by Ceci Martin
Ask your parent or elderly relative about moving into a senior-living community and the response will very often be “I'm not ready yet.”
No matter that the person may be a 93-yearold, this is a common reaction to the idea of moving from one's own home. Here is where an elder's wisdom may falter, however, as often it makes more sense to find the right match in a senior community sooner than later. Wait too long and they can't enjoy the activities and amenities that a great senior community can offer. Wait too long and, unfortunately, a health crisis may hit and and the elder's physical or mental condition may be beyond the scope of many senior communities. Wait too long and “I'm not ready yet” can turn into “I should have moved when I could enjoy it.”
We strive to keep our elderly relatives happy but often their staying home alone, no matter how it appeals to them, can lead to increasing isolation, depression and escalating health problems. According to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, depression leads to higher rates of dementia. The socialization effect of living in a senior community with many opportunities to engage with others may well be one of its most positive attributes.
“Benefits of living in a community include fulfillment of the natural needs for communication and can offer opportunities for the giving and receiving of comfort, encouragement and companionship,” says Dr. Steven Rubin, a geriatric psychiatrist in Reno.
Dining is a pleasurable experience in
retirement communities
Aging parents of boomers often have a distorted vision of today's senior living communities. Who can blame them since it wasn't very long ago that there were not a lot of vibrant options in senior living? A recent survey showed that many older people fear being in a nursing home more than death itself. It is always so refreshing to tour a senior community for the first time and see his or her positive response to discovering a beautiful environment where they can make friends, attend stimulating classes, take fun excursions and enjoy delicious, healthy meals. Once a move into a good and reputable senior community is achieved, it is not uncommon to hear residents say things such as “I should have done this a long time ago.”
The reality is that it can be much more difficult to help your parents reach the decision to move to a senior community than it is to actually choose the right place. Once they begin to realize the many benefits of becoming part of a senior community, a huge hurdle has been overcome and you can take definite steps to move forward in finding the best option for them.
First, and if you are involved in helping your elderly relative, you probably are very aware of their physical and mental abilities, you must determine which type of senior community they need. Independent living is right for the person who is capable of taking care of their own activities of daily living, participating in activities and responsible for their personal safety.
Many seniors in independent living communities still do volunteer work, drive, participate in hobbies and much more. They just prefer not spending their time doing housework, cooking, maintaining a house and spending much of their time isolated and alone.
Depending on age and physical or mental health, of course, many people need more levels of care. If your relative needs help bathing, dressing or managing medications, you should research and tour assisted living communities (local independent living communities also provide assisted living). Memory problems such as a dementia or Alzheimer's diagnosis demand a different level of care, usually with a secure facility designed for residents' safety.
Tips for finding the right senior community
- Realistically assess your relative's physical and mental health condition to determine what types of communities you should look at - independent, assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing; their doctor can help you with this. Most senior communities have an evaluation process to help you with placement determination.
- Financial needs - there are great options in northern Nevada for most budgets, bearing in mind that, as with many products, you get what you pay for in terms of services, amenities and dining.
- Research all appropriate communities in the area - look through magazines such as this one, Senior Spectrum, the yellow pages, the internet, Nevada Division for Aging Services (www.nvaging.net), etc.
- If you call or visit a community that may not be just right for your family's needs, ask the sales professional there for any recommendations - we're a tight-knit group of professionals in our area and most of us are glad to give suggestions and referrals.
- Visit as many communities as you can; you may want to do some footwork on your own before narrowing the choices for your elderly relative to visit.
- When touring a community, try to speak with a few residents about their experiences there.
- Questions to ask about a community include ratio of staff to residents, what types of activities, classes and transportation are available, what systems are in place in case of emergency, staff turnover and retention rates, caregiver training.
- Always try to have a meal at any community you may be seriously considering; the dining experience is of vital importance in senior living so you must try the food - it's also a good way to get a sense of the ambience of a community and to observe how staff members treat residents.
The adage that “knowledge is power” holds true in finding the best fit for your family in senior living. If you start doing research before your elderly relatives need to make a move, you will all be much better prepared when a move to a senior community is the right choice.
Ceci Martin is Community Relations Manager at Classic Residence by Hyatt, a luxury senior living community in Reno. She can be reached at