Once you’ve decided that senior living is right for you or your loved one, it’s important to determine what you need and want in a senior living community. There are many factors to consider, so it can be helpful to create a list of what you must have and features that would be nice to have.
Finding a Community That Meets Your Needs
When considering your needs, think about your current living situation. What aspects of your daily life do you need additional support? What tasks are challenging for you?
Here are common ways senior living communities can help meet your needs:
- Evaluate and provide therapy services for mobility or health challenges
- Assist with bathing, dressing, and medication management
- Provide transportation for appointments and shopping
- Handle all interior and exterior home maintenance repairs
- Promote socialization through various activities, outings, and special programs
- Encourage an active lifestyle with exercise classes and fitness equipment
- Provide a safe and secure environment
- Ensure access to a 24/7 emergency response team
- Offer housekeeping and laundry services
- Prepare nutritious meals, with accommodations for special diets
After deciding how a senior living community should meet your needs, you can move on to identifying features and amenities you’d like to have.
Related: Is it Time for a Loved One to Move to Senior Living? >>
Download our complimentary Family Decision Toolkit!
Identifying Features and Amenities That You Enjoy in Senior Living
Most senior living communities today offer a wide range of features and amenities. While impressive, you’ll want to determine what amenities matter to you. For example, someone who enjoys swimming may prioritize finding a community with a pool.
Another senior may prefer something other than water activities but is passionate about art and creativity. They may choose a community with an art studio or a place they can create in their senior living apartment or home. Consider what is most important to you when checking out the features each community offers.
Here’s a checklist of common senior living amenities to get you started. Feel free to add your own categories if you don’t see them here.
| FEATURES | MUST HAVE | NICE TO HAVE | NOT SURE |
| Residence | |||
| Personal laundry services | |||
| Washer/dryer in apartment | |||
| Full kitchen | |||
| Kitchenette | |||
| Storage | |||
| Other: | |||
| Lifestyle | |||
| Multiple dining venues | |||
| Outdoor spaces and walking paths | |||
| Art classes | |||
| Spiritual programs | |||
| Intergenerational activities | |||
| Salon/spa | |||
| Pet-friendly | |||
| Other: | |||
| Care/ Wellness | |||
| 24-hour on-site nursing | |||
| Overnight nurse on call | |||
| On-site medical services (doctors, therapy services, dentist, podiatrist, etc.) | |||
| Memory care program | |||
| Special diets | |||
| Fitness center | |||
| Pool | |||
| Exercise classes | |||
| Other: | |||
| Safety/ Security | |||
| Emergency call technology | |||
| Front desk coverage | |||
| Emergency preparedness plan | |||
| Other: |
Related: Comfort and Convenience in Today’s Senior Living Communities >>
Remember, this is all about you and what you look forward to experiencing in senior living. Complete your priority list of needs and wants, then search for communities in your desired location.
View their website, read reviews, and schedule a personalized visit to meet staff and residents. Walking through apartments, common areas, and amenities that interest you is also important. Ask lots of questions and bring your checklist with you so you can take notes of your observations.
Life at Golden Bell Senior Living
Ultimately, you want to ensure your loved one is safe and their daily needs are met. It’s important to prioritize their overall well-being so they experience a high quality of life while maintaining meaningful relationships with others.
Senior living communities like Golden Bell provide the comforts of home with the added benefits of supportive care, engaging activities, and a maintenance-free lifestyle. With your daily needs met, your loved one will live more independently and have opportunities to meet friends, discover new interests, and live each day to the fullest.
Golden Bell Senior Living, family-owned for over five decades, offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, and respite care. Residents have personalized care plans, are treated like family, and are greeted by name in a warm, welcoming environment.
Amenities and activities include:
- Beautiful accommodations
- Landscaped grounds and gardens
- Community outings
- Recreation and social activities
- Chef-prepared meals
- Scheduled transportation
- Beauty and barber shop
- Housekeeping and maintenance services
Please contact us to learn more about our communities or set up a tour. We’d love to hear from you and are happy to help answer any questions you have about senior living. For more information about choosing senior living, download our complimentary Family Decision Toolkit.
