Protecting an Elderly Loved One

Selecting The Right Independent Living Community For Your Loved One

by Margie Adams

As loved ones begin to age, they may find it difficult to perform daily tasks at home. If you want to ensure that your loved one remains safe while allowing him or her to maintain a sense of autonomy, then moving your loved one to a senior independent living community can be beneficial.

Here are three tips that you can use to help find the community best suited to meet your loved one's long-term living needs.

1. Find a community close to where your loved one currently lives.

When you are searching for an independent living community, it's important that you begin your search in the same neighborhood where your loved one currently resides. Many aging individuals have lived in the same neighborhood for a number of years, and they feel comfortable in their current area.

By finding an independent living facility within your loved one's current neighborhood, you allow him or her to retain a sense of community. This can help to make the transition to an independent living situation easier for your loved one in the future.

2. Find a community with an active social calendar.

One of the benefits that your aging loved one can enjoy after moving into an independent living community is access to people his or her own age. Remaining socially engaged can be beneficial in warding off depression and other serious conditions as your loved one continues to age.

Be sure to carefully examine the social calendar provided by each independent living community in your loved one's neighborhood. Select the community whose social calendar offers activities that your loved one will enjoy, since this will help encourage your loved one to become an active participant in the community over time.

3. Look for a community with specialized staff.

It's important that you take your loved one's daily  needs into consideration when selecting an independent living community. If your loved one has special dietary restrictions due to medical conditions like diabetes or Celiac disease, then a community with a trained personal chef can be beneficial.

If your loved one has mobility issues, living in a community with access to transportation might be best. Taking your loved one's unique needs into consideration and then looking for a community that has specialized staff members capable of meeting those needs will help you find the independent living community best suited for your loved one.

Selecting the right independent living community is essential when it comes to the ongoing happiness of your aging loved one. Look for a community in your loved one's neighborhood that provides an appealing social calendar and specialized staff to ensure your loved one's happiness over time.

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