How to Find and Research Senior Living Communities Near Me

Before you can make any choice in life, you have to know what’s available. It’s the same with senior living communities—you want to research all your options so you can feel confident you’ve found the right fit for you or your loved one.

At Carriage Crossing, we want to help, because we know when you are looking at senior living communities, you’re looking for more than a place to live. You’re searching for a worry-free lifestyle that frees you to live the life you love.

Senior living communities: how to go about finding the right one.

It’s a good idea to have a mental picture of what you’re hoping to find as you begin your quest.

Are you looking for a full range of care that includes independent living, assisted living, and memory care? Also consider the atmosphere that might best match your personality. For instance, a casual, easygoing ambiance. A more formal, refined feel. You might be drawn to senior living communities that feature fitness-oriented amenities such as a swimming pool, putting green, or walking trails.

Once you feel more confident about what you are looking for, here are some suggestions for how to do your research.

• Go online.This is how to really “let your fingers do the walking” and get answers fast! First, define your search terms. You can start with a few simple ones, and you’ll quickly see lots of other possibilities pop up as you go through sites.

To start, type in a few phrases such as:

• • Senior living communities near me
  • Senior living communities in (your city)
  • Senior living communities near (your city)
  • Senior living communities (your state)

Other terms to drop in to those phrases are independent living, assisted living, continuing care retirement living.

• Check out the website thoroughly. Say you’ve found a website that looks promising. Great! Now take a breath and give yourself time to go through it slowly. Remember you can always “bookmark” the site (or write down the url address) so you can come back to it later. But for now, here are tips on what to note on the site:

• • Care options
  • Mission/Values
  • Services & Amenities
  • Dining
  • Therapies or home care available
  • Reviews by residents or adult children
  • Newsletter and calendar of events
  • Photo gallery
  • Description of residences
  • Location information
  • Team members
  • Blog articles

It may sound like a lot, but once you begin browsing a site, you will quickly get a good feel for what the community offers, and how it might feel to live there. Download any brochures or materials that will offer you additional information. Watch any videos listed.

• Search for reviews.While you are online, type in a search term such as “reviews of (community name)”. See what people are saying, while keeping in mind that not every review is reliable, especially those that seem overly negative. The more input you can glean from residents and their family members, the better.

• Be social.Going on Facebook or Instagram is another smart strategy for researching senior living communities near you. It’s a great way to see how residents are spending their days, where they go on outings, are they having special dining events, and how staff interact with both residents and families. You also can post questions and get quick feedback.

• Ask around.After all, you’re searching for retirement communities near you, so why not ask your friends and neighbors? People in your church and your pastor. Perhaps a trusted family physician or financial advisor. First-hand reviews are priceless.

• Take a tour.Nothing beats an in-person tour. You can take it all in: the atmosphere, the cleanliness, the camaraderie between staff and residents, and the overall ambiance that should say, “welcome home”. Take your time, have a meal there, and visit often.

Whether your search takes you, we are here for you. At Carriage Crossing, we understand everyone has different needs and preferences. We offer a wide range of senior services and work closely with you and your family to develop a personalized care plan that’s right for you.

If we aren’t the right choice for you, we’ll help you find the one that is. Our main goal is to make a difference in seniors’ lives.

Feel confident. Feel at home. Contact us to learn more.