Top Three Factors for Selecting the Senior Living Community for You

Finding the right senior living community can seem overwhelming when there are so many options to choose from. Don’t worry, though, we’re here to help offer tips to simplify the process.

An article from Forbes.com gives the gold standard list of basic questions to ask when looking at senior living communities: how costs are structured, what the residents are like, what’s nearby in terms of entertainment and restaurants, the onsite dining options and renting versus buying.

The author also hints at three more very important things. Not what to ask about, but rather what to notice when you visit a senior living community for the first time.  At Crestwood Manor in New Jersey’s Ocean County, we have some additional insight to note on these notables as well:

1. Culture

When you’re visiting a retirement community, do you immediately feel at home when you walk in the door? Are you warmly welcomed and invited? Just as important, pay attention to the interactions between staff and residents: are they warm and caring? Do they know the names of the residents that they are speaking with? If this is going to be your new home, you want to make sure that the people that you surround yourself with are going to go out of their way to get to know you.

Also, get to know the residents who live there. Many communities host events with residents so you can get acquainted with your future neighbors.  You might want to ask them about where they are from and what their backgrounds and interests are like. Consider what is important to you – do you love to watch sports? Are you active in your religious affiliation? Do you love to socialize? Take time before your visit to make a list of your interests and questions that you can ask to find out if you will have things in common with the residents.

Crestwood Manor resident John Maffei made certain he chose the right community for him. “I looked at seven different communities and found Crestwood Manor to be the friendliest and most open of them all,” he shared. Considerations like this are important to finding your next home.

2. A Robust Resident Engagement Program

By choosing a retirement community that keeps you active, social and learning new things, you can maintain the lifestyle that you’re used to. And having plenty of new friends to share these experiences with makes it even better. Take a look at the community’s activity calendar. Do the activities offered make you excited to try new things? Are there ones offered that you already enjoy doing?

John appreciates the level of activities available at Crestwood Manor. He explained, “They have all sorts of programs that are enjoyable and exercise classes. For me, I keep busy by helping with various events, offering computer tech support, running the bingo computer, doing chair yoga and taking drawing lessons from a resident artist.”

To start newcomers on the right path, Crestwood Manor’s senior wellness program, LivWell, addresses the needs and goals of each new resident through a personal questionnaire. The answers are then used to create a customized activity program that promotes engagement on seven physical and mental levels. Yoga. Woodworking. Pickleball. How about a game of Texas Hold ‘Em? For residents here, old and new experiences abound in the community and beyond.

3. Flexibility of Care

A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) offers more services to take you or your loved one through all phases of senior living needs, which include:

• Independent Living. Ideal for seniors who don’t need assistance with daily activities like bathing or dressing but want a maintenance-free lifestyle that allows them to spend more time enjoying their retirement.
• Personal Care Services. For those who find that they may need a little extra help with the activities of daily living, like dressing and grooming, cooking, or medication management, this level of care might be more appropriate.
• Skilled Nursing. Designed for seniors who have chronic conditions that require constant monitoring.
• Provides services such as physical, occupational and speech therapies for patients recovering from illness, injury or surgery.

Capitalizing on Crestwood’s Appeal

Remember how we talked about not falling in love with a senior living community before you’ve done your homework, visiting and observing? Well, if after you’ve toured, asked good questions, and liked what you’ve seen, you may have a contender.

We’d love to have you visit us at Crestwood Manor. We’d be happy to answer your questions and even suggest others to ask when you visit other communities. To learn more about us, start with taking a virtual tour of the community and then contacting us to schedule a visit. We’d be happy to have you!