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Finding the Right Senior Living Community

As retirement draws closer, there comes a time to turn your dreams and wishes into plans. By imagining your ideal retirement and comparing options, you can find the perfect place to thrive during your golden years.

Here’s how to compare options and choose the right senior living community for you.

The Basics: What Do You Need During Retirement?

When deciding where to retire, you must first consider your basic needs. Can you live independently, or do you need assistance? If so, how much? Do you plan to drive and, if not, what are your options for transportation? The type of retirement living that’s right for you depends on your age, physical abilities, family situation and preferences for housing. Your housing options for retirement include:

Home Ownership

Owning a home in a retirement community provides all the benefits of buying a house, such as having local friends and a sense of belonging, with fewer home ownership worries. In independent living communities services such as housekeeping, repairs and lawn maintenance are often available on-site, giving you peace of mind. Many communities also offer options for transportation if you don’t want or need to own a car. Plus, many of these homes are built with senior adults in mind in terms of layout, accessibility and safety features.

Rental Homes

Want to live in an independent home without the permanence of home ownership? Consider a rental home in a retirement community. This senior living option allows you to enjoy the independence of your own home, especially if you retire earlier in life. You don’t have to worry about any responsibility for maintenance or lawn care. This option also provides a smoother transition to assisted living or other care if needed in the future.

Manufactured Homes

Manufactured homes are another great option for many older adults. These homes are more affordable than buying or renting a traditional home but offer many of the same benefits, such as privacy and independence. They are usually within walking distance of other amenities including community centers and local stores. You get to enjoy living in the retirement community at a more accessible entry point.

Income-Based Rentals

Not sure if living in a retirement community is workable within your budget? Don’t write it off without considering all your options. Many communities offer income-based rentals (also referred to as subsidized housing). This is a great option for many seniors and offers many of the same benefits as traditional home ownership or rental.

Assisted Living

If living independently isn’t realistic for you due to physical or other needs, assisted living in a retirement community might be the perfect option. This type of care allows an older adult to receive support while still maintaining some level of independence, with staff always on call. Daily assistance might include help with getting dressed, brushing teeth, taking medication, cleaning and preparing meals.

Who qualifies for assisted living? Each state sets its own assisted living guidelines that an older adult must meet before qualifying for this type of care. The individual case must also be approved by a physician. In addition, many assisted living communities have a minimum age requirement.

Skilled Nursing

Depending on the type of care you require, skilled nursing is another option offered by many retirement communities.  In skilled nursing spaces, an individual receives constant care from skilled professionals. Day or night, a doctor or nurse practitioner is always on call. While receiving this care, each patient receives a specialized treatment plan that has been developed by a physician or nurse.

Skilled nursing may also include additional, specialized medical care such as rehabilitation, speech therapy, physical therapy, reconstructive nursing and memory care. Unlike assisted living, time spent in skilled nursing may vary. An older adult may need a short-term rehabilitative stay after an injury or long-term nursing care with memory support services.

How Do You Envision Your Daily Life as a Retiree?

Now that you’ve determined the type of housing that’s right for you, it’s time to consider your hobbies, interests and lifestyle. For some retirees, you finally have a chance to skip the alarm clock and live a relaxing lifestyle. Others are excited to get up early and set a fast pace for all the activities they’ve put off for years.  Questions to ask yourself could include: 

• Have you longed to spend more time in the mountains or in the Florida sunshine?  
• Where do your family and friends live? 
• Do you need to be close to specific healthcare options?  
• Do you want to continue having a larger home or are you willing to downsize to free up your budget for more activities?  
• What does your day look like when you think ahead?

These questions can help you identify your ideal lifestyle, and whether a senior living community would be the right fit for you.

How to Choose the Right Senior Living Community for Your Needs

Now that you’ve laid out a plan for your ideal senior living community, it’s time to check out potential communities in person. Use this checklist to narrow down your list and compare prospective senior living community options, services and amenities against your lists of needs and wants. 

• Lifestyle: While planning this next stage of life, think about activities you enjoy and want to pursue in retirement, how important social interactions are to you and daily routines and hobbies that you are engaged in. You don’t want any surprises in a new community such as not being able to own a pet or plant a garden. Maybe your goal is to never own another lawn mower, cook another holiday meal or scrub another bathtub. Or maybe you want the space to do all of that and more! Make sure everything you want (or don’t want) for your lifestyle is possible at the community you choose. 
• Amenities: Every senior living community has its own amenities, and you need to find the one that fits your requirements and budget. Some retirees are happy with a private apartment and community meals. Others need shopping services, pet care and salon services. If faith plays a significant role in your life, what opportunities are there for worship, fellowship and spiritual growth? 
• Recreation: A good recreation schedule promotes socialization and can give you something to look forward to each day. Do you want a community pool, outside recreational options, classes and activities? You’ll also want to know if transportation is available and which recreational activities are available to you. 
• Medical care: Know what kind of medical care is available onsite and if any specialists are nearby if you have specific medical needs. Don’t forget to ask about mental health and respite care, too. Will you need to make any adjustments to your insurance plan? 
• Continuum of care: Look for a community that has a continuum of care, meaning you can start living independently and gradually receive more care as your needs change. 
• Maintenance: If you plan to purchase a home in an independent living area, find out how much home maintenance is covered by the community. What will your responsibility be? 
• Weather: Consider the weather if you are planning to relocate. Do you prefer a warm climate, or will you miss the changing seasons? Are you willing to travel for the recreational activities you enjoy, or do they need to be close by? 
• Budget: Last, but certainly not least, your budget is a significant factor. Sit down with an advisor, be realistic about your finances and make decisions about what you can afford to spend.

Download this retirement checklist can help you gather your thoughts while researching and considering your options for retirement.

Take a Tour of the Senior Living Community

Once you have narrowed your search be prepared to tour your top options in person. Choosing your future home and lifestyle based on a brochure or website is not ideal. It’s important to get a feel for a senior living community, see what the quality of life is like for its residents and meet the staff. 

Life at Advent Christian Village

Ready to find a senior living community that checks all the boxes? Advent Christian Village is a faith-based community in Live Oak, Florida built on small-town values. Here, you can create your own lifestyle through a wide range of choices for housing and care while exploring opportunities to learn, serve and play. You’ll experience a community where neighbors truly care for one another, and you can age with meaning and purpose.  

We’re pleased to bring together all the best parts of small-town living without sacrificing the opportunities of a larger community. You can keep up with the trends and stay connected with your family, all while enjoying the idyllic retirement you’ve always dreamed about. Perks include robust dining options, transportation services, live music and events and add-on services such as cleaning and housekeeping.  

Want to experience a new kind of retirement for yourself? Call Advent Christian Village today to schedule a tour.

What Our Residents Are Saying

“We bought a lot and built a home at ACV in 2007. We have been very happy here and intend to remain for the rest of our lives. ACV is like no other retirement community. From its location on the banks of the scenic Suwannee River, we enjoy the wonderful facilities and activities as well as learning about the rich history of the Village since its establishment in 1913. Boredom is available only by choice. Most importantly, we feel very safe here and do not worry about the kind of violence and unrest occurring in other areas of our country.
We enjoy the convenience of a medical clinic with a full-time physician and supporting staff. Assisted living and nursing home care are both available on campus. Our children are delighted to be relieved of the burden of making medical decisions for us now or in the future we are confident our presence here results from an act of divine intervention.”

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