Questions To Ask When On A Senior Living Community Tour

The time has finally come. Your family is looking at senior living communities because your loved ones need assistance with daily activities. Even though you knew this day would come, it’s still hard.

Finding a suitable senior living community is like finding a new home–there are plenty of options but you keep looking until you find the one that feels right.

Here at Pivotal Health Care, we want to help simplify the process for you. Ask these questions during your tours to find the best fit for your family.

Question #1: What’s the cost of living?

No surprise here–it’s important to figure out how much each senior living community costs. This isn’t a job interview where you don’t want to come across as too eager and ask about compensation. This is an important question that needs answering.

However, keep in mind that cost isn’t everything. Remember, your loved ones are living here full-time. Make sure the cost balances out with amenities, safety, food, and other accommodations.

Question #2: What amenities are available for residents?

Knowing what you’re paying for is good, so make sure you find out about all the amenities. Asking this question is especially helpful for seniors with physical limitations and disabilities. You want to make sure your loved one can enjoy their new home and everything that comes with it.

When you ask about amenities, don’t be afraid to ask about events. More and more communities are offering events, live music, delicious food trucks, and many other things. So, if a community has great gathering areas, a pool, or other community spaces, it’s not unreasonable to ask about events.

Question #3: How does the community keep its residents safe?

This one is a no-brainer. You need to find out how the senior living community is keeping its residents safe. There’s a burglary every 30 seconds in this country, and seniors can be at heightened risk because they often can’t physically defend themselves.

Although burglary trends are declining, you want to know if your loved one is protected. Asking about security systems, security guards, and gated communities is essential to making the right decision for your family.

But safety isn’t all about a burglary. It’s also about what happens in case of emergencies. Like when the weather takes a turn for the worse and the power goes out. It’s important to figure out how the senior living community takes care of its residents during these times of need.

Ask the important questions

It’s really easy to get overwhelmed in a senior living community. There are plenty of places to visit, and you’re absorbing information like water out of a firehose. During your tours, take in as much information as possible and grab as many pamphlets as possible. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions and write the answers down.

But most importantly, listen to your gut. Trust how you feel about a community.