What to Look for When Touring a New Senior Living Community
A tour of a senior living community is often the first step toward joining one. On these scheduled tours, you’re provided with an opportunity to meet the care team, view the accommodation options, and see the shared spaces. You can also learn more about the amenities and services available to you.
However, when you’re not sure what to expect on your very first visit to a senior living community, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. These feelings may mean you don’t ask the questions you want the answers to or notice all the small things that may help make your decision to join easier.
We’ve included some helpful things to look for on your upcoming senior living community tour. Being aware of these in advance may allow for a more favorable touring experience.
Cleanliness
Health and safety are integral to a rewarding living experience in a senior living community. As a result, review the cleanliness and tidiness of communal areas. Pay attention to the parking lot, reception area, and whether the hallways, dining rooms, and common areas are clutter-free.
Notice the smells and even how well-maintained the outdoor areas are. The cleaner a senior living community is, the better it may be as a living environment for yourself or a loved one.
Safety
Many older adults transition into memory care and assisted living programs within senior living communities when they’re no longer safe to live by themselves. As a result, the safety features of a senior living community are worth paying attention to. If you don’t believe you can spot these yourself on a tour, don’t be afraid to ask an employee what they do to keep their residents safe.
The best senior living communities have several measures and features for resident safety, including:
- Grab bars
- Raised toilets
- Handrails
- Pendants and pull cords
- Emergency call systems
- Secure outdoor spaces
- Excellent lighting
- Experienced and well-trained employees
Enrichment and Socialization
Isolation is a common problem in older adults and is often linked to serious health conditions. Most highly regarded senior living communities work hard to solve this problem. Don’t be afraid to ask what your preferred community does to provide enrichment and socialization.
You can view communal spaces and learn about classes, activities, events, and therapies. You can also ask whether your preferred community offers scheduled transport and outings to ensure residents have every opportunity to thrive in their new home.
Dining Experiences
Food is integral to our health and well-being. With that in mind, learning more about culinary experiences on a senior living community tour makes sense. Visit the dining areas and ask about how they meet resident nutritional requirements. You might even be able to see a sample menu of what you can expect to eat once you become a resident.
Most highly regarded senior living communities provide a restaurant-style dining experience with comfortable dining rooms, freshly prepared meals, and a range of delicious and nutritious snacks and beverages to choose from.
Care Team
Whether you’re entering a senior living community yourself or are helping a loved one, it’s only natural to be curious about the care to expect. The more intensive your needs, the more critical it is for a care team to be able to cater to them.
Ask about the training the care associates have undergone and the care ratio. If you or your loved one is entering memory care, you can also ask whether the care associates have undergone additional training to cater to their more complex needs.
Ask Questions At Heritage Place Assisted Living & Memory Care
You deserve to make a well-informed decision about what comes next for you or your loved one. Schedule a tour today to learn more about our amazing senior living community and everything it has to offer. You can then start this next chapter of your life with confidence.
