Assisted Living communities are designed for older adults who need additional support for daily activities like dressing, bathing or housekeeping, and the right one can make a world of difference in your aging loved one’s retirement. However, finding the right Assisted Living community can be difficult.
Look at these four signs you’ve found the perfect match for your loved one, and discover they can thrive at retirement communities like ours at Friendship Village:
1. It’s the right location
Choosing the location for an Assisted Living community depends on your loved one’s personal preference and how close they want to be to friends and family. Many seniors in Assisted Living still lead on-the-go lifestyles and may want a community near shopping centers and local parks.
Assisted Living can provide everything a person needs to maintain an independent lifestyle, but it can’t replace the warm embrace of the people they love the most. If spending time with the grandkids or being an active member in their church is on the top of your family member’s priority list, search for a senior community that allows them to conveniently visit close friends and family members.
2. The environment is clean, beautiful and inviting
It doesn’t matter where you live or how old you are, everyone deserves to live in a clean, safe and beautiful environment. The best way to get to know a senior living community is by taking a tour and inspecting all the little details of your family member’s potential home.
Here are a few things to look for when you tour an Assisted Living community:
- An obvious effort to make the community feel like home at all times.
- Accessibility features like elevators, stairlifts and widened doorways.
- Hallways and doorways are well-lit and free of obstacles.
- Residents look well-groomed.
- Safety features like grab bars, handrails and walk-in showers.
- Sunny windows and welcoming decor.
- Warm and inviting private spaces.
- Dining venues are clean, and residents look like they’re enjoying the food.
- Clean social areas that encourage residents to gather.
- A variety of social events and activities that suit your loved one’s interests.
Take time to speak with the staff and have a meal with the residents. If you’re surrounded by smiles and laughter, it’s a good sign an Assisted Living community is the right fit for your loved one.
3. The community offers a seamless transition to higher levels of care
Nothing provides peace of mind like knowing your loved one’s health is always in safe hands. It’s essential an Assisted Living community can meet your loved one’s evolving needs with an expert staff and a seamless transition to higher levels of care, if they should ever need it.
Friendship Village offers the only two retirement communities in St. Louis, MO, with Life Care, which means we guarantee our residents the health care they need at a predictable cost, for life. Our communities in Chesterfield and Sunset Hills offer a full continuum of care that includes Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.
We tailor our senior care services to your loved one, right here on campus, so if their health needs should ever change, where they live doesn’t have to. Along with a priority access to higher levels of care, our Assisted Living residents also receive services like:
- 24-hour licensed nurse
- Medication management
- Showering and dressing assistance
- Scheduled transportation to medical appointments
- Weekly housekeeping and flat linen laundry service
- Specialized Memory Care program
Friendship Village retirement communities even feature wellness and future care, which is designed to keep your loved one healthy and independent for as long as possible. From yoga classes to trivia challenges, it’s our goal at Friendship Village to support each resident in their individual retirement journey by offering unique and easy ways to improve their health and wellness.
4. You like the pricing structure
For many families, Assisted Living cost can be the deciding factor for choosing a retirement community. Some communities, like ours at Friendship Village, have inclusive pricing, which means a monthly fee covers almost everything your family member needs to maintain a happy, healthy and independent lifestyle. However, there are other communities that offer tiered pricing or a la carte pricing.
The ideal way to get the details on the cost of Assisted Living at a retirement community is by having an in-depth conversation with one of their senior living experts. Here are some basic questions to ask about cost and finances:
- Can I see a copy of the contractual agreement that discloses health care, services and amenities, and all fees?
- What are your billing and payment policies?
- What services are included in the monthly fee?
- What services are available at an extra cost?
- How much can I expect the monthly fee to change with a higher level of care?
It’s important to remember your choice of Assisted Living community should never be based on price alone. A vibrant community filled with welcoming residents, healthy and delicious dining options, thoughtful services and amenities, and an expert caregiving team are all part of a complete and fulfilling retirement.
The Retirement Lifestyle You’ve Been Searching for Is at Friendship Village
Our retirement communities in St. Louis, MO, are dedicated to meeting the individual needs of our residents, while paying special attention to their independence and dignity. To learn how you or a loved one can enrich their retirement in our Assisted living communities at Friendship Village, contact our team online, and we’ll be in touch shortly!