When assessing different senior living communities be sure to first define what’s most important to you. Each senior living community has its pros and cons, but what really matters is whether or not a community can live up to your needs, desires, and expectations. Before you tour a senior living community take a few moments to answer the following questions.
What location do I prefer?
Since a senior living community may well be your forever home, location is key. For starters do you prefer an urban lifestyle, a setting that is rural, or something in between? You will also want to consider how near a senior living community is to important community resources like health care, shopping and entertainment. If you enjoy being outdoors, check the availability of nearby natural areas, parks, and hiking trails, as well as on-site amenities like walking paths, patios, and gardens. If being close to family is important that should be factored in as well. Get more tips in the seniorliving.com article, “Making the move: choosing the right location.”
What level of care do I need?
Choosing the right level of care provided in a senior living community is important both short- and long-term. If you need daily assistance with tasks like dressing, bathing, or medication management assisted living is the best choice, or if memory loss is a concern, memory care is another option. But even if you don’t need any help at all and chose independent living, moving to a senior living community like The Lodge at Stephens Lake which offers all three levels of care can be a wise choice for a safe and secure future. Not only will you be at the head of the line when you need a higher level of care, but you also won’t have to leave the senior living community you have grown to love.
What are my dining expectations?
Everyone has heard how bad the food used to be in senior living communities but that has changed for the (much) better! Top senior living communities like The Lodge at Stephens Lake take cuisine to a new level with amazing chef-inspired meals served in an elegant dining room. Most important, however, is the attention to senior nutrition. As noted in our blog, “The 6 Most Common Misperceptions About Senior Living,” senior living communities now offer residents the choice of cooking at home or joining friends for delicious meals crafted specifically to their nutritional needs, including those on special diets.
What services and amenities are most important to me?
Leaving a family home for a senior living community should mean less work and more freedom so it’s essential to look at what services and amenities are included. For example, home maintenance and repair should be a given, as well as regular housekeeping services. Better senior living communities also provide bi-weekly linen services, local transportation, and onsite hair salons and barber shops. It’s also important to pay attention to the overall community maintenance such as building upkeep and exterior grounds maintenance as they indicate the level of service you can expect.
From another angle, amenities in a luxury senior living community like The Lodge at Stephens Lake include emergency call systems, fun and healthy daily activities and events, and excursions to local spots of interest. Together, services and amenities should make life more carefree, engaging, and fun, so residents can do what they want when they want without hesitation. Learn more in our blog, “Amenities Count: Comfort and Convenience in Today’s Senior Living Communities.”
Will I be allowed to decorate my new home?
Home should be a place where you feel comfortable so being able to decorate as you like is important. At The Lodge at Stephens Lake, we offer a variety of floor plans and encourage our residents to decorate as they see fit. As noted in our blog, “Decorate Your Space: 5 Tips to Make a Senior Living Apartment Feel Like Home,” while every home is clean, modern and accessible, each is a blank canvas just waiting for a new resident to create their own work of art.
Can I bring my pet?
Pets are family. Period. So many senior pet parents won’t even consider a senior living community that isn’t pet friendly. As animal lovers ourselves, we welcome pets to The Lodge at Stephens Lake because we know they are important to health, happiness, and well-being for our residents. In fact, in our blog, “Why Having a Pet Brings Happiness to Seniors,” we look at all the ways pets benefit seniors from providing comfort and support to protecting physical and cognitive health.
Get more tips for finding the right senior living community by downloading our “Choosing the Right Community” guide and contact us to tour our beautiful community.