Over 17% of America’s population is over the age of 65, making senior living an important part of our society.

Navigating senior living options can be daunting, and if you’re going to find the perfect community for your loved one, you’ve got to put boots on the ground. Any good assisted living community will offer tours to allow potential residents to see all they have to offer.

You’ll always have a guide on the tour who will show you all of the most important aspects of the community. That being said, you’re going to have your questions and concerns that you need answered. If you don’t, we’re here to help you prepare for a senior living tour.

Today, we’ll tell you the most important senior living tour questions to ask while visiting any community. How these questions are answered can direct you to the perfect assisted living community in which your loved one can thrive. Keep reading and prepare yourself.

What Services Are Offered?

The first and most important question to ask senior living what services they offer. There are several types of senior living and you need to make sure your loved one is getting the care they need.

You can separate these kinds of communities into two types: retirement communities and assisted living. Retirement communities are geared toward independent living for seniors who don’t have health issues, but could use a downsize and would benefit from being around their peers.

Assisted living, on the other hand, is for those who require help with daily activities. Staff assists with things like administering medication, hygiene, and preparing meals, among other things.

If your loved one is dealing with moderate to severe cognitive decline, you’ll want an assisted living community that offers memory care. Memory care provides residents with a safe environment and programming to help manage symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

How Is Staff Trained?

Preparing for a senior living tour should involve arranging to meet a few staff members. You should never miss an opportunity to ask about staff training.

Different types of communities and levels of care require different levels of training. For example, if you’re looking for memory care, you need staff members who have training and experience dealing with dementia patients. If they don’t, your loved one will not get the care that they need, which may put them at risk.

Normal assisted living staff don’t need any extra training, but they should demonstrate compassion and care for residents. By meeting staff on your tour, you can get a sense of who you’re leaving your loved one with.

What Is Done to Ease Transition?

The transition into assisted living can be a difficult one for many seniors. No matter how great the community is, it’s still unfamiliar territory, which can be daunting for anyone.

A good question to ask is what the community does to ingratiate new residents to the community. Good communities will offer various programs to help your loved one meet other residents and get to know how the community operates.

At Morada Midwest City, our goal is always to roll out the welcome mat to new residents. We’ll make your loved one feel safe and secure in their new surroundings so that the transition is as smooth as possible.

What Are the Dining Options?

There are a few important aspects of community living. One is the rooms and amenities in the building. Another essential thing to ask about is the in-house dining options.

Most assisted living communities have rooms equipped with full kitchens so that residents can cook for themselves. Depending on your loved one’s needs, they may be comfortable cooking. Great assisted living brings high-quality dining via an in-house restaurant.

Once you’ve ascertained that there’s an in-house restaurant, ask what’s on the menu. Nutrition is incredibly important for seniors. They need a vitamin-filled and balanced diet to stave off health issues and keep their energy levels high.

Are There Extra-Curricular Programs?

Always ask your tour guide about the programming in the community. The best communities will have a calendar filled with rotating activities and events. These are in place to keep residents active and engaged, not to mention that they increase sociability.

Look for a community that offers a wide range of activities. Great communities will offer yoga and fitness classes to promote physical activity among residents. Seniors need at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week to stave off illnesses and build strength.

There should also be activities to promote mental health. Things like gardening, walking in nature, and game nights help boost the happiness of residents. They also encourage socialization, so residents develop large and bustling social circles.

Is Transportation Available?

Even with amazing programming, your loved one may feel cooped up if they have to stay in the community all the time. At the same time, they may not be safe or comfortable leaving the community on their own.

One of the best senior living community tips we can give is to look for assisted living with transportation. A community that offers transportation to residents opens up a whole world of freedom. They’ll be able to go out to run errands, attend events, and visit loved ones safely.

How Do Visits Work?

Lastly, it’ll be important to figure out how visits from family members work. You should have free access to the community to visit residents during the day, but if visiting hours end, you should find out when that is.

Being able to freely visit your loved one will help ease the transition significantly. Some communities will even offer family-oriented events to encourage people to visit their loved ones.

Navigating Senior Living Options

Navigating senior living options can be a lot of work. When you find a few communities that seem like a good fit, it’s in your best interest to book a tour and ask as many questions as possible. The more information you can glean, the easier choosing a senior living community will be.

For those in Midwest City, Oklahoma, Morada Midwest City is your best assisted living option. We have diverse senior living options, high-end dining, and an activity calendar that promotes health and happiness among residents.