Things to Consider when Selecting a Retirement Home
Published on December 14, 2018
When it’s time to reevaluate your living arrangements in your senior years, considering a retirement home is a popular option. Retirement communities are a great way to have your needs met, live in a beautiful area, and enjoy a variety of services and socializing opportunities that make the senior years of life more enriching. As you get closer to making a decision about where you want to live, here are some tips to consider when selecting a retirement home.
Type of Community
The type of retirement living community you choose can make your experience more relaxing or entertaining. Some communities are designed to provide more opportunities for adventure and socialization with fellow Community Members, while other communities offer more of a quieter, private setting. Depending on your needs you can choose a home that has cultural events, sightseeing, religious services, entertainment, exercise, fine dining, and more.
Mission and Purpose
One of the major differences between senior living communities is their purpose. Some communities focus more on medical care, while others seek to provide a more well-rounded, holistic retirement living experience. Learning about your prospective community’s approach to senior living and researching their attitudes and beliefs to see if they match yours is a great place to begin when narrowing down your list.
Lifestyle & Food
A necessary part of a healthy retirement is eating the right food. Some retirement communities are equipped with experienced and professional chefs who create restaurant-quality meals daily using fresh, nutritious ingredients. If you have any dietary restrictions or preferences, you may be able to enjoy nutritional support from healthy meals every day.
Medical Care
Knowing what your needs are in terms of medical care is very important when choosing a retirement community. You may need assistance in administering medicine or may have special dietary needs or restrictions. If you are currently healthy but anticipate future changes with your health, finding a community that has an on-site nurse, medical assistance, and emergency care is your best option.
Budget
When choosing a retirement community, costs are something you cannot overlook. You need to know how much you are willing or able to spend, and that will determine the level of service and amenities you receive. If you want premium dining options, expert-led exercise classes, or other fun and educational benefits, be prepared to spend more to have a better-quality life.
Service Offerings
Another area to consider when selecting a retirement community is the kinds of service and activities they provide. You may desire a holistic approach to healthcare programs, personalized care, 24-hour staff, home-cooked meals, recreational exercise and games, religious activities, laundry services, emergency response systems, housekeeping, nursing assessments, hair and salon services, and more. If these services are important to you, choosing the right retirement community with a variety of options is the right idea.
Activities and Transportation
Some retirement Community Members will continue to drive and may need easy parking. Many communities offer this convenience as part of their services. However, some seniors want to save their money and put it towards other events and activities. The good news is that retirement communities offer scheduled shuttle services and access to nearby public transportation, so you can get to your appointments and social activities with ease.
Resident Feedback
It is always a good idea to visit a retirement community you are interested in beforehand and speak to the Team Members and Community Members to find out what they think. Ask them about their likes and dislikes and what day-to-day life is like. Any residence that does not allow visits or meet and greets should be labelled as a red flag.
Planning Mechanism
Depending on your health and physical abilities, your needs may change quickly. One of the important aspects to look for when choosing a retirement community is finding one that meets your needs now and will adapt to meet your future needs. This will minimize stress and increase your level of stability as your health needs change.
Family and Friend Referrals
The best recommendation is typically from people you trust. If you have friends and family who have lived or worked in retirement communities near you, they can offer you great insight about the pros and cons based on their personal experience. A good recommendation is a sign that a retirement community may have the services and quality of living you are looking for.
Location
Location is key depending on how close you want to be to your relatives, or whether you want to live in an urban or rural area. Quieter residential areas have their benefits, but it may also be convenient to live in a retirement community that is close to grocery stores, shopping malls, movie theatres, and other areas that you enjoy visiting in your spare time.
Choose V!VA Retirement Communities
There are many options to choose from when searching for the right retirement home for you or your loved one, but only a few genuinely seek to provide overall comfort, happiness, and the feeling of “home” for its Community Members.
V!VA Retirement Communities is one of the best choices because our Team Members strive to provide community living that goes above and beyond your expectations. We want our Community Members to feel comfortable and safe as they build new friendships and enjoy an active, safe, healthy life.
If services are your major focus, we offer plenty. Some of our services include meal prepared by Red Seal chefs, fitness and recreational programs, amenities, and much more. You or your loved one can enjoy a relaxed, comfortable, and personal environment that provides privacy and the fun of socializing in a safe community.
We pride ourselves on being one of the few strong and successful privately-owned and independent developers in the senior living field. But don’t take our word for it, visit one of our locations to see for yourself! We have six operating locations, including Barrhaven, Mississauga, Pickering, Thornhill Woods, Meadowlands in Ancaster, and Waterside in Carleton Place, with two others under construction in Oakville and Whitby
To learn more about us and to find out if our retirement community is right for you or your loved one, visit our website, e-mail us at info@vivalife.ca or call us at 1-888-984-8482.
