How to Choose a Senior Living Community: Exploring Senior Living Options

When faced with an important life decision, we turn to a variety of resources to make the most informed choice we can. Of course, we talk to trusted family members and friends to seek their advice. With the advance of technology, however, we almost always turn to the internet to see what we can find — and that’s where a lot of people start when choosing a senior living community.

While the internet may be a good place to start, it’s definitely not where your search should end. In this blog we will be providing our tips for ways to explore your senior living options — making sure that you feel confident in your next chapter.

How to Explore Senior Living Options

With an array of options to explore senior living communities, it can feel a bit overwhelming. Here is a list of different routes you can take when it comes to choosing the next place you call home: 

1. 1. Online Research: Dive into the digital realm and explore senior living communities from the comfort of your home. Online resources such as AARP AND USAging, offer services such as locating a community near you. You can filter your search based on location, amenities, and care services to find the perfect match.
2. 2. Researching Senior Living Expos: Keep an eye out for senior living expos and events in your area. These gatherings bring together various senior living communities under one roof, allowing you to explore multiple options in a single outing. You can chat with representatives, gather brochures, and even sample some of the amenities on offer. To find these events simply do a search online for senior expos near me, there will likely be results navigating you to an expo or community near you.
3. 3. Ask for Recommendations: Reach out to friends, family members, and acquaintances who have experience with senior living communities. Personal recommendations can provide valuable insights and help you narrow down your options. Don’t hesitate to ask about their experiences, both positive and negative, to gain a well-rounded perspective.
4. 4. Schedule Tours: Once you’ve identified a few senior living communities that pique your interest, schedule tours to get a firsthand look at the facilities. Many communities offer guided tours where you can explore the grounds, check out the accommodations, and meet staff and residents. Take this opportunity to ask questions and envision yourself living in each environment.
5. 5. Attend Open Houses and Events: Keep an eye out for open houses, social events, and themed activities hosted by senior living communities. These events provide an excellent opportunity to mingle with current residents, sample the cuisine, and experience the community’s atmosphere firsthand. Pay attention to the vibe and see if it aligns with your preferences and interests.
6. 6. Consult with a Sales Counselor: Consider enlisting the help of a senior living counselor or specialist. These professionals can assess your needs, preferences, and budget constraints and recommend suitable communities based on their expertise and industry knowledge. A sales counselor will be available at the communities that you are looking at, they can also help navigate the complexities of the senior living landscape and provide invaluable guidance throughout the decision-making process. 

Making Your Senior Living Checklist

Just like when choosing a home anywhere, everyone has different wants, needs, and preferences. To that end, consider making a checklist of what’s important to you. Here are a few key things to consider when putting together your list.

• How close do you want to be to family and friends?
• What is your budget?
• What are your current healthcare needs?
• Does the community offer a continuum of care that could handle any future needs you might have?
• What are your hobbies/what do you like to do in your free time?
• Do you like having planned activities such as a book club or card group?
• Do you like to exercise? If so, do you prefer to swim, take a group class, or work out on your own on equipment?
• How important is outdoor space to you?
• Do you have a pet and, if so, is the community you’re looking at pet-friendly?
• Is the community in a location that appeals to you? What is there to do in the area? What kind of outings are offered?
• Are there cultural or life-long learning opportunities?
• What does wellness mean to you and how is it facilitated?
• What would your living space be like? What are the finishings like? How often are they upgraded?
• Does the community feel  like a place you could call home?

Seeing for Yourself

That last question — does it feel like a place you could call home — takes a little more work to answer. That’s because you can’t know the answer until you see it for yourself.

As mentioned above, scheduling a tour is a great way to explore senior living communities. There is simply no substitute for walking through the hallways and witnessing how happy residents are for yourself. While on a tour, you should be able to ask team members and residents specific questions and get a true sense of what your life would be like if you lived there.

During this time, you can dig even deeper and find out where your specific wants and needs will be met, which means something different to everyone. From dinner with friends to curling up with a good book in the library, we all have our own idea of what brings joy to a day.

Visiting a senior living campus also offers the chance to consider the surrounding community. Are you close to shopping and dining? Are there interesting things to do in the area? Are you near the water or other recreational opportunities that are important to you? 

Come Visit The Moorings at Lewes

At The Moorings at Lewes, we certainly believe in top-quality service and hospitality. But that’s just the frame for creating your own life in a way that brings you the most joy and meaning. Imagine a day that starts with a stroll through our 35-acre campus — or maybe a visit to the dog park or butterfly garden — followed by a group exercise class in the heated pool. You might enjoy lunch with friends then retire to your one- or two-bedroom apartments (with upgrades available in your preferred decorating style) to relax before taking in a concert or guest lecture in the performance hall.

We’re located just a few miles from the Delaware coast, and that sense of carefree-yet-sophisticated adventure carries over to our campus. You’ll feel it on the manicured lawn with an American flag flying overhead; in the crisp, coastal decor of our common areas; and while enjoying the view of heron and other wildlife on our ponds. 

It’s all part of a philosophy of wellness — and, for us, wellness isn’t just a buzzword. Rather, it’s an overarching goal facilitated through our award-winning LivWell program addressing the seven elements of wellness — physical, intellectual, emotional, social, environmental, spiritual, and vocational.

We’d love for you to see all of this in action for yourself by being our guest for an afternoon. From speaking to residents to enjoying a meal — on us — in our stunning dining room, you’ll find out firsthand if this is a place you could see calling home. Contact us today to schedule your personal tour. We look forward to meeting you!