Many older adults choose to live in assisted living retirement communities post-retirement. Communities like these are interested in supporting the independence of their residents and providing them with a safe, peaceful environment to enjoy their retirement life. They also offer a variety of services and amenities that make life that much easier, freeing up time for residents to do the things they love. Before deciding on the ideal assisted living community, you should always schedule a tour to get a feel of the place. Here are 5 questions to ask when touring an assisted living community.
Are there Available Apartments Right Now?
This might seem like a no-brainer question, but it is an important one nonetheless; sometimes assisted living communities could already have a waitlist and you would definitely want to know what the waiting time is like. There are other factors that can influence waiting times too, such as the availability of private rooms and the limited number of beds for people on Medicaid.
What Kinds of Living Arrangements Can You Offer?
Choosing the right apartment that matches your preferences and budget is key in selecting the right assisted living community. For example, some people may require a bigger space to work on hobbies such as indoor gardening or cooking. Some may want to bring their pets along and hence require pet-friendly apartments. Adults who would benefit from special care services such as memory care services may want to ensure that their chosen community offers these services.
What Types of Health Services are Available?
Healthcare is extremely important, especially as one grows older. You should ensure that the assisted living community you choose is equipped to respond to your healthcare needs. For example, many communities will have visiting clinicians who can offer regular health checkups for those who need them. Some may even have doctors, dentists, and podiatrists in the community on occasion. Every community will also have a specific emergency hospital based on its location, and it is important to find out which hospital this is, and if your preferred doctor has access there.
What Activities and Events Do You Schedule?
The best assisted living communities offer their residents a large variety of available activities so that they can engage fully in the joys of life. Do a review of the monthly calendar for the community of your choice to find out what sorts of activities and events are available, and whether they fit your interests and lifestyle. This will prevent you from feeling bored, unsatisfied, or lonely.
What are the Services Covered?
Assisted living communities come with a plethora of services to support their residents. Your monthly fees will usually cover things like utilities, cable, and Internet access, but there may be extra services that can contribute to the costs as well. For example, most communities will also offer housekeeping and meal preparation services but these may be optional at an additional cost. Ensure that you ask questions about their service bundles so that you can have a rough gauge of the monthly fees you will need to pay to cover the services you require.
