When you and your loved one are considering senior living options in the Mountainside area, you might not know where to start. Most seniors and their family members find senior living a bit overwhelming and intimidating at first, but you can be more confident if you know what to look for when evaluating communities in your area. We have compiled the information you need to know when searching for assisted living in Mountainside.
About Senior Living Options
First and foremost, before you can even begin searching for your new senior living community, you need to know what type of assistance you or your loved one needs. Senior living communities offer different services to address the unique needs and challenges of their residents.
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- Independent living serves seniors who are safe living without any additional outside assistance. These communities offer spacious apartments and meals in their dining rooms, as well as activities and transportation around town.
- Assisted living serves seniors who feel more comfortable knowing that there are helpful caregivers available around the clock to assist with household tasks and personal care. These communities offer spacious apartments, three meals per day served in their dining rooms, transportation services, housekeeping visits, and activities throughout the day.
- A dementia care neighborhood is a specialized area of an assisted living community that is dedicated to serving older adults who have Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. These communities are designed to meet the challenges that come with cognitive decline.
- Skilled nursing facilities serve older adults who have complex medical needs or conditions that require around-the-clock clinical monitoring or supervision. These communities are more similar to hospitals.
Finding Assisted Living in Mountainside
Assisted living communities are an excellent option for most older adults who are looking for additional peace of mind and socialization. Nowadays, assisted living communities look more like resorts than hospitals, featuring everything from chef-prepared meals to in-house yoga classes. If assisted living is for you or your loved one, begin your search by narrowing down your desired location.
Location matters for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your loved one wants to be in the same neighborhood as their previous home, or maybe a move across town is a wise decision if it means family members can visit more often. Determine what is best for your situation and then search for assisted living communities within that desired location.
When you have a short list of communities, you can begin to compare and contrast pricing according to your budget. Fortunately, many seniors are pleasantly surprised to see that assisted living costs are not as expensive as they expected, especially when they consider the monthly costs of living at home alone.
Finally, it is time to contact the communities on your list to schedule an in-person tour.
What to Look for During a Community Tour
Your tour of an assisted living community offers you the chance to see the community’s lifestyle in action. Not only will you be able to observe the size of the apartments and the cleanliness of the community overall, but you will also have the opportunity to watch how the residents interact with one another and with the staff.
Search for a community that “feels” like home, with residents and staff members genuinely interacting with one another. Find out if there are numerous events, concerts, socials, and trips for residents to enjoy as well. Finally, determine if the dining team offers residents, and if the staff offers adaptations if you or your loved one needs them.
If you’d like to see what exceptional assisted living and award-winning dining look like up close, call the team at Arbor Terrace Mountainside. Our team delights in getting to know each of the residents we serve, forging meaningful connections that give us the insight we need to provide personalized care. We would love to show you what makes our community so special.
Finally, the more you learn about senior living, the more easily and effectively you can make confident decisions for yourself or your loved one. Download our free resource, “The Complete Guide to Assisted Living,” for even more details about assisted living, from how to find your ideal community to how to make the move go smoothly.
