Whether you are willing to admit it or not, we all need help as we age. For seniors, this raises the issue of housing options that cater to their unique situation whether they could use just a bit of help with daily chores or need full time medical assistance.
The housing options available to seniors are surprisingly varied. The main classifications run from retirement homes to assisted living to nursing homes. This being said, there are many facilities that provide housing options that blur these lines. Given this, trying to choose an option can quickly become overwhelming. This can lead to a poor choice.
There are a vast number of options you should be looking at with senior housing. They range from the obvious such as the monthly costs to the more sublime such as whether alternative health practices like yoga are offered. Most will suggest you put together a master list of issues and create a checklist for each housing option you visit. This is a smart move, but you shouldn’t lose the forest for the trees.
When considering housing options for a senior, don’t forget to use your common sense. What is your overall impression of the particular housing? Would you want to live there? The primary question often boils down to whether the housing feels like a health care institution or a real living community. Institutions are cold and barren places.
A quality housing option for seniors is one that offers many of the amenities of home. The rooms should be apartment like with lots of windows. The grounds should include gardens and places to play sports, go for walks and so on. There should be areas where the residents can gather and socialize. Basically, we are talking about a quality of life that should be high enough to ensure a comfortable existence.
When considering your housing options, don’t jump at the first community you visit. There are plenty of free services across the country that will explain your options and provide you with tours of various facilities in your area. Go on as many of these as you can. You’ll be able to develop a feel for the various options as well as which of them are attractive to the senior in question. This information can then be used to narrow down the possibilities and make a final choice.
There are many options to consider with senior housing. Whatever choice you decide upon, make sure it is one that offers a quality level of living.
Kristana Jenson is with careplacement.com – a placement service providing seniors and their families with free information on housing options in Southern California.