Choosing the right senior care community for you or a loved one is an extremely important decision. You’ll want to make sure you find the best fit, but how can you be certain you have all the information you need to make the right decision?
Before scheduling a tour, take some time to prepare a list of questions to ask the senior living community. Don’t be afraid to speak up—a reputable and trustworthy community will welcome any questions you have. To help you get started on your list, we’ve provided 10 insightful questions we would recommend asking.
Top 10 Questions to Ask on a Senior Living Community Tour
1. How long have you been in business?
Chances are, if a community wasn’t good at what they did, they would have been out of business a long time ago. Longevity can be a good indicator of reliability, dependability, and a certain degree of competence. Take Winnwood, for example, we’ve been caring for seniors since 1958!
Be sure to talk to friends about their experiences with different senior living communities, so you can get a feel for which would be best for you and your lifestyle. You can also ask for online testimonials and read reviews on Google or Facebook.
2. What certifications/accreditations do you have?
Choosing a licensed and certified senior living community is the best way to ensure that you will receive the level of care and security you deserve. In most states, a community that offers assisted living will need to be licensed to provide non-medical services and clinical services to their residents. Before you decide on a community, be sure to check the business’ credentials, licensing and certifications.
3. What types of care do you provide?
When vetting potential senior care communities, you’ll want to pay close attention to the types of senior care that are provided. Here at Winnwood, our community includes both independent living and assisted living options. Additionally, there are multiple levels of senior care within our assisted living offering.
4. What types of apartments do you have available?
You’ll want to ensure that any potential senior care community has the type and size of apartment that’s most suitable for you and your needs. Whenever possible, request a tour of either the actual apartment that would become yours, or a very similar model apartment.
5. What are your activities and amenities like?
While care is of the utmost importance, you’re also going to live in this community. Of course, you want to know as much as possible about activities and amenities that will be available to you each day. If possible, you may even want to ask to participate in some activities and get a taste for what life is like at your short list of prospective senior care communities.
Here at Winwood, we can provide you with an up-to-date calendar, plus a list of the activities and amenities we’ve offered recently. We are also adding activities all the time, so if something you enjoy isn’t on the list—let us know!
6. What is your visitation policy?
In order to keep residents, families, and staff safe, a senior living community should have visitation rules in place. As detailed in the Winnwood brochure, there are no restrictions to visitation hours, length of visit, or number of guests.
7. What are the monthly costs?
To ensure a match between your desires and budget, consider asking about pricing as early as possible in the process.
8. What are the staff like?
Talking to different members of staff during your community tour could be crucial and give you a clear picture of what life will be like living there. Are the staff members kind? Do they enjoy working there? Do you find they are helpful and attentive to the current residents of the community? Do you feel comforted or relaxed when speaking with them?
9. How do you communicate with clients and their family members regarding any issues, concerns, or recommendations?
Communication is key, and you should be given the opportunity to walk through your own needs (or those of your loved one), specifically outlining the type of care that you need, want, or a combination of the two. This way, you ensure that there is no gray area between what a senior living community lists and how you interpret that senior care offering.
It’s important to build a relationship with the community’s healthcare coordinator, whose job it is to answer any questions you may have regarding your care. You should always feel like your views are being valued and taken into account.
10. How do you keep your residents safe?
This question can provide essential peace of mind to you and your family. As we get older, accidents can be more common (and more detrimental). Most senior care communities, including us here at Winnwood, have a medical professional on staff 24/7, 365 days a year in case of a medical emergency.
Moving Forward With the Process
These 10 questions have been designed to help guide you through your first senior living community tour in order to find out the basics and make the decision to move a little easier.
To take the next step with Winnwood, watch this helpful video>, then fill out our contact form. Shortly after, one of our Counselors will be in touch.
