February 26, 2020
Your parent or loved has decided to move into a senior living community. As an adult child caregiver, you’re happy that the transition will give your loved one more independence. But before that happens, you’ll have to find the right community.
There’s a lot that goes into finding the best senior living option for your loved one. You’ve researched communities and read the reviews online. There’s still one crucial thing you have to do before you sit down and compare communities. Going on a senior living tour.
Touring a retirement community gives you unique insight that you won’t find anywhere else. So how can you get the most out of a senior living tour? Keep reading below to discover helpful tips for touring senior living communities. With a little help, you can find the ideal living option for your loved one.
As an adult child, it’s natural to think that the closest senior living community or the most affordable is the best option. But there is so much more to consider. What about the safety and security of the community? How are the dining options? Is the staff professional and attentive?
A senior living tour can give you the answers to all of those questions, if you know where to look. You can get the most out of your senior living tour by:
Senior living communities often hold big events each month to invite as many people as possible to tour their facilities. These “tour days” are popular since communities roll out the red carpet to all the guests who sign up.
Sign up for your tour on off day (no event). This will give you a first-hand look at the experience your loved one will have on a daily basis. It’s also a great chance to see how well the community is maintained on a regular basis.
It’s common for people to not ask questions during important moments, and touring a senior living community is no exception. If you’re having a hard time thinking of questions during your tour, here are a few to get you started:
• What can you tell me about the community’s activities?
• Is there scheduled transportation available?
• Are there meal plan and dining options?
Your tour guide should be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Plus, you’ll be surprised how many more questions you’ll have once you start talking about a topic.
Did you know current residents are one of the best resources to learn about a retirement community? During your senior living tour, see if you can start a chat with a current resident. Ask them for feedback about the community. See if what they enjoy about their lifestyle matches your loved one’s priorities.
One of the most common questions asked by seniors about retirement communities revolves around the food. When you’re on your senior living tour, ask if you can sample a meal. Trying out the dining services ahead of time for your loved one can save time and frustration for your whole family.
Don’t forget to take a sample menu back to your loved one, if they don’t come with you for the tour. That way your loved can see if the dining services within the community are appealing to them.
Whatever senior living community you choose, your loved will be spending a lot of time with staff. As an adult child, you want to make sure that your loved one is in good hands. During your tour, pay attention to how the community’s staff interacts with residents. Do they seem friendly? Are the residents engaged? The happiness of the residents speaks volumes about a community.
At Franciscan Ministries, we’re a non-profit that owns and operates a collection of premier senior living communities. We’re proud to offer a variety of care and housing options where your loved one can thrive.
If your loved one is looking for a senior living community, we invite you to explore one of ours. Click here to find a community near you or contact us to schedule a tour. We’d love to hear your family’s story.
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