Choosing a senior living community is an important decision many families face as their loved ones age. But people are often unsure where to start. At Aging Advocates, we help families plan ahead by simplifying the process and finding senior living options that cater to your loved ones’ emotional and financial needs.
Use our guide to choose a senior living community that meets your criteria! We cover the three main types of senior care, what you should consider when making your decision, and tips on touring the facilities.
Need professional guidance? Schedule a free consultation with Aging Advocates to make an informed and thoughtful choice in senior living!
6 Steps to Choosing a Senior Living Community for Your Loved One
- Understand Your Options (3 Types of Senior Care)
- Consider Your Senior’s Medical Needs
- Determine Senior Living Costs
- Search by Location
- Account for Your Senior’s Preferences
- Research and Tour the Senior Living Facilities
1. Understand Your Options: 3 Types of Senior Care
People often have misconceptions about senior living communities, considering them old-fashioned nursing homes. However, modern senior care communities focus on community enrichment, ensuring that older adults can live as independently as possible in a home-like environment. Many seniors continue to lead active, social lives!
The three main types of senior care include:
- Independent Living (Senior Apartments): Older adults who can live independently but want to participate in an active community may explore independent living options. These communities are apartment complexes, townhouses, and condos designed with senior needs in mind. Besides common community amenities such as social activities, meal plan perks, transportation, and recreational programs, independent living options can also be more accessible for older adults compared to traditional homes that require consistent upkeep.
- Assisted Living: Senior assisted living is designed for individuals who need help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, or managing medications. These communities provide round-the-clock care while offering social activities, dining, and transportation, ensuring a blend of independence and support. The level of care provided depends on the facilities and management as well as the residents’ needs. It’s best to explore multiple assisted living communities before deciding the best fit.
- Memory Care Communities: Seniors with cognitive impairments, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, may find memory care communities more appropriate. Memory care communities offer specialized staff trained to provide extra supervision and dementia-focused care. Structured activities in a secure environment ensure resident safety and quality of life.
2. Consider Your Senior’s Medical Needs
Each senior’s medical needs will greatly influence the type of care they require. Some seniors may only need help with mobility or medication management, while others may have more complex conditions, such as dementia or chronic illnesses.
When considering senior living options, be sure to evaluate the level of medical support available. Communities with on-site medical care, rehabilitation services, or memory care programs can provide peace of mind if your loved one has specific health concerns.
Some senior living communities offer specialized therapy, including:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech-language therapy
- Cardiac therapy
- Mental health therapy
- Behavioral health therapy
Remember, the level of care will vary depending on the individual community and your older adult’s needs. Understanding which type of care best suits your loved one’s needs is one of the first steps toward finding the right community.
3. Determine Senior Living Costs
Cost is the next main factor when selecting a senior living community. On average, senior living communities cost between $6,000 and $8,000 per month, covering room, board, meals, activities, and care. While this can be a large expense, there are several ways to manage the cost:
- Private Pay: Many people pay for senior living out-of-pocket using savings, pensions, or family contributions.
- Medicaid: Certain communities accept Medicaid, but you must plan ahead financially, as Medicaid planning can take time. Medicaid will only pay for long-term services and may support assisted living programs. However, it will not pay for room and board.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: If your loved one has a long-term care insurance policy, it may cover a portion of the costs. These policies support care fees not covered by Medicaid or other health insurance policies.
- Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit: Veterans and widows of veterans who served during wartime may qualify for financial assistance through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit program.
By understanding your financial resources and the cost structure of different communities, you can narrow down your options to fit within your budget. This also prevents you from setting your sights on a community that isn’t sustainable in the long term.
4. Search by Location
Beyond medical needs and budget limits, the location of the senior living community is a common key factor. How close does your loved one need to be to family or friends? Choosing a nearby facility can make visits easier and help maintain regular contact. Additionally, consider the surrounding area—does the location provide access to medical facilities, shopping, or cultural activities that your loved one enjoys?
Location is usually top of mind for families considering senior living communities. Some elderly adults have a retirement location in mind because they prefer a specific climate or access to certain recreational activities. (Florida, anyone?)
Others may prefer to stay close to home because they’ve established roots in the community. Choosing a nearby senior living facility makes it easier to maintain regular contact with family and friends.
Additionally, older adults should also consider the surrounding area:
- Does the location provide easy access to medical facilities?
- Is the community close to entertainment and culture options such as shops, movie theaters, or other recreational activities your loved one enjoys?
- Does your loved one need access to a church, temple, or other house of worship?
- Is the cost of living appropriate for their finances?
5. Account for Your Senior’s Preferences
Once you’ve determined the main, non-negotiable requirements, you can be more particular about the details when evaluating individual senior living communities. Make a list of your loved one’s preferences to start. Then, search for options that meet the most criteria.
We often ask clients questions like:
- Is outdoor space important to you? (e.g., a garden, backyard, access to nature)
- Do you have a pet? What are their needs?
- What type of property do you prefer? (e.g., apartment, condo, townhouse)
- Do you need transportation?
- Are you someone who is social or do you keep to yourself?
- What are your top community amenities?
- How much space do you need?
- Are there language requirements?
Ensuring the community aligns with your loved one’s lifestyle can make their transition much smoother.
6. Research and Tour the Senior Living Facilities
By this point, you’ve likely made a shortlist of senior living facilities to tour based on your requirements. However, you won’t know if the community is a good fit without visiting the premises in person and witnessing an average day.
Our team at Aging Advocates typically recommends touring 2–3 communities to start. This helps to avoid overwhelming your loved one while getting a better sense of their preferences. We tour senior communities with families to inspect the facilities, ask questions you might not have thought of, and help refine your search if necessary.
When touring senior living communities, avoid getting distracted by the bells and whistles. Instead, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t rely solely on past recommendations: Word-of-mouth referrals can be a good starting point, but without updated information, you don’t know what the facility is actually like. A community is only as good as the current management and caregivers.
- Look for accessibility and cleanliness: Tour different units and check if there are accessibility issues for your loved one. If the facility offers housekeeping services, see if the areas are generally clean. Keep an eye out for odors, mold (especially under sinks and in bathrooms), and unkempt communal areas.
- Talk to the staff: Senior care staff are great resources for learning about the facility’s offerings. Check their licensed medical and healthcare services to ensure your loved one is safe. How does the staff handle emergencies? Do they have technology that can detect falls quickly? You should also make note of interactions between staff members and residents for any alarming signs. Finally, ask about the caregiver-to-resident ratio to confirm your loved ones will receive adequate attention.
- Hear what current residents have to say: Whether online or in person, current residents and their families tend to give honest reviews of senior care communities. Does everyone seem happy and engaged? While the feedback is subjective, older adults can get a better sense of if they’d fit in with the crowd!
By focusing on the essentials rather than the amenities, you can choose a senior living community that provides the right level of care and comfort.
Find the Right Senior Living Community with Aging Advocates
Choosing a senior living community for your loved one doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With proper planning and a clear understanding of the different options available, you can make a choice that benefits both your loved one and your family.
At Aging Advocates, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring you find a community that meets your loved one’s needs and preferences. Reach out to us today for expert advice and support in your search for the right senior care solution.