Comparing Your Senior Living Options

Everyone has a budget for senior living, and it’s understandably one of the biggest reasons in deciding whether a community is or isn’t a good fit. When looking at the monthly bill, look closely at the payment structure. Some communities may look more expensive than others at first glance if they have all-inclusive pricing. Other communities may appear more affordable, but adding on extra services or amenities raises your overall bill. It’s best to look at what services and amenities you know you need or want and find out how each community prices the services.

Here are some common questions you may want to ask:

• How are care needs paid for?
• If my care needs increase, will my monthly fee increase?
• Are all meals included in the monthly fee?
• Do any community amenities cost extra to use?
• What utilities will I pay for, or will these be included in the monthly bill?
• Is there a second person fee if my spouse lives with me?
• Is there a monthly fee for a pet?

Some seniors or their families feel strongly about a community’s location. This could be because family members want to be able to visit easily, or the senior wants to stay close to familiar surroundings. Other seniors are open to moving out of their city or even their state to find the right community. Here are some things to talk through:

• How easy will it be for family members to visit this community?
• Is it important for my loved one to be in an urban or rural environment?
• Is the community close to a hospital or doctor?
• Is the community close to places important to my loved one, such as a church or favorite store?
• Does the community offer transportation?

As you look over your potential communities, you’ll see that each has a review section. Our review moderation team makes sure these reviews are only from residents, family members or friends of residents, or people who have toured. While one review alone may not mean much, you can compare reviews to see if there’s a pattern. Reviews from the last two years will be the most helpful. Here are some things to watch for:

• Are reviewers consistently mentioning a similar experience with staff, facilities, or quality of care?
• Do reviewers mention a positive tour experience or a poor one?
• Does the review mention how long the senior has lived in the community?
• Does the community respond to reviews?

No matter how many photos and brochures you look at, nothing beats seeing things for yourself. Many seniors get confirmation from a tour that they’ve found a great community. For others, it’s a chance to reevaluate. Here are some things to pay special attention to during your tours:

• Staff. Are they friendly? How are the interactions between residents and staff? Do staff know the residents by name? Are they willing to talk to you on your tour?
• Cleanliness. How does the community smell? Does it seem well kept, or do you notice details like stains on the carpet?
• Residents. If you see residents during your tour, do they seem happy to live there? Does it seem like seniors in the community are well-cared for?
• Activities. Are there any activities happening? Are residents spending time together in common areas?
• Food. Meals are often one of the biggest reasons why residents either do or don’t like a community. Scheduling a tour over lunch can give you a chance to taste the food and see how the residents enjoy it.

Moving to a senior living community is a big change, with lots of moving pieces and factors to consider. You likely feel overwhelmed with options. When narrowing down your list, pick one or two non-negotiables, such as cost or location. After that, the best thing a senior can do is tour. Seeing a community in person can help clarify priorities and allow for experiences you can’t get any other way. Tours make a huge difference in how family members and seniors feel about the upcoming move.