Have you ever planned a visit to a senior living center? If you’re considering moving to one, a visit can be crucial in the process of determining whether it’s the right community for you. Check out these tips for touring a senior living center, so you don’t miss a thing.
Tips for Touring a Senior Living Center
Experienced seniors know there’s a lot to love about senior living, especially when you know you’re moving into the right community for you. But how can you be sure you’re making the right choice? For many seniors, a single visit to a senior living center may not feel like it gives you the information you need to make the call. However, if you plan your visit carefully and follow these tips for touring a senior living center, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the place you’re hoping to call home.
Do Your Research Before You Arrive
To learn everything you can about a senior living center, you must do your homework before visiting the community. Take a look at tools like this senior living tour checklist to ensure you know what to look for when you arrive, and feel free to call ahead of time to verify any information you need. You can also check your prospective community on tools like Google Reviews or scope out their social media presence for additional information. Keep a spreadsheet or other document to track the important things you learn.
Pay Attention to the Atmosphere
Doing a little research before you arrive can provide helpful context for your visit. However, once you arrive, you should pay as much attention to your gut feelings as to the information you collect. Does the environment feel warm and inviting? Are the staff friendly when you interact with them? Do residents seem at ease and well taken care of? Pay special attention to sights, sounds, and smells that stick out to you, too. For example, unpleasant odors might indicate issues with cleanliness that you will want to avoid in your new home.
Spend a Meal Time with Residents
If you want to get to know a community, it’s great to know who your new neighbors might be. When you visit, ask if you can join the residents for a meal and conversation in the dining area. Not only is this a great chance to check out the food and the mealtime atmosphere, but you can also get to know how the residents feel about their living experience. You might even make a friend that you can look forward to calling a neighbor sometime soon!
Keep Your Needs in Mind
Every senior is different, and because of that, they need different kinds of support from their senior living community. So when you visit one, ask about support for your specific situation. For example, suppose you are looking for a living situation that offers a little day-to-day support without excessive intervention. In that case, an Independent Living community could be the perfect option for you. If you need more help or have a progressive health issue that you know will impact your future, you’ll want to learn about the continuum of care available for residents like you. A senior living community can have all the amenities in the world, but if it doesn’t have the care you need, it’s not the right home for you.
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Now that you know how to tour a senior living center, it’s time to hit the road and check a few out. We hope Kinship Pointe will be at the top of your list!
Hoping to retire in Nebraska? Look no further than Kinship Pointe. We offer independent living and assisted living communities in four locations: Kearney Northridge, McCook, Seward, and Wayne. At Kinship Pointe, our delightful staff works every day to help residents pursue their passions and live life to the fullest. To learn for yourself what makes Kinship Pointe so special, schedule a tour or contact us online.