These days, over 9.5 million U.S. adults reside in senior living communities. It’s easy to see why, as these communities offer a wide variety of benefits:
- Low-maintenance lifestyle
- Vibrant social activities
- Personal care options
- Safety and security
Unfortunately, choosing an ideal retirement community for your needs is no easy task. It involves creating a long list of “needs” and “wants” and ensuring the community you choose checks all the boxes.
Do you need assistance choosing an independent living community in Tulsa, OK? Read on for a list of essential factors you’ll want to consider!
Location and Environment
The best way to start your search is to focus on local communities. That way, your loved ones will be able to visit you without having to plan for it.
Choosing a local community also means you’ll be familiar with the surrounding area. This can be a big plus in both comfort and convenience. For instance, you won’t have to say goodbye to your preferred climate or attractions.
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few options, give them all a visit. There’s much to learn about a senior community, even at first glance. Some details you should keep an eye on include:
- Are staff members welcoming?
- Do the residents seem engaged?
- Does the building look clean?
Social Activities
Social engagement is a key part of active senior living. Head to a community’s website to learn more about their social activity calendar.
Keep in mind that retirement communities have different approaches to activity planning. Some communities have a designated activity director who curates a lively calendar. Others have several staff members hashing out the details.
Of course, the key thing about activities is how engaging they are to residents. Does the activity director consider their likes or hobbies? Can residents contribute to the planning process or bring their families to events?
Community Amenities
Retirement communities can offer a wide variety of services and amenities. Some of the most common amenities you’ll find include:
- Library
- Fitness center
- Beauty salon
- Barbershop
- Computer room
- Pool or hot tub
In the best-case scenario, you would pick a community that offers the amenities that matter most to you. If you have a pet you want to bring along, for example, focus on communities that offer the best pet accommodations.
If you enjoy walks, pay particular attention to the community’s outdoor areas. Don’t forget: Tulsa offers plenty of nature trails. Being close to them makes it more likely you’ll want to get out of bed and go for a morning walk.
Maintenance and Housekeeping
One great thing about independent living is not having to deal with maintenance. After decades of chores, most people can’t wait to leave them behind!
This is why it’s important to check a community’s maintenance habits. What kind of laundry and dry cleaning services do they offer? Is the housekeeping included in your monthly rent or will you need to get it as a separate service?
You should also inquire about your responsibilities. For instance, many communities have residents maintain their personal outdoor space. Find out how trash pickup works; will you need to move the bins to the curb?
Dining and Meals
Most independent communities provide two or three home-cooked meals a day. At the same time, the quality and variety of those meals can vary wildly.
During your visit to a community, find out more about their dining options. Ideally, they would cater to individual dietary needs, such as offering vegan options. Some of the key questions you should ask here include:
- Do the chefs use the freshest ingredients?
- Are there rules for cooking in apartments?
- Is there an on-staff dietician or nutritionist?
- Are meals served at sit-down tables or cafeteria-style?
Community Staffing
A community’s staff plays an important role in any senior housing situation. After all, if you decide to move there, you’ll interact with them every day.
Once you visit the community, try to get a sense of how the leadership and employees work together. See that the director is diligent about performing background checks during the hiring process.
As for the employees, it always helps if they make an extra effort to know the residents better. On top of easier communication, this will help them manage emergency situations. Ideally, staff turnover would be fairly low as well.
Safety and Wellness
All senior communities should have safety as a top concern. For starters, they should have protocols planned for a variety of situations, such as:
- Power outages
- Medical emergencies
- Natural disasters
Keep in mind that independent communities don’t have doctors on-site. That said, they can still help you manage your medication. They should also have precautions for potential injuries, such as grab bars in bathrooms.
Your community of choice should have a strong security system in place to prevent break-ins. Find out how they deal with emergencies. Do they have alarm systems and a 24/7 on-site staff to resolve potential issues?
Price Point
The cost of independent living options will be influenced by all the factors we listed above. It also largely depends on the size of the apartment you opt for.
When researching price points, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. This involves getting a full breakdown of what the monthly fee will cover. Find out if you’ll need to pay a security deposit or administrative fee at move-in.
Always be on the lookout for incentives and special deals. For example, many communities will give you a better price on your lease if you sign up for longer. Having a solid retirement planning strategy comes in handy here as well.
More on Choosing a Retirement Community
As you can see, choosing the right retirement community will require time and effort. Still, doing your due diligence is essential for ensuring you’ll be able to spend your golden years healthy and happy.
Looking for an independent senior community in Tulsa, OK? At Country Club At Woodland Hills, we combine stylish amenities with the highest standards of personalized care! This is resort-style independent living at its finest!
Want to take a closer look at our vibrant community? Take a virtual tour via our website, or schedule an in-person tour right now!
