Senior Living Communities: Considering the Community Surrounding Them
Whenever we work with a client, we always do our best to find them a community with everything they need. Whether you are looking for an Independent Living, Assisted Living/Personal Care, or Memory Care Community, if a client wants all the bells and whistles… then we accommodate. If a client just needs a nice place and wants to be almost completely independent… then we can make that happen. Let’s say a client wants a community with an onsite hairdresser… no problem!
Plenty of amazing communities are ready to fill every need; however, that doesn’t mean we should consider the surrounding community and what it might offer. After all, in many cases, there will be children and grandchildren who visit who want to spend time with their loved ones away from the Assisted Living community.
So, let’s consider what kind of amenities and activities are available? How close are essential services like grocery stores, pharmacies, and medical care? What about places of worship, fitness centers, dining options, shopping, and recreation? We’ll explore all of those considerations in this blog post.
Grocery Stores
When finding a grocery store, most people rely on word-of-mouth or online reviews. Here are two of the top grocery stores in America, as well as a few tips on how to find one near you:
1) Walmart: Walmart is one of the country’s biggest and most well-known grocery stores. You can find a Walmart near you by using their store locator tool.
2) Giant Foods is one of the largest food store chains in the Pennsylvania area. You can use their store locator to find out if a store is located near the facilities you are considering.
Tips for finding a grocery store near you:
- Ask your neighbors where they shop for groceries.
- Check online directories like Yelp or Google Maps.
- Look for grocery stores when you’re out and about in your community.
If you’re looking for a specific type of grocery store, like an organic grocery store, here are a few tips:
- Check online directories for specific stores in your area.
- Ask your friends or family if they know of any good stores close to the assisted living facility you’re considering.
- Try searching for “organic grocery store” + your city or zip code of the community you’re thinking about living at.
Many of the great communities we work with offer transportation and will also recommend good stores nearby.
Pharmacy
A good pharmacist is critical for any community. They provide essential services, like dispensing medication and advising on medication interactions. They also offer a wealth of knowledge about many different types of medication. When looking for a senior living community, be sure to inquire about the pharmacy. Is it in-house? Is it affiliated with a national chain? Is it independent? Here are a few tips on how to find a pharmacy near you:
– Check with your current pharmacy to see if they have any locations near the senior living community you’re considering.
– If you don’t have a current pharmacy, ask your doctor for a recommendation.
– Use an online directory like Yelp or Google
You can’t understate how important this aspect is to your experience in and around your community. A bad pharmacy can end up ruining your day or worse. Most of the Senior Living Communities we recommend have a preferred pharmacy provider. These pharmacies usually deliver meds to the community once or twice a day. Making it so convenient when visiting a doctor and getting a new script. You ask your doctor to call in the script, and boom, it’s delivered right to your community!
Medical Care
When it comes time to find a senior living community for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to consider the quality of medical care available nearby. Not all facilities offer the same level of care, so it’s important to do your research and find a community close to good medical care.
One of the best ways to find out about the medical care available in an area is to talk to your doctor. They will be able to give you information about the different facilities in the area and help you make a decision that is right for you.
You can also use online directories like Yelp or Google to find reviews of different medical care providers in the area. This can be a good way to get an idea of what other people have experienced.
Places of Worship
When it comes time to find a senior living community, it’s important to consider the proximity of places of worship. Many seniors find comfort in continuing their religious practices, and it’s important to have a community close to a place of worship.
There are many ways to find a place of worship near the community you choose. A good place to start is at the community. The activity director may have often put together a list of places of worship that are very close by. They also bring in and coordinate many religious church and synagogue services in their community multiple times a week. You can also use online directories like Yelp or Google to find reviews of different places of worship in the area. These online directories are good at helping you understand what other people have experienced at these places of worship.
Fitness Centers
Staying physically fit or getting in shape is one of the most important aspects of growing old and retiring well. This means having a quality fitness center inside the Senior Living Community or very close by is important.
Not any old fitness center will do. You’ll be looking for a fitness center that is friendly for Senior Adults. Some great places to research this subject are the YMCA and AARP. You will also see that the senior living communities we recommend almost always have a fitness center and an Occupational, Speech, and Physical Therapy Agency on-site to help coordinate fitness activities if needed.
Again, if a fitness center is important to you, please let us know… we can help narrow your choices of communities to those with quality fitness facilities.
Dining Options, Shopping, and Recreation
Whenever anyone is relocating, these categories are extremely important. I know when I’m in a new area, I want to know where the closest Starbucks is located and where the closest Chick-Fil-A is located. I’ve found that when you can locate these two places, then chances are you’ll find many other great options for food and drink.
Oher shopping and recreation are also usually close by. One good way to find out if a Starbucks Is located close to your final selections for your retirement community is just to use Google. Here is a step-by-step plan to find out what restaurants are close to the community you’re thinking about.
- Go to Google Maps – https://www.google.com/maps
- Search for Restaurant
- Choose Your Favorite, then click on directions to find out exactly how far that place is from your chosen community. You can even click on “directions” and get turn-by-turn directions to and from your community to any restaurant you’d like.
Shopping and Recreation
When it comes to shopping and recreation, senior adults are some of the most active people around. They love to get out, explore their new community, and shop for new things.
One of the best ways to find out about the shopping and recreation options in an area is to ask your family first. Your grandchildren will be very interested to know what options are close by that they might be entertained by. Recruit them to help do the online searching for activities close by.
You can also use online directories like Yelp or Google to find reviews of different shopping and recreation options in the area. You’ll be able to read reviews to stay away from bad experiences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’re here ready to help you find the perfect community for you and your family. The surrounding community is just one more thing we like to think about when helping seniors choose their next place to live.
If you need help searching for one of the best Senior Living Communities in your area, please click the link to schedule a call with us.
