When making a decision on senior living in Somerset County, especially one as important as what community you’ll call home, you need the detail that only a tour can provide. But even touring senior living is only as good as the understanding you walk away with, and that’s difficult when communities often focus on trying to wow you with bells and whistles alone. Unless you’re prepared going in, that is. We can help with these tips on what to look for and the questions to ask when touring senior living communities.
Before the Tour
When touring senior living, there’s some prep work you need to do beforehand for the tour(s) to be most productive. This involves prioritizing your wants and needs for senior living in Somerset County. In doing so, you’re not only saving yourself the trouble of touring senior living communities that aren’t a fit, but you’ll also avoid being overwhelmed by all the options available to you in communities that are contenders. Here’s what you should consider:
- Realistically assessing your current needs before touring senior living, like whether you need help with personal care, support managing health conditions, would like the convenience of housekeeping, home maintenance, and meals provided, and/or would enjoy a more social, active lifestyle, for example.
- The levels of care in senior living in Somerset County, such as independent living, assisted living, or memory care. Think of it similar to a continuum of care, with independent living at the beginning and assisted living or memory care potentially following after.
- The senior living community features that are non-negotiable, like being pet friendly or having two-bedroom floor plans, or simply nice-to-have, such as concierge services and multiple dining venues, for example.
Download our Family Decision Toolkit!
Touring Senior Living Communities
After considering the above, you can ideally identify two or three senior living communities that fit your needs and wants to tour. You’ll have the option of touring senior living virtually or in-person in most communities today. But however you decide to tour senior living in Somerset County, you’ll have an easier time comparing when you’re looking for the same things and asking the same questions at each community. We suggest the following:
Accommodations and Campus
- What accommodations are available? What are the differences in cost for each?
- Is community occupancy high or low?
- How’s the location?
- Can residents personalize their space?
- Is the campus well maintained?
- How do you feel about the accommodations’ appearance, comfort, and cleanliness, as well as the dining, common and outdoor areas?
Lifestyle and Wellness
- Does the menu have a variety of nutritious and appealing offerings? Can you sample the food?
- Does the community accommodate special dietary restrictions or requests?
- What types of activities (exercise, wellness, enrichment, social, etc.) are offered?
- How often do residents leave the community for outside activities?
- How often are housekeeping and laundry services provided?
- How do you feel about the level of amenities available? Do they fit your needs and wants?
- Can friends and family visit anytime? Are there common and private spaces to gather with them?
- Is the community pet-friendly?
Staff and Care
- What level of daily assistance can residents expect?
- What qualifications are required for the staff?
- Are staff members offered additional and/or continuous training opportunities?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day and at night?
- How do staff members interact with residents and you? Do they seem friendly and compassionate?
- Does the community accommodate special needs, such as diabetic care?
Safety/Security
- How does the community handle medical emergencies?
- How is the community secured?
- What safety features are available?
- Is transportation offered?
Cost
- What are the monthly costs for housing and care?
- What services are included in those costs? What services are add-ons?
- What are the payment options?
For more information on touring senior living, download our Family Decision Toolkit or contact us today to schedule a tour.
