As we enter our sunset years, it is important to establish a place where our seniors may reside in comfort and luxury. For many, deciding where to retire comes with a lot of thought and time.
While retirement communities are easily available, sometimes selecting one that suits your needs or those of your loved ones can take time. With each retirement community offering the best services under its category, you may be amazed by the wonderful well thought out available care.
Here are some ways you may select a retirement community that offers comfort, luxury, and a lifestyle that will support you in your sunset years.
Do you want to live with people who are like you?
Choose an age-specific retirement community that is designed for people like you.
- Would you rather be surrounded by young married couples or older individuals who are single?
- Would you enjoy more of social life with activities provided, or
- would you rather be at home?
- Would you prefer to dine on-site or dine off-site?
Consider these things when you choose the type of community that suits your lifestyle.
Which Kind of Care Do You need?
According to Vivante, you may need more specialized care such as assisted living, or your beloved may be suffering from memory loss, arthritis, high blood pressure, or heart disease.
You may want to check out a retirement community that offers in-house medical assistance with such medical conditions. On the other hand, if you are healthy and want an independent life, you may opt for an apartment lifestyle community.
Decide on your Budget
Senior living communities have different prices based on the facilities and personnel available. Some are affordable, while others are pricey. For ease, it’s best to decide on which price range and facilities are ideal for you.
Even if some are beyond your financial abilities, you can explore sources of funds to pay for your retirement community. Some sources include social security, pensions, annuities, real estate assets, family contributions, and local government programs.
Seek Help From Family Advisors
Find a family advisor who is skilled in senior care. With various resources at their disposal, you will get the right information on what you need to keep in mind while picking out a retirement community. Advisors are better placed to help you understand if there are benefits, such as veteran benefits and other benefits that you may not be aware of.
Have a List of Potential Matches
Once you have a budget range, the facilities you need, and the location you wish to establish yourself, have a list of potential retirement communities. Some of these communities may be found online, their level of the price range will be shown, consumer reviews and maps of how to get there. Once you have all that information, you can book appointments with those communities.
Visit your preferred communities.
Once you have booked appointments with those communities that fit your budget and other needs, you need to visit them in person. Customer reviews and online portfolios are not enough.
You need to have a feel of the environment, amenities and even interact with the staff at the facility. As you visit the facility, you can ask questions about how they handle the elderly, visitation hours, and whether they have fee increments annually. If you can’t visit the facility in person, you can schedule a virtual tour.
Check out the community calendar.
Whether it’s the popular happy hour event every Friday afternoon or just a single line on the calendar saying yoga is at 9 a.m., community calendars are a great way to find out what’s going on around you.
Not all communities have these, but those that do are actively encouraging social engagement among residents. Take the time to review the calendar and see if there are events that you believe you will be interested in attending.
Befriend your neighbors
When you visit a retirement community, the people who live there are often eager to share details about their lives and experiences within the community. When you get in touch with residents, it’s important to take special care to respect their time and learn more about their experience in the community.
Unlock New Adventures
Many retirees report that they’re happy to be no longer tied down by their jobs. That newfound freedom can lead to new adventures, whether it’s biking and hiking and kayaking and gardening, and so on.
If you’d like to unlock some of those activities, consider moving to places where you can take advantage of them. You might also want to invest in some gear while you’re still working so that it arrives before you do!
Test the Water Before You Dive In
If you’ve never lived in a specific town before, it’s always best to get a feel for the area before you make any commitments. Don’t just visit the downtown; bring a bike or golf clubs or hiking boots, and see how the place feels and whether it’s right for you.
Final words
While choosing the perfect retirement community is a big decision, and you may feel overwhelmed with lots of information to process. always take advantage of the “5 Cs”.
You can also check retirementinvestments.com for a guide to save your retirement.”
These are Cost of Living, Crime, Climate, Culture, and Commute.
Cost of Living. The best way to assess your living expenses is to take a visit. Look at the rent, food prices, and other amenities. Find out what the average cost of utilities is. Get a full picture so you can get an accurate read of your finances.
Crime. You want to live in a safe neighborhood, so get a feel for how safe the streets are. If you’re driving around, get a feel for traffic patterns and how people are driving.
Culture. This one is subjective, but some things are important to you that may be important to the community you’re visiting. Good dining options? Cultural attractions? The ability to go for a run? Check out the community newspaper or visit the town hall to get a feel for what’s going on in the area.
Commute. For most retirees, a 30-minute-or-less commute is ideal because it means a shorter time away from family or a chance to connect with neighbors after dinner.
Climate – If you’re a snowbird, you’ll need to find a climate that fits your needs. You’ll also want to make sure you are moving somewhere with pleasant weather. Think about what you want, not what you don’t want.
If your preferred community in terms of resources is not within your locality, you can consider moving to other states. If you do not understand the paperwork you need to sign before joining a community, you can have a lawyer or family member interpret it for you.