When Should You Move into a Senior Living Community?

Aging is a natural part of our lives and something we should all embrace, rather than delay or run away from. As we get older, knowing how we will spend our golden years will better prepare us for what is to come.

It’s important to maintain and practice control and agency over your life and senior living communities offer older adults the environment and ability to do so.

If you are considering moving into a senior living community, it first helps to ask yourself these questions.

1. Is home maintenance and management becoming a burden?
2. Are you experiencing more trouble with daily tasks and care?
3. Do you find yourself longing for more community and excitement?

If you answered yes to some or all, moving into a senior living community may be right for you.

The next step is, of course, to figure which one would be the right move. Choosing a senior living community is understandably intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

Recognizing your needs and preferences by keeping some sort of senior living checklist will allow you to make informed judgments and ultimately, a final confident decision on where you will comfortably live.

What to Look for in a Senior Living Community

Different senior living communities have unique offerings. Senior housing, senior living amenities, and senior living costs will vary from place to place.

It’s helpful to determine which services and amenities you require or would benefit from and how much you can and are willing to pay for them.

Browsing floor plans and taking virtual and in-person tours of different communities will give you a good sense of what life might look like for you there.

If you require some assistance with activities of daily living, make sure you ask the staff what levels of care or medical care they have available on standby.

You should also ask communities that offer concierge services what these may entail. These services will often include medication management, assistance with running errands, apartment organization, housekeeping services, and more.

When you consider different locations, make sure you are aware of the type of senior living community you are looking for.

Senior living options often go by many names: continuing care retirement communities, assisted living communities, independent living communities, etc.

Some terms are used interchangeably, while others are not.

Independent living communities strongly promote independence, and therefore, will typically not include personal care services.

Assisted living communities, on the other hand, will offer personalized care services with staff at the ready to assist with bathing, dressing, and anything else a resident may request or require.

Many senior living communities will include both independent living and assisted living communities within their campus, making it easy for residents to transition if the need ever arises.

Choosing the Right Senior Living Community for You

As you browse various senior living communities, imagine what your day to day might look like. What amenities, communal spaces, events, and activities will you take advantage of? What are some must-haves and some nice-to-haves?

Look out for perks that get you excited:

• Fitness classes/fitness centers
• Swimming pools
• Game room
• Dining room with gourmet restaurant-style dining
• Fully stocked libraries
• Golf courses
• Trips and excursions
• Etc.

You should feel like you’re living in luxury when you find the right senior living community. Life deserves to be easy and enjoyable when we enter our golden years and retire. If you identify as a senior and your current life doesn’t feel that way, it’s time for a change.

To determine what the average cost of senior independent living is by state, check out Genworth, a great resource that publishes yearly cost-of-care surveys.

Consider Chelsea Senior Living

Residents at Chelsea Senior Living are living their best lives as they cherish each moment and unlock unlimited potential.

The energy and support felt everywhere are unmatched when we’re together and having fun every day. At every opportunity, our residents invite and involve their beloved family members to join in on the fun.

Discover what Chelsea Senior Living has to offer. We can’t wait to give you a tour of our beautiful upscale campus.