Senior Living Facilities

Things to do before you start searching:

Decide how much money you can spend each month.
- Don’t forget the “Move In” costs – Application fees, Community Buy-In, Security Deposits, among others.
- Don’t forget that adding another person adds costs to the “base” rent listed, as does adding pets and all the extras.
Decide where you want to live. Do you want to stay close to your former home? Do you want to move closer (Or farther away from) family? Do you want to move to that wonderful place you remember you took a vacation to and just fell in love with?
Click on this link. Read the checklist. Read it again. Fill it out.

Then, and only then, start your search.

Call your friends, post questions on social media.

Read the reviews

Contact the services mentioned on the links page – knowing your money situation up front, the location you want, and the information from the checklist will go a long way to being prepared for this phone call.

Take tours of the facilities. Taste the food, page through the books in the library, meet the staff, interview the residents.

There are several tiers of these facilities. For convenience sake I have used an alphabetical grading scale.

A Level

This is pure luxury. If you can afford it…move here…as soon as possible. ALL the amenities are here. The staff is well trained (and well paid). You will probably have quite a bit of personal space in your living quarters. You will have a choice of meals from a fantastic chef. You will have excursions, sometimes even cruise ships and vacations planned, set up, and paid for by the facility. Well, don’t take my word for it. Click here: https://www.therichest.com/luxury/celebrity-home/retiring-in-style-the-most-luxurious-retirement-homes/

B Level

Pretty darn terrific. These facilities are for those of us who are not millionaires, but still have some money and want to spend it on ourselves. We want to live in comfort and be waited on. These will still have most of the amenities offered by level A facilities, but usually there is an additional cost.

C Level

Still not too bad. These facilities are a little the worse for wear. The good ones spend their money on things that will enhance the lives of the residence rather than things like a fresh coat of paint for the walls or the latest in home entertainment systems. The bad ones…well…get a good one.

D Level

Not great. These tend to be more along the lines of community homes than individual living spaces, and the staff can sometimes be shorthanded. There is less of choice in amenities and you will eat what you are given. Still, for a single person who has specific needs, this can be a good place to call home.

Anything else?

Sadly yes, there are still retirement homes which “warehouse” people rather than care for them. Do your research. Talk to the residents. Talk to the staff.

Now, the big question. How do I convince my loved one to go to one?

Good question. It took us five years. (So get started planting the seeds) It helps when they have friends in the facilities.

Take preliminary tours WITH your loved one before it becomes a “have too.”

If they respond to logic, create a pro and con list. WITH THEM

If they respond to emotion, tell them how concerned you are for them, and how much better you would feel knowing they were safe.

If they refuse to make the move, be patient. They may be scared. They may think that moving to a facility will mean they will die soon. They may think that you are just shunting them off to a “home.”

If they physically cannot make the choice, take the hard road. Make it yourself. The peace of mind you will get from having this settled is overwhelming.

Then be prepared to help. (see the page on hoarding)