The name senior living community often conjures up images of elderly people in wheelchairs, bingo, and loneliness. Senior communities, sometimes referred to as senior living housing or apartments, over-55 living centers, assisted living, or even retirement homes, are often quite different from the traditional image. True, the majority of residents are usually retired seniors. But they are not there to live out their lives—they are there to truly live. And although senior communities are all different as far as services, accommodations, and pricing, their goal is to provide the best living experience for people who want to remain active in mind and body for as long as they're able.
What are senior living communities?
There are many kinds of senior living communities to fit the needs and interests of a wide variety of older adults. Often, they will have an age requirement, such as one of the occupants of a unit must be at least 55. Some are like country clubs with golf greens or beach fronts. Some are singles-only or religion based. Some are RV parks where residents come and go daily. There's just the right place for almost anyone looking for a comfortable life as they age. You simply need to know what you want and do a little research.
What can I expect at a senior living community?
It will depend on what type of community you choose, but typically, you will find a group of your peers in an apartment complex or neighborhood of single-family residences. Units usually provide food storage, cooking appliances, and laundry facilities. Most provide maintenance-free living and include utilities, Internet services, and television in the monthly rent, and many provide options for cafeteria-style meals daily. House-cleaning services, meal delivery, and other services may be provided in some facilities, so you'll want to ask when you're searching for a community.
Many senior communities provide organized classes such as fitness and exercise, yoga, dance, coffee-time, holiday and birthday celebrations, hair and nail salons, or in-home beauty services. Often residents will create and organize their own activities such as games, potlucks, or off-campus outings. Hobbies, crafts, and book clubs are other popular activities.
For people with health issues, it's important to check out the level of healthcare services and amenities. Do you require wheelchair accessibility? Do you need help with bathing and showering? Some facilities have an onsite medical provider, weekly health visits from health professionals, or provide transportation to medical appointments.
As you can see, there are a lot of questions to ask and options to consider when searching for the right senior living community for yourself or a family member. Ask for a tour of any sites that you are interested in and talk to a few of the residents to get a feel for the place. With proper research, you should be able to find the perfect home to live the life you want.
Share19 April 2023
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