Finding a good assisted living community that can meet your needs is a long, drawn-out process. It requires extensive research and a lot of discussion with your loved ones. You also need to tour these various assisted living communities to find out more about them. Although touring an assisted living community may be exhausting, this is an extremely important part of the process because deciding on your potential living community is a crucial choice that you need to make. To make the most of your time at these visits, preparing ahead is important. Here are our top tips and considerations that you should keep in mind when touring an assisted living community.
Look Out for The Team Member to Resident Ratio
The team members are one of the most important parts of such retirement communities. This is because they are ultimately the main people responsible for your caretaking. If there are many residents allocated to one member, the type of care that you get might be lower in quality. This is something that is an immediate red flag as ideally, you would want your retirement community to have team members that can give their undivided attention to you so that your experience is as enjoyable as it can be. A high team member to resident ratio could also potentially mean a slower response time in case of any emergencies, which makes opting for such communities a less attractive option.
Narrow Down Your Choices Based on Your Personal Preferences
Different retirement communities offer different types of amenities and it’s important to sit down and assess what your personal needs and preferences are. Would you like a pet-friendly community? Do you need round-the-clock assistance? Do you need free transportation? Assess your lifestyle and thereafter, determine what it is that matters to you. This helps you to cross out communities that don’t meet your needs so that you can narrow down your choices.
Walk Around the Community on Your Own
Aside from getting a guided tour organized by the retirement community, walking around the location on your own can help you to assess your potential living quarters in a more objective manner. The formal tour can allow you to get acquainted with all the amenities and services in a community but it’s only when you walk around unchaperoned that you can catch a real glimpse into what the community is actually like.
Speak To the Residents There
Speaking to the residents is an important factor that can allow you to decide on your potential retirement community. These residents are the ones who have been living in this community for a long time, which is why they can provide you with an unbiased perspective into what life in the community is actually like. Here are a few questions that you can consider asking them:
- How long have you lived here?
- Do you enjoy your time here?
- What are the team members like?
- Do you feel like this community is worth the cost?
If you’re looking for a resort-style community that can cater to your needs while still affording you the independence that you desire, Discovery Village At Melbourne is the place for you. With an experienced team, you can be sure that you’re in safe hands. Contact us today to find out more.