. Different senior communities are geared toward different needs, and they offer varying services to help meet them. Independent living communities are designed for healthy, active seniors. They cater to retirees who want to hold onto their independence and remain active and social but who require little to no help with daily activities. They also provide housekeeping, maintenance, and other services and easy access to medical care, so your parent can live independently without having to worry about excessive responsibilities or sacrificing safety.
Assisted living communities take matters a bit further. They offer the same amenities and services as independent living communities as well as assistance with everyday activities. If your parent has mobility issues or other specific needs, an assisted living community may be the right choice. Continuing care retirement communities, on the other hand, are for seniors whose health, mobility, or cognitive abilities are likely to decline as they grow older. They allow residents to age in place, and their care and services change along with residents’ needs.
Activities and Amenities
It’s also important to consider the activities and amenities different senior living communities make available to their residents. Those can vary greatly from one community to the next, but many offer fitness classes, enrichment courses, planned outings, and social events. Most also offer on-site salons, fitness centers, game rooms, and green spaces. Consider which activities and amenities are most important to your parent, and find a community that falls in line with those interests. That will help to ensure your parent is happy and remains active and social in their new home.
Location
Location is essential as well. You may want to choose a nearby community to keep your parent close. On the other hand, maybe your parent wants to be close to friends or has a specific area in mind. No doubt, you don’t want to move your parent too far away from you, but it’s also important to keep their wishes in mind. At the same time, consider proximity to restaurants, shops, museums, and other attractions your parent might be interested in. Senior living communities often plan outings for their residents. Your parent will enjoy being able to visit places that appeal to them during those excursions.
Finding the Right Senior Living Community
Several factors enter the mix when choosing a senior living community for a parent. Think about location, activities and amenities, and your parent’s needs to help you decide which ones might be a good fit. From there, you can ask more in-depth questions about their cost, the level of experience of their staff members, staff-to-resident ratio, and other points to determine which one would be best.