When planning a big purchase or researching a decision, most of us now go online first. The same often holds true when deciding whether to move to senior living. As you may have already realized, a lot of information is available. This is excellent news as you should be able to learn anything you want to know. At the same time, however, it can quickly become overwhelming. But don’t worry; these tips can help make researching senior living online easier.
As you start researching senior living online, here are five tips to consider:
Many people don’t realize that there is more than one type of senior living. Options actually include independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It’s important to identify the best fit for you or your loved one before looking at communities because not all offer each type of senior living. Here’s a brief description of each type:
With so many options available, it’s important to be specific. We recommend you search by the type of senior living (independent living, assisted living, or memory care) that you determined fits best and your preferred location. For example, “assisted living in city, state.”
Next, visit the senior living community websites that come up based on your search. Make sure to check out not only their services and amenities but also their videos, image galleries, activity calendars, and floor plans. Many will also have other resources available such as financial calculators, self-guided assessments, how-to guides, and even blogs like these to help you in researching senior living.
You can expect most senior living communities to be active on social media, which is helpful because it’s where you’ll get a true sense of their personality and what daily life is like for the residents. So, following the senior living communities you are interested in is a must.
In researching senior living, make sure to include online reviews. But remember to consider them with a grain of salt in gauging the reputation of the communities you’re considering. You don’t want to base a decision on that alone but rather as part of the overall picture.
Once you’ve completed researching senior living, ideally, you’ve found two to three communities that you’d like to tour. Most senior living communities now have the option to tour online or in person. Either way, you can schedule your tour by contacting the communities directly or through their website. Then, you’ll answer a few questions so the team can gain an understanding of your needs to personalize the tour experience.
For additional information on researching senior living, download our Choosing the Right Community Guide today!