How To Get Involved In Your Community

How to Choose a Senior Community

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Old age gets to us all. Even the strongest and fittest person reaches an age when they need help with everyday activities. If your folks have reached that point, can you be there for them on a day to day, hour by hour, minute to minute basis? The answer for most people with families of their own and regular jobs is a reluctant "no" so the next best thing for senior citizens in need of regular help is a senior community. A retirement community for those who can generally care for themselves is a great idea as your folks could join an assisted living community which will give you peace of mind that they're being looked after.

Location

As with buying a new home, the location of the retirement community is the biggest thing. Remember that while your folks might be pretty active now over time they will become less willing and able to get themselves around by car or by public transport so a retirement community near your home is best. Your parents will want to be near you and any children you have so they'll appreciate living close by too. However, if you're folks aren't used to the area, you might be causing them too much of a disturbance by moving them closer to you. In that case, some compromise is needed. Why not look at places within their area that are closer to you or easily accessible by major roads?

Types of Senior Living

Senior communities aren't all alike. They can be broadly broken down into three. Continuing care retirement communities, which are complexes designed for those who can generally take care of themselves. These places offer companionship and a sense of community. The second option is congregate housing. In this arrangement, the residents live apart but have one shared meal a day so this is ideal for a senior citizen who lives alone. Assisted living communities are the third option. In these places, daily services are provided including dining, housekeeping, and nursing.

Recommendations

There's no way of telling whether your folks will like the places you're suggesting for them and you'll have very little confidence that they'll enjoy the places you've selected unless you get some first-person accounts of life in those residences. Do you know people living in senior communities who could give you the value of their experience? If not, do you know others in your situation that have older folks living in a retirement community? If so, ask their opinions.

Visit the Place

Even if you've taken advice from those who live in the community and you've researched online, there's nothing quite like checking out the place yourself. Schedule your visit with the community's staff, ask to experience a morning, afternoon or even a day with the community. Sample the lunches and dinners on offer. Meet some residents yourself. Then ask questions of the staff, even those that you think you have the answers to following your research. Be thorough throughout your visit but also take in a little of the atmosphere and get a sense for the place.

Talk to Your Family

This isn't your decision to make. Remember that or you might end up arguing with the ones you love the most. All you're doing is helping your parents to find somewhere that would benefit them as they reach old age. It might be that they have other ideas and that all your plans go to waste. If so, take what you've learned and apply it to the places they're interested in living. It's hard to see things from other people's perspective so listen to their suggestions, queries, and complaints and you'll help them to find and settle in a community that's right for them.