If you’re beginning to research senior living communities near you, you probably have a set of criteria to help you select the perfect place to settle in. If you aren’t sure exactly what you should look for in a top-notch local senior living community, there are a few attributes that should be non-negotiable if the community is going to meet all of your needs and expectations:

Activities:

A retirement community should offer a variety of activities that cater to the diverse interests and hobbies of its residents. Activities should be regularly scheduled and advertised to the entire community. Look for opportunities for day trips, religious services, group activities and social events, exercise classes, and other forms of entertainment that are personally important for you to have access to. A great senior living community will constantly engage its members and promote social, emotional, and physical health.

Amenities:

Though you may be completely capable of doing everything on your own, it’s important to select a senior living community that offers various amenities and services that you may need or choose to utilize in the future. Specific amenities to investigate when choosing a retirement community are:

• Food: How and when is food served if you decide not to cook for yourself some days? Is there a chef and wait staff or is it cafeteria style? If you want snacks during the day, are they available at all times? Consider your lifestyle and meal/snacking preferences when researching and visiting different communities. Food is a very important part of your enjoyment of the retirement community you choose.
• Services: If you need help with laundry, cleaning, transportation to appointments, or rearrangement of furniture, does the community offer these forms of assistance to its residents? Though you may not always need these types of services, you may occasionally want to use them, and its important to have the reassurance that they are available if necessary.
• Personal Care and Interests: Does the community you’re looking at offer art or exercise classes? Does it have a library, salon, or garden? Be sure that the senior living community you choose has a variety of options for you to maintain hobbies and explore new interests as well as to maintain the level of self-care that you enjoy now.

Cost:

While activities and amenities should play a crucial role in your decision-making process, cost is potentially the biggest deciding factor for your choice. Be sure that you are given clear and complete information about all of the costs associated with being a member, and ask questions about the costs of extras that may not be included in a regular monthly bill. Knowing what kind of cost you’ll need to cover each month and the payment options for doing so will certainly help you decide which senior living communities you can affordably enjoy for a very long time.

Find Your Local Senior Community

At Paramount Senior Living, we offer services, amenities, activities, and dining experiences that are second to none. We are the premier local senior living community for Southwestern Pennsylvania, and we take pride in offering our residents solutions for today and options for tomorrow! Give us a call to schedule a tour or to speak with one of our representatives.What To Look for in a Senior Living Community