Seniors For Living

Location, location, location. The cost. Services offered as compared with the services needed. Reputation and word-of-mouth referrals. Making a decision about assisted living or any other type of senior living community is a multifaceted one, and these are the obvious characteristics that most will consider (and upon which most will base their final selection).

Look past these obvious aspects though. Use them as a guideline, a means of whittling down your choices and options, but then take a closer look at the community based on the following questions:

What is the atmosphere, mood or personality of the place? Are the staff and residents friendly, welcoming, and social, or reserved and stoic? Do people keep to themselves, or do most residents participate in a number of planned or spontaneous activities?

How about design or aesthetics? Is it a Victorian-style mansion with period furnishings, artwork and accessories? Does it have a modern, contemporary feel, more like a resort or condo complex than a “home?” Is the campus divided into small, private cottages, or are there large buildings with long hallways leading to cookie-cutter apartments and rooms?

Also, consider these posts for more specific insights on choosing the best senior living setting for yourself or a loved one:

• Touring Assisted Living: First Impressions and Other Tips
• 5 Tips for Selecting an Independent Living Community