How to Find the Right Retirement Home for Your Loved One
Has your loved one decided to leave the headache and expense of home maintenance behind and spend the next chapter of their life in a senior living community? There are a lot of choices and tons of options to choose from.
Or perhaps someone you love has reached a point where you feel they are no longer safe to live independently, and you want them to be in a loving environment where a helping hand is never far away.
Today’s senior living communities are a far cry from the stereotypical “old folks home” of the past. The new senior living community means a wealth of activities, amenities and new friends.
But with all the choices out there, how do you find the one that’s right for your loved one? How can you select a place where your loved one will be happy?
Don’t worry, we’ve outlined a basic guide that you’ll find useful when looking for a senior living community.
First, Take a Moment to Reflect
Before you can even begin to take that leap, it’s vital that you ask yourself what are the most important elements for your family.
Remember, this is going to be a new home. You should take your time and carefully examine every facet of how your loved one would like to spend the next chapter.
Ask yourself:
- What activities and hobbies are important, and will these be available?
- What happens if your loved one needs a higher level of care?
- How important are location and convenience?
- What amenities are crucial for the new home?
Once you’ve created a list, it’s time to examine each of these elements in more detail. We’ll take a closer look at these aspects of senior living.
How to Find the Right Community for Your Loved One
- Location
This is probably one of the most important aspects of the list. If children or relatives live near the area, a closer location means more convenience and often, more visits during holidays and throughout the year.
Proximity to medical clinics, hospitals and shopping centers is also crucial to consider.
Finally, have you decided if this location needs to be near a city or in a more rural area? Perhaps it’s ideal to be close to the beach or to an area that offers a wide variety of activities and things to do. If searching for a place for your loved one, take into account their preferences.
- Amenities
Hopefully, you’ve already made a list of amenities that your loved one wants and needs. Carefully examine the community you’re considering and discover if they have what you’re looking for.
At Cedar Cove, we’re happy to include among our amenities things such as:
- A barbershop and beauty salon
- Worship services
- A spacious courtyard
- A dining room with delicious meals
Of course, we offer a lot more. Please contact us. We’d love to schedule a tour for you.
- Available assistance
Maintaining independence is important. It should be respected. However, there may be times when your loved one needs an extra helping hand for a task or a job. When looking for a senior living community, be sure to take into account the assistance that is provided as well as their philosophy on maximizing their independence.
- Activities
The activities at some facilities are much more than the typical bingo. Many offer weekly excursions to shopping centers or events. There are also:
- Socials
- Arts and crafts
- Holiday events
- Exercise classes
- Arrange a tour
Be sure that you set aside a time to arrange a tour of the community you’re considering. If you’re looking for your loved one, be sure to bring them with you! It’s vital that they get a say in the process.
- Friendly staff
The bottom line is that a community is much more than a building—it’s a cooperative effort between staff, caregivers, health care workers and the residents. You want to carefully watch the encounters staff have with residents. Are they friendly? Are they truly treating others in accordance with the Golden Rule?
See Why Cedar Cove Meets All Your Expectations
We realize you have several choices when it comes to senior living homes for the ones you love. We know that transitions are often difficult and uncomfortable. This is why we guide you every step of the way through the process.
We believe that after a tour of our community, you’ll see what sets us apart from others. We believe it’s rooted in our friendly and caring staff, coupled with employees who honestly treat our residents the same way we’d treat our own grandmothers or grandfathers.
Want to learn more? It’s as simple as signing up for a tour. Just contact us for more information.
We’re looking forward to meeting you to help you discover what makes Cedar Cove special.