Five Steps to Finding the Right Senior Living Community

Finding the right senior living community for yourself or a loved one is a significant journey. Taking a thoughtful, step-by-step approach helps you feel confident that the community you choose meets both current needs and future plans.

To simplify the search for older adults—and the adult children helping guide the decision—we have broken the process into five key steps:

1. Ask for Recommendations

Finding the right senior living options for yourself, or a parent, is not always straightforward—start by asking for help.

• Reach out together to people you trust: friends, neighbors, colleagues and family members who have experience with senior living. An adult child may bring a helpful perspective and ask questions you may not think to raise.
• Consult professionals as a team: healthcare providers, social workers or hospital discharge planners can offer guidance that supports both your current lifestyle and future needs, helping everyone feel more confident in the options being considered.
• Lean into word-of-mouth referrals: personal experiences shared by friends, peers and adult children who have helped a parent navigate this decision can help narrow your search and identify communities that align with your priorities.

2. Understand Options

Before beginning your search, it is important to understand the types of senior living communities available and what each offers. Whether you are exploring options for yourself or helping a parent, having a shared understanding of these choices can make conversations clearer and decisions more confident.

• Independent Living—minimal support, focused on lifestyle and convenience.
• Assisted Living—help with daily activities while maintaining independence.
• Memory Care—specialized support for individuals with cognitive changes.
• Skilled Nursing Care—comprehensive medical and personal care.

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) offer multiple levels of living and support on one campus—providing continuity for residents and added peace of mind for adult children as needs evolve.

3. Do Your Online Research

With a shortlist taking shape, online research is a helpful way to gather impressions and explore details—whether you are looking ahead for yourself or helping a parent evaluate options. Browsing together or sharing notes can bring clarity and highlight questions worth asking next.

For instance, check if they:

• Are in a desired location
• Have good reviews
• Match established preferences
• Have options that meet potential care needs

4. Call Your Top Five Options

Once priorities are clearer, it is time to narrow the list and explore a few communities more personally. This is often a step families take together, combining personal priorities with thoughtful support from your children, friends or other family members.

Make a list of your top five options, with notes on why you chose each one. Then, call these communities to get a sense of the staff and atmosphere of the community.

When speaking with communities, consider asking about lifestyle programming, Lifecare plans, wellness offerings and how the community supports both independence and future care needs. These conversations often reveal far more than a website alone.

Your call may lead to you scheduling next steps, such as attending an information session or visiting the community for a tour.

5. Finalize Your List of Preferences

After information sessions or tours, take time to reflect and compare notes with your parent, adult child or other trusted family member involved in the decision. This is where individual impressions and shared priorities come together, helping clarify what truly feels like the right fit.

Consider what stood out for each of you. What felt welcoming or raised questions? For the person considering a move, priorities may center on daily life—location, meals, activities or social connections. For adult children, peace of mind, future flexibility and overall support may carry added weight.

Talking through these perspectives can reveal what matters most. A parent may value proximity or dining options over appearances, while an adult child may focus on long-term options or services. Bringing these viewpoints together allows families to move forward with confidence, clarity and mutual understanding.

Choosing a Community That Feels Like Home

For many families, communities such as The Commons in Lincoln stand out for their combination of maintenance-free living, a vibrant intellectual and social culture and the peace of mind that comes with Lifecare. Thoughtfully personalized apartment homes and cottages, a lovely New England setting and a full continuum of care can make the decision feel not just practical, but deeply reassuring.

Ultimately, the right community is one that supports who you are today while offering confidence in the years ahead. Taking the time to explore, ask questions and envision daily life will help ensure your choice truly feels like home.