7 Key Features of a Quality Senior Living Community
Don't rush the process when you're taking steps to move into a senior living community. Instead, take the time to look for qualities that ensure your big move is a positive experience. You want to settle on a community that feels welcoming and secure.
What should you look for in a senior living community? Keep reading to learn about the seven key features you don't want to miss!
1. Comfortable Living Spaces
Retirement community features should always include comfortable, attractive living spaces. You'll want to book a tour of a prospective community to see both individual living quarters and public spaces. Ask to see different floorplans, too, before committing to one.
Look for clean and spacious apartments with defined living spaces and bedrooms. Rooms should have windows to provide ample natural light. They should be equipped with safety features, like bathroom guardrails, to keep residents safe.
Senior housing benefits may include laundry service or cleaning, but it's always best to ask if or how you can access these services. Ask how many apartments are in the community, too, to see if the size matches your preferences.
2. Varied Levels of Care
An elderly care community should understand that residents' needs will change with time. As such, they should offer different tiers of care to meet residents where they are. For instance, you may want to seek only assisted living communities with medical personnel on staff.
Some residents may be fairly independent, while others might require more assistance from staff to take medication or walk to community events. Still, others may require memory care for support as they navigate dementia or other health concerns.
Talk with a senior living community director to make sure that the level of care can grow with you as you age. Ask about staff availability for overnight care and proximity to medical facilities, as well.
3. Well-Trained Staff
The staff at a senior living community should be friendly and qualified. It's fair to ask what kind of training they undergo so you can feel confident they know how to respond to medical emergencies. For instance, staff should know CPR and other life-saving techniques.
Additionally, the staff-resident ratio should be favorable so each resident gets appropriate attention. An understaffed community means that not all residents will get personalized care. It also means that staff may feel burned out, and that can impact the quality of their work.
Overworked staff members may not be as friendly and thoughtful in their interactions with residents. They could make mistakes on the job with devastating consequences. Look for a community with a low staff-resident ratio and make a point of observing their behavior during a tour.
4. Good Security
You want to feel safe and secure in your new home. One of the key benefits of moving to a senior living community is access to extra security measures.
All entrances to the building and outdoor spaces should have keypads accessible by fobs or codes. Outdoor spaces should have fencing around the perimeter. Some staff should specifically work security detail to look for suspicious activity or lend a helping hand.
Security applies to more than just guards and security systems, though. Residents should be able to wear lanyards or access call buttons in their apartments in case of emergencies. Similarly, hallways should be well-lit and have railings to provide extra support.
5. Fun Activities
Check the social calendar at a prospective senior living community to see how active it is. Avoid choosing a community that's thin on activities. Instead, choose one with the amenities that can help you feel fulfilled each day.
Maybe you enjoy walking or birding. Or perhaps you're interested in attending informative lectures from local scholars. Or maybe you're looking to discover a new passion at this stage in your life.
Whatever the case may be, make scouting amenities and activities a priority. Look for entertainment options, like a campus movie theater or TV room. Gyms, common spaces, and libraries can enhance your experience, too.
Other top senior amenities include outdoor garden spaces or cooking classes at a community kitchen. You'll want to confirm that the community offers transportation to nearby amenities, like restaurants or shopping centers, as well.
6. A Supportive Community Atmosphere
Making friends isn't always easy as people age. Some individuals may lose friends to death or disease, and families don't always live nearby. Further, many seniors are hampered by mobility issues that make attending social events hard.
That's why it's critical to find a senior living community that values making social interactions possible. This can happen through a robust lineup of activities and even smaller interactions each day.
The best senior services will cultivate an environment where respect and support are valued. Staff members should be kind and personable, making residents feel like they're part of a family.
Regular positive interactions with staff and fellow residents can have a big impact on seniors' mental health. Choose a senior living community where you feel welcome from the moment you walk through the door.
7. A Clean Campus
Finally, a senior living community should be clean and well-maintained. Your home is a reflection of you, and you deserve a community that takes pride in the cleanliness of its indoor and outdoor spaces. You'll feel more comfortable when you look around and see mopped floors and decluttered rooms.
Steer clear of problematic communities that reflect poor maintenance and upkeep. Weeds, peeling paint, and signs of water damage are red flags. They could indicate that the community lacks the resources or fiscal responsibility to make necessary maintenance.
Find the Right Senior Living Community
A high-quality senior living community will be home to compassionate staff members who provide the level of care you need each day. Look for an inviting campus with comfortable living spaces and top amenities. And make sure the community is secure and clean.
At Carroll Place, our residents enjoy a compassionate and fun living environment that meets their individualized needs. From 24-hour nursing access to live entertainment, our community offers a balance of care and activities to suit everyone. Contact us today for a tour!