Navigating Affordable Retirement Community Options
America is home to roughly 30,000 senior living communities, so choosing the right one for your loved one can feel a bit overwhelming.
Every one of the nearly 1 million seniors in senior communities has unique needs. Only the very best of these communities can adapt to their residents' evolving care requirements. At the same time, the average price of assisted living in our country is around $4,500 per month - $54,000 per year.
If you're going to find affordable senior housing options that provide your loved one with everything they need, it's going to take some due diligence. Today, we'll help by telling you what to look for and how to find it.
Budget-friendly senior housing is available, you just need to know where to look. Read on and you'll have a great starting point for your search.
Your Loved One's Needs
Before you start your search, you have to assess what your loved one needs to get out of senior living. Various senior housing options accommodate different seniors depending on their current health situation.
For instance, independent living is what you'd associate with a typical retirement home. These communities are for healthy seniors who don't need much extra help but want to simplify their lives in a nice setting with other people their age.
Assisted living, on the other hand, is better for seniors who are starting to develop impactful age-related health issues. Whether they've got problems with mobility or cardiovascular issues, they'll have staff to help them manage their symptoms and handle things like dressing, hygiene, and cooking.
If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia, they likely need memory care. This is available in some assisted living communities, but not all. Residents in memory care have highly trained and experienced staff to help them navigate the unique challenges that come with cognitive decline.
Knowing what your loved one needs will ensure you spend your money wisely on senior care.
Budgeting for Care
It's important to know how much money you're working with as you go into this process. The best communities will offer customizable care plans that allow you to pick and choose the services you want. For example, if your loved one enjoys cooking, they may not need to pay for an in-house restaurant plan.
There are also plenty of benefits available for certain seniors. If you're struggling to afford even cheap senior apartments, things like the SSI and SSDI are government-funded programs that can supplement your senior living budget.
Search Locally
When you're ready to tour some of the communities around Wisconsin, start your search on Google. Type "economical senior living in Chippewa Falls" into the search bar, and you'll see all of your low-cost senior living options.
It's important to restrict your search to local communities for a couple of important reasons. The transition into assisted living is overwhelming for most seniors, so staying in a familiar setting can be helpful for your loved one.
Having loved ones nearby to visit can also ease the transition. If they have to enter a community in a completely new area where they won't have visits from people they love, it can be a lonely feeling.
Reviews
To narrow down your selection, always look at ratings and reviews. These can tell you so much about the way a community operates. No one has better insights into community life than the loved ones of current and former residents.
The thing that reviews are really great at is raising red flags. If there are any major issues with the staff, food, or amenities in the community, you'll find out by reading reviews.
Use testimonials to narrow your search down to a few of the best low-cost senior communities, then schedule tours at each one.
Value Expertise
There are a few key things to keep an eye out for during tours. The most important is that your loved one is getting cared for by experienced and compassionate professionals.
Ask your tour guide about staff qualifications and even go out of your way to observe how staff treat residents. When you start getting into assisted living and memory care, staff expertise becomes more and more important.
It's also good to ask about healthcare in the community. Assisted living communities don't have medical professionals on site, but good ones will have them on call for emergencies.
Amenities and Activities Matter
What can often tip the scale on one community versus another is its amenities. Every community brings something unique to the table. Some focus on health and wellness with a gym and serene outdoor spaces while others could value entertainment.
Good communities will also feature an activity calendar that gives residents plenty to do every day. These activities should be centered around socializing, but also physical and cognitive health.
Talk to your loved one about the amenities and activities that they really value. This can be a huge contributor to their final decision.
Health and Nutrition
Let's elaborate on the activities in senior living. Every senior needs to get enough physical activity per week - roughly 150 minutes of moderate exercise - to prevent health decline.
The activity calendar should have things like walking clubs, Tai Chi, and yoga nearly every day to encourage physical activity. This helps strengthen bones and joints while helping to stave off heart disease and diabetes.
At the same time, your loved one needs a healthy diet. All of the rooms in a senior living community are equipped with full kitchens. If your loved one doesn't feel like cooking, however, they should have access to an in-house restaurant.
Community dining should consist of a rotating menu of nutritious meals that account for every resident's dietary needs. With a strong diet and plenty of exercise, your loved one will be healthier than ever.
Affordable Senior Housing Options in Chippewa Falls
These are the main things to look for in affordable senior housing options. When you have a budget in mind and you know what makes a great community, you can make the best decision for your loved one's care.
For those in Chippewa Falls, the only real choice for quality, affordable retirement homes is Lakehouse Chippewa Falls. Our community has expert staff, top amenities, and daily activities that keep residents happy and engaged. Contact us today to book your tour of our community.