What Makes Senior Living Communities Special?
Many people focus on the quality of care and access to services senior living communities offer. While those things are certainly important, these are not the things that distinguish one group of senior living apartments from all the others. In fact, many different communities offer similar services to their residents. What makes some senior living communities special is the community itself and the lengths administrators go to in order to foster that sense of community. These are things you can look for when exploring options to see if one senior living community is better for your needs than others.
Scheduled Activities
The more daily activities scheduled the better. These things allow residents to follow their interests and build relationships with one another. These relationships are ultimately what make senior living communities feel like home rather than simply a place to live. They also give residents things to look forward to, which is vitally important for promoting health and happiness.
Public Gathering Spaces
These are the areas where genuine relationships are forged and a sense of community is created in senior living communities. The more options available, indoors and out, the better it is for people to get to know one another. This can include things like game rooms, art studios, community kitchens, fitness centers, dining rooms, garden areas, picnic areas, and more.
Resident Councils
Another thing that sets some senior living communities apart from others is the existence of resident councils where designated, often elected or volunteers, residents work with the administration to come up with activities, events, challenges, volunteer opportunities, education, and celebrations for the community. The council members are peers who others in the community can turn to with suggestions, complaints, and more to help build a stronger sense of community and empowerment in the lives of residents.
Responsive Staff and Administration
The other thing that makes all the difference in the world is a caring staff that is responsive to the needs of residents. At the core, senior living communities involve groups of people from all walks of life and backgrounds living and functioning together. An administration that understands this and is responsive to the diverse needs of the group is a key element for an outstanding living experience for all parties.
Keep these in mind as you explore different options available for senior living communities. Take your time and choose the senior living community that provides you with the sense of community you seek.