What to consider when searching for senior housing
by Maureen Murray
Retirement homes appeal to people who can live independently but want to live among other seniors. Communal living alleviates many of the difficulties of aging at home using home care, as much as these services help extend seniors' independence. Today's retirement residences are sensitive to seniors' sensibilities, designed and built to cater to the desires and lifestyles of seniors, and offer accessible accommodations where mature individuals can feel safe yet remain active.
Here’s a primer on what you’ll find in a typical retirement home:
Some distinguishing features of retirement homes:
Vary greatly in size, accommodations, services and amenities
Privately owned, but include both for-profit and not-for-profit operators
Retirement home residents have a great degree of independence, are free to come and go without supervision, and have locks on their doors
Typically a private suite with an ensuite washroom
Some rooms are equipped with kitchenette, but residences also feature common dining rooms
Services generally include 24-hour supervision, meal preparation, laundry/housekeeping, medication distribution and assistance with daily living activities
Option to purchase additional support services as needs and preferences change
Recreational and social programs
Some offer light levels of care, others can cater to seniors with mild cognitive impairment
Some offer "assisted living programs" in a number of units that provide an increased level of medical and personal care
Some allow small pets
Great deal of personal choice and options
Waiting lists are more the exception than the rule
Private pay, with generally no government subsidy for accommodation or care
As opposed to long-term care, retirement homes are generally geared to healthier, more active individuals
WATCH THE VIDEO: How to choose a retirement community
Some positives of retirement homes
Many people are leery of even considering life inside a retirement residence, holding a stereotypical view of "nursing homes." However, you need to think about positive things that retirement homes offer:
There are opportunities for companionship and socializing.
Residents are encouraged to bring some home furnishings.
Residents have a lot of independence and privacy but live in a safe environment.
Individuals in retirement residences are eligible to apply to a Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) for medical or other personal help, just as when they were living in their own homes.
Some retirement residences offer different levels of support services or are attached to a long-term care community, and it may be possible to transfer as more care is required.
After factoring in the cost of property taxes, home maintenance and other current living expenses, the cost of residing in many retirement residences is comparable.
Absolute musts when considering a retirement home
Plan ahead: research the option of a retirement home before you need it and discuss it with family members.
Write down your needs and wants, and explore whether the residence you are considering can meet them.
Visit each residence on your list. Go back for a second look.
Ask to see the kitchen.
Get a sample of menus.
Ask for a schedule of the recreational activities.
Go off the beaten track and check out places like stairwells. Are they clean?
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