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, we have broken the process down into five key steps:

1. Ask for Recommendations

Finding the right senior living options is not always straightforward, so start by asking for help:

• Reach out to people you trust: friends, neighbors, colleagues or family members who have experience with senior living.
• Consult professionals: healthcare providers, social workers or hospital discharge planners can provide guidance and suggest communities.
• Use word-of-mouth referrals: personal experiences can help narrow your search and highlight options that align with your values and priorities.

2. Understand Your Options

Before you begin your search, it is important to know the types of senior living communities available and what each offers. Options range from independent and assisted living to memory care and skilled nursing. Each community comes with its own mix of amenities, services and levels of support. Consider what fits your needs now and in the future.

• 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.

Some continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) offer multiple levels of care on one campus, allowing residents to remain in a familiar setting even as their needs change.

3. Do Your Online Research

With these recommendations in hand, go online and find out if the communities you have heard about match up to your needs. For instance, check if they:

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

Keep in mind that online information is best read with discernment and a grain of salt.

4. Call Your Top Five Options

Once you have gotten a sense of the options, it is time to identify what you are ready to investigate further.

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 and information session or a visiting the community for a tour.

5. Finalize Your List of Preferences

After your info sessions or tours, compare notes, identify standout features and clarify priorities.

What impressed or concerned you? What matters most to your loved one: location, meals, activities or social opportunities? Use these insights to make a thoughtful, informed decision.

Find out what your loved one’s priorities are, too: He or she may find the location to be more important than how the community looks or be more concerned about meal plan options than the number of activities on the calendar.

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.