America’s population is entering its golden years. Data collected in the 2020 U.S. Census demonstrated our population of people over 65 has grown from 1 in 20 in 1920 to 1 in 6. As a result, the demand for senior and assisted living communities is growing at a breakneck pace.
If you’re contemplating a move for your loved one, it’s important to do your research on potential communities. Often, senior living community amenities have the biggest impact on final decisions. What makes for the best assisted living amenities, though?
Read on to find out!
Restaurant-Style Dining
One of the biggest retirement community benefits is that your loved one doesn’t have to worry about preparing every single meal on their own. That’s because the best assisted living communities have a dining option on site.
This amenity allows residents to get out of their living spaces and connect with others over a meal. If someone is unable to come to the dining area, staff can assist with getting their meals delivered to their room. Either way, they don’t have to stress about meal prep or cleaning the kitchen!
Wellness Programs
Growing older comes with a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to your health. Seniors constantly have to learn and adapt to their body’s changes. Thankfully, they don’t have to do it on their own.
Many assisted living communities develop wellness programs that complement the healthcare they receive from their medical team. They learn about topics like:
- Proper nutrition for seniors
- Walking groups
- On-site fitness classes
- Managing and preventing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease
Lounge Areas
Whether you hung out at the mall or met up at the malt shop, you know that having social spaces is critical to your quality of life. The same is true for folks in retirement communities.
Lounge areas that allow for casual conversation, competitive board games, or plain old people watching is a valuable amenity. You don’t have to worry about being in the same space all of the time or tidying up for guests. Even better, it gives community members that comfortable sense of coming home when they return to their homes.
Outdoor Spaces
You don’t want to live your entire life indoors, and neither do folks in assisted living communities. In fact, research shows that getting outdoors is actually beneficial for senior health. It helps them reconnect with nature, engage in physical fitness, and soak up vitamin D from the sun.
Look for communities that have social and wellness opportunities outdoors. This includes things like:
- Residential barbecues
- Gardening spaces
- Walking paths
- Benches, tables, chairs
- Pickleball courts
Community Outings
Many people hold back on moving into assisted living communities because they’re worried they might make the world too small for their loved ones. One of today’s best assisted living amenities is the trips the community offers to its residents.
Retirement community directors know that offering access to lifelong learning opportunities, art museums, conservatories, and other destinations allows for unparalleled enrichment. In many cases, moving into a retirement facility opens up a person’s world because the community provides access they didn’t have before.
Housekeeping Services
Taking care of your living space is hard enough when you’re young and able-bodied. By the time you hit retirement, aches and mobility impairments make housekeeping much more difficult.
That’s why you should always look into a retirement community that provides routine housekeeping services to its residents. Housekeeping staff help ensure that your loved one maintains a safe and healthy living environment. If you want to make sure the service is high-quality, click through the community’s testimonials to get a feel for it.
Laundry Service
Like housekeeping, doing laundry is often a challenge for seniors. They may struggle with the dexterity and strength needed to get everything in and out of the wash. They may also have a difficult time remembering how long it’s been since they did laundry.
Laundry service gives seniors the ability to enjoy their retirement without having to struggle with an unruly fitted sheet. Most communities offer a fixed schedule, so residents don’t have to guess when their clothes are getting cleaned.
Transportation Assistance
Studies show that seniors spend an average of three weeks per year at the doctor’s office. When you are unable to drive, that can amount to a lot of money spent on transportation costs. Some areas and medical groups provide transportation, but it isn’t always convenient.
That’s where assisted living communities come in. They have staff dedicated to ensuring that all members of the community get to and from their medical appointments.
Transportation isn’t solely for medical appointments. Many communities provide transportation when residents want to go shopping or head to church on Sundays. That’s right, moving into assisted living doesn’t mean giving up visits to all of your favorite spots.
Hair Salon
If your loved one doesn’t have an established hair stylist or barber in the area, they can rest easy. One of the most exciting senior housing features is an on-site hair salon. Residents don’t have to worry about leaving their cozy spaces and finding a stylist who knows how to cut and style their hair properly.
Some communities may offer additional hygiene services like shaves, manicures, and pedicures. Having easy access to these services might seem like an indulgence. The reality is that they are a critical amenity because they help residents maintain their dignity and hygiene.
Which Senior Living Community Amenities Are Essential for You?
Choosing a place for our loved ones that helps support them and live as independently as possible is not easy. Senior living community amenities are a great way to measure how much effort a community puts into caring for its residents. The best senior living amenities provide the care they need and allow them to live their life fully!
Whether you’re from the Piney Woods or Texas’s Gulf Coast, finding a community packed with the best senior housing features is easy. Sabine Place is here to support your loved one throughout their golden years. Contact us today to learn more about our incredible floor plans and amenities!
