What To Look For in a Retirement Community
Caring for ourselves may feel like a challenge at any stage of life, but as we enter our senior years, we may need professional assistance to meet our daily needs.
Moreover, as we grow older, many of us seek companionship and camaraderie. Independent senior living and 55+ communities can be a great option to fulfill those desires.
If you’re having difficulty with daily activities or seeking new social connections, it could be beneficial to explore your senior living options.
Burcham Hills knows the process of finding a senior living community that can cater to your individual needs. We’ve created this helpful guide to show you what to look for in a retirement community. With this knowledge, you can choose a community that brings you peace of mind.
Choosing the Right Community for You
The first step is to assess what level of care you need at this moment. Where are the areas you seem to be struggling? What amenities and services do you find appealing? From there, you can search for communities that offer those specific care levels and begin to narrow them down by location. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you can dig into the details to see which one might be the best fit for you.
Questions To Ask When Visiting a Retirement Community
Scheduling a visit to a community is the best way to get a feeling for how well the community meets your needs. When you have questions about the community prepared, you can gain a lot of insight into what the community looks like on a day-to-day basis.
You’ll be able to gauge the atmosphere of the community, how clean the environment is, and the sense of camaraderie among the residents.
By scheduling a visit for a day when you know an activity or event is taking place, you’ll be able to experience how the residents interact with each other and with the staff members.
This can give you great insight into whether you could see yourself fitting into the community and allow you to line up your needs with the amenities offered. It is important to make sure that the community you choose is going to feel like home to you.
There is more to a senior living community than the physical care they can offer. By doing some introspection on your own lifestyle and interests, you can simplify your research.
What Activities, Programs, and Social Events Are Available?
Consider the hobbies and activities you enjoy in your everyday life. It is important as a senior to keep engaging in the hobbies that have brought you joy in life, or find something new.
You want a community where you’ll still be able to indulge in your favorite activities and the employees are enthusiastic about helping to accommodate those interests.
A community calendar is an important factor not only in independent living communities but in senior communities that offer all kinds of care types. Not only should the programs available pique your interest, but they should also meet social, emotional, vocational, physical, environmental, spiritual and intellectual needs.
If a community’s calendar is looking sparse, that may be your sign to look into other options.
How Does the Community’s Location Enhance the Lives of Residents?
Location can play a big part in how much you enjoy your time in a senior living community. Remember, there is no obligation to stay in the same area you’re currently living in.
If you have no family members living in your vicinity, it may be a smart move to consider finding a community closer to them so you’ll have some support.
If you do decide to relocate, there are plenty of options in urban, rural or resort settings. Warmer climates tend to be popular, but four-season states are also great options.
A good deciding factor is to focus on the lifestyle you are looking for. The ideal locations for snow skiing are going to be vastly different from the communities that offer golf year-round.
What Is the Cost of Living?
Before you can decide on a senior living community, you must do some math. The cost of living varies across the country, so it’s important to research the cost of taxes and expenses in your ideal location.
By lining those numbers up alongside the fees of your prospective communities, you can give yourself a better idea of what your future expenses will look like.
Balancing your budget can also depend on the cultural offerings of your chosen location. Your expenses are going to be higher in an urban location, with museums and theaters to indulge in, compared to suburban and rural areas.
A part of the balance is creating an equilibrium between what you want and what you can afford.
How Does the Community Value Inclusivity?
The most important quality of any senior living community is that it is welcoming. A great indicator that a community will accept you and all of your quirks is when that community is filled with people from all walks of life.
If you visit a community and find yourself surrounded by people of all different races, ethnicities, sexualities and genders, then you know that there is a reason all of those people want to be there.
Senior Living Community Types
A senior living community is a great way for older adults to transition into an environment where their individual needs can be met, while retaining as much independence as possible. Each type of senior living community revolves around the level of care seniors will require day-to-day at a community.
Service options include:
- Independent Living
- Assisted Living
- Memory Care
- Skilled Nursing
These types of living have specific care services to best provide for residents. It’s important to know what would benefit you or your loved one the most so you can find the right level of care.
Visit Burcham Hills
At Burcham Hills, we are dedicated to offering seniors more than just a place to reside – we aim to create a warm and nurturing environment that truly feels like home. Our commitment to personalized care means that every resident receives the individualized attention and support they need to thrive.
From our compassionate staff to our range of amenities and activities designed to promote physical, emotional and social well-being, we prioritize the comfort and happiness of each member of our community. Whether it’s assistance with daily tasks, engaging social events, or specialized healthcare services, we strive to meet the unique needs of every resident.
We understand that choosing the right senior living community is an important decision, and we invite you to experience the warmth and hospitality of Burcham Hills firsthand. Contact us today at (517) 459-0727 to schedule a personalized tour and discover how we can make our community feel like home for you or your loved one.