Evaluating independent living communities is a bit like house shopping but with higher stakes and slicker sales pitches. Every community will show you the best model apartments, introduce you to their friendliest residents, and tell you all about the fantastic life that can be yours in their community. But the actual experience can be very different.
Finding independent living communities to evaluate is not the challenge. Most areas have plenty of options. The challenge is finding one that can deliver the experience and the lifestyle to price value exchange you expect. That’s a job that requires a more thorough evaluation than just a tour of the model apartment and an invitation to lunch.
Defining What You Are Shopping For
Before you start shopping, it helps to decide what you want. Independent living is not for everyone. Some people want to be surrounded by a bustling community with a busy social life, while others want peace, quiet, and time alone.
There are many things you can decide on to help narrow your search. Are there any locations you want? Would you prefer to be near family? Or would you prefer to be somewhere else, perhaps in a warmer climate or an area with a lower cost of living, a decent pool, or a vibrant community?
Money is another thing to consider when shopping for independent living communities. Most communities cost between $2,000 and $5,000 per month, depending on where you live and the size of the apartment you choose. Make sure you understand what is included and what is not in your rent before making any final decisions.
Getting Help With the Process
In many areas, there are so many options for independent living communities that the process of shopping around can become tedious if it’s left to you. After five visits to different communities, they all start to look pretty familiar. After 10, and you’ve lost all recollection of what you liked about the first couple.
Most people who want to save time in evaluating their options find it most beneficial to enlist the help of Senior Living Advisors. These professionals know the lay of the land when it comes to the local independent living communities and can quickly tell you which communities suit your desired lifestyle better than others.
They already have established contacts within many communities and have visited several. They know information about a community that the marketing professionals may not share with you. In one conversation with a good advisor, you may learn more than in hours of searching online.
Observing Community Culture During Your Visits
Try to visit communities during mealtimes or when activities are happening. Community culture is by far the most important thing to look out for during your visits. Are the residents engaged with each other? Or do they seem withdrawn and bored?
Some communities have an amazing culture. Residents thrive as they socialize and make new friends. There are common areas people hang out in and friendly exchanges in the hallways. You feel this social vibe within minutes of walking into these communities.
In others, people keep to themselves. The community feels like an apartment building where everyone is just older than usual. The common areas may be empty, and there are scheduled activities that happen but attract no participation.
Neither culture is good or bad; it’s all about whether the social atmosphere suits your personality. Communities with active social lives can overwhelm introverts. Quieter communities may leave extroverts feeling lonely.
If you can, talk to some of the residents and see what they say. They may tell you things that the staff don’t mention and offer valuable insights into what works for them or what does not.
Engaging Residents With Community Activities
All communities will provide you with a list of activities for the month when you visit. Some appear impressive but do not reflect the reality of what happens in these environments. So a good question to ask yourself is whether these activities take place and whether the residents engage with them.
Each of these activities serves a different purpose in different communities as they cater to different needs and preferences. Exercise classes are essential. Creative classes are also great to have as they engage people differently. Outings into the community also serve their own purpose. Every activity counts.
Ask if they have transport for residents wanting to go offsite every once in a while. How much in advance do they have to book? What is the limit on the number of trips allowed? This transport option should enhance residents’ experience, not limit their freedom to get out when they want to.
The overall goal here is to ensure that any activities or lifestyle programming that the community offers suits your preference for what community life should look like after you move into one of these environments.
Evaluating the Physical Community Spaces
Consider the type of apartment you will be living in? Independent living communities vary widely in size. Are they large enough to suit your lifestyle? Will your furniture fit? Is there enough storage space for your belongings? What type of appliances do they have? Do they have full-size appliances?
Apartments should let a lot of natural light in; otherwise, they can become claustrophobic when you spend your time in them. Look out for dark hallways that do not help this problem either.
Are the common areas used by all the residents? Do they have features that enhance people’s willingness to spend time in these areas and keep them connected, such as access to free wi-fi?
The common areas do need to be well taken care of. A good sign of management is an attractive, well-kept building. However, you should also be paying attention to how well all the other areas of the building are kept. How is the paint job? Are all the fixtures working? Is anyone cleaning the carpets?
Dining Quality and Service Evaluations
Most independent living communities include at least one meal per day as part of their package; some even provide all meals. In any case, independent living community staff will usually be preparing all your meals daily, so they better taste good.
Try to visit during mealtimes. The food they prepare should not be institutional or cafeteria style. Food gets boring when it tastes bland every day.
Once again, ask about good variety in the meals offered. What variety will there be during each meal offered? What will happen to you if you do not like the food being prepared on any particular day?
Another dining experience evaluation comes from assessing the atmosphere that surrounds meals, not just what you eat during your visit. Do people enjoy their food? Can they sit with their friends or do they need to stick to assigned seating? The people serving your meal should be friendly and caring as opposed to tired and overwhelmed.
Assessing Staff Engagement During Your Visit
Staff should be friendly. Pay attention to how staff engage with residents as you walk through the community. Do they know everyone by name? Do they create a welcoming atmosphere? Or do they seem indifferent and overwhelmed?
Do residents smile at the staff? Do they exchange small talk and have a good banter? This interaction and engagement signals how homey a community can feel.
Investigate how many staff members have been in their positions for a long time. Do they enjoy their work? Is anyone unhappy with their job? Have they developed relationships with the residents yet?
Ask staff about their philosophies on management, too, if possible. This question can say a lot about how much they care about residents and the community. A well-thought-out management philosophy ideally allows communities to develop systems that help them take care of maintenance requests made by residents.
Understanding Contract Terms
It’s essential to really read through contracts and get lawyers to help before you move into these places. You can imagine all the fine print that will apply after your move.
Make sure you ask questions about what is included in your rent before signing any contracts. Some communities may charge for services that others may include, so know what you are getting into.
Will one meal per day be included in your stay? If they charge for additional meals, how much, on average, will each meal cost? Make sure you understand every aspect of your contract, especially future changes. What will happen if your health changes? What happens if you need more levels of care?
Understand all the rules around exiting the community, even if this is not a common scenario. Even though some communities have entry fees; make sure you ask what happens when you leave.
Evaluating Value Exchange Over Cost
Finding the cheapest independent living community is probably not going to get you where you want to go.
Independent living communities that are $500 more per month than others, yet offer all meals, interesting activities, transportation services, cleaning services, and other options for care will probably cost you less over time. It may be a good idea to consider what value each component of a community offers compared to their cost. What will your monthly fees get you? Will they include utilities like cable, water, or wi-fi?
Consider whether their offerings match how you want to spend your time after your move.
Approaching a Decision After Thorough Evaluation
Listen to your gut as you evaluate communities. Allow your instincts about positive (or negative) communities to influence the final choice you make regarding where to settle down. If possible, revisit all communities again after your first pass through them. You may also want to see all of them at different times of the day.
Do not rush your final decision. Consider all your options again before making a choice, no matter how appealing this one might seem. Make sure you decide after comparing everything above instead of following any emotional impulses.
The time you spend evaluating all of these options will pay off regarding community satisfaction over time.
