When it comes to senior housing, there are many options to choose from, such as independent living, continuing care retirement communities, cohousing, assisted living, nursing homes, boarding homes, and memory care facilities. The choice depends on the level of care one requires and what one can afford. What can make the decision-making process easier is trying a few tested strategies that involve narrowing down available options to the most comfortable and affordable senior housing.

Speak to a family advisor
Whether one wants to find a luxurious or budget-friendly senior apartment, one should first consider speaking with a family advisor (family advisory services).

Start the search early
Nothing useful comes from rushing a decision, and the same can be said when narrowing the list of senior living apartments. Senior apartments could also be limited, which could make the search a lot more competitive. Therefore, one of the things to do is start the search as early as possible.

Determine the needs
When searching for a place to live for seniors, one should determine their needs. If they start early, they will have ample time to address vital elements, such as the preferred neighborhood to live in and required amenities, the rent for the place, and other accessibility features. Other factors that also need to be considered include the transportation options nearby and whether the apartment needs to be furnished or not. Determining one’s needs is a great way to help one get the most value for money when one finally selects an apartment.

Determine the levels of required care
Senior living facilities and the apartments in them usually range from Independent Living Communities for active seniors to Assisted Living Communities with varying degrees of available care. Some communities specialize in Memory Care. Within each level of care, there are various types of communities, apartments, and amenities available. So, one of the first things to do is understand the type of care expected from the senior living facility. This will greatly help narrow down the massive list of places in the region and those out of state.

Read online reviews
One of the best ways to determine if the apartments in a senior living facility are worth it is by reading online reviews. These are usually published on third-party websites and contain the experiences of seniors who have lived there or those of their immediate family members and friends. Reviews could help assess the pros and cons of a senior apartment to help one determine if the place is suitable for their needs.

Pick a price point
One of the main things to know when searching for senior apartments is the budget one is comfortable with. Some rental senior apartments might be budget-friendly, while others might be on the more expensive side. Therefore, seniors must establish a realistic price point based on the available resources to avoid financial stress. One should also be mindful of other financial resources that could help pay for their apartment, such as long-term care insurance or the Aid and Attendance benefit for veterans and their surviving spouses.

Check the websites
Most reputable living communities that offer rental apartments for seniors have dedicated websites to further their digital presence. One could take a look at these websites in a desired location and also check out their amenities and services available. The website could also help identify the available programs and the level of care. Some community websites may also offer general information about successful aging, senior living, and caregiver support that one may find useful.

Visit the top choices
Once the list of senior living apartments has been narrowed down, one should visit their top choices. Doing so could help get a first-hand experience of the atmosphere of the potential home. Seniors could also try out the amenities, taste the food, and meet the staff and residents. All of this will play a crucial role in helping one determine if the apartment is the ideal choice or not. There might also be some seniors who might be unable to visit the respective apartment in person, and that’s okay. Today, several communities offer live virtual tours of their space in real time. They also allow seniors and other family members to ask questions and interact with staff over these calls.

Understand the priorities
Another tip for seniors to find a relevant living apartment is to look at its convenience. There are several rental apartments for seniors, which might have all the amenities available but might miss out on emergency care services. In such situations, one might have to rush to a nearby hospital in case of an urgency. Therefore, when narrowing the list of apartments, it is important to determine if one wants to stay close to the current neighborhood, if they want an establishment close to a healthcare center, etc. Some might even consider moving to another state to be closer to their grandchildren or great-grandchildren.