The Arbor Company Senior Living Blog

Two-thirds of seniors need help performing some of the activities of daily living. Many will eventually need some form of care. Quality care is not cheap. It requires skilled, highly trained caregivers, a safe living environment and plenty of activities to keep the mind and body as active as possible.

Your retirement years are full of important decisions, including when (or if) you should move into a senior living community. Fortunately, senior communities are different from what your parents or grandparents experienced. The industry has evolved significantly, thanks to the expanding suggestions and lifestyle of the very active Baby Boomer generations. These days, senior living communities feature amenities that are more like a resort hotel than a clinical hospital.

Your loved one has made the decision to move into an assisted living community. More likely than not, you were actively involved in that decision-making process, and both of you are looking forward to having the additional assistance that will give you peace of mind for your loved one’s safety and socialization. However, even with all the excitement of moving into a new space, it is common for your loved one to experience some worries upon transition.

When you’re ready to make the shift to senior living—or to help someone you love make the transition—it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the options. Senior living has come a long way from the days of sterile nursing homes and quiet active living communities. Seniors now have virtually limitless options. But the vocabulary can be confusing, and choosing the right community for your needs can feel daunting. Here’s how to begin your search.

It’s a familiar refrain heard at family discussions across the nation:

“When I’m old, don’t put me somewhere. I want to live on my own terms!”

Many seniors are terrified of ending up in a nursing home. They associate nursing homes with abandonment, old age, and uselessness.

The truth is that today’s seniors have many excellent options from which to choose—whether they’re able-bodied or ailing. Assisted living and nursing home communities no longer mean being confined to a rocker. Many are chock-full of activities, learning, and a sense of community. Even so, they’re not right for everyone. Seniors who want to avoid a nursing home but are no longer comfortable living at home should consider senior independent living communities. The perfect option for independent seniors with a commitment to adventure, this senior living option allows seniors to continue thriving, learning, and growing well into old age.

Choosing a senior living community is a major decision, and one that should be carefully investigated. Unfortunately, many seniors or their family members are forced to make a quick decision in a crisis situation for a senior community that best suits the needs of the senior. Don’t find yourself unprepared or undereducated about your options. Instead, choose to make a plan for your next apartment before a medical emergency occurs.

How much does senior living cost? This is a question on a lot of people’s minds. In our recent Senior Living Live broadcast, we talk with Meredith, the associative executive director of Renaissance on Peachtree, about the cost of senior living and how to compare those costs to living at home. Watch below or read the transcript of our conversation.

There are many different types of senior living and it may be difficult to know which one is right for you or your loved one. In our recent Senior Living LIVE broadcast, we talk through each different type of senior living and what they would look like for you or your loved one. Watch below or read through our transcript.

Are you or a loved one looking to move into senior living? In our recent Senior Living LIVE broadcast, we talk with Tammy DeCaro, the executive director of Barrington Terrace of Naples, about expert tips when moving to senior living. Watch below or read through our transcript.