Solterra Senior Living Blog

Activities

Most assisted living communities have an activities director and a wide variety of groups to join.  On your visits, ask for the activities calendar and see if there are any activities planned that spark your interest.  Pay attention to what kind of activities are offered and how many.  If the activities calendar is jam-packed with items, yet none of them are of any quality, you may want to keep looking.  Also, if there are activities that you are really interested in participating in, most likely the current residents are interested too, meaning you will be surrounding with people who enjoy the same things you do. 

Location

Location is also something to take into consideration when choosing an assisted living community.  Usually people look for a community that is near where they currently live or an area they are really familiar with; however, these places may not be best.  Remember the other categories we discussed and find out what is most important to you.  Sure it may be nice to be closer to the kids, but your kids would also be more willing to drive further if they know your health and safety are taken care of. 

Some other important things to look for in a location are how close you are to hospitals and medical facilities.  Even though this may not be a concern of yours now, it might be in the future.  Also, what other attractions are nearby? Are you close to shopping centers? This might not be an issue if the community offers transportation, but if you need to hire a service or a taxi it may become expensive.

Atmosphere

What are your first impressions when walking into the community? Are you greeted? Is it attractive and homelike? Are current residents social? Do they look like they are enjoying themselves? Speak to some residents and find out.  They will have the best opinions because they are experiencing the community first hand. 

In addition, some communities welcome small pets.  If this is important for you, start looking at communities that are pet friendly.  If you are allergic to animals, or don’t particularly care for them, but the community you like welcomes pets, find out what their rules are.  Some may only allow pets in the private apartments or in certain areas.

Hopefully these tips will help you in the decision on choosing your future home.  Consider all the pros and cons of each community and discuss with others.  Even though you need to pick what is best for you, friends and family may think or see something you missed.  When you have a few in mind, contact the Better Business Bureau and see if any complaints or legal actions have been made on these communities.  It is also good to find out if these communities are licensed.  Ask them for a copy of their latest inspection.  If they are up to code, they should have no problem providing you with the information you need to make this decision.