Tag Archives: What To Look For In A Retirement Community

If you are searching the phrase “how to find a retirement community” or “retirement communities in Peoria AZ“, Vista Winds can help! In this post we outline how to find retirement communities and questions to ask each facility you visit.

How To Find Retirement Communities In Peoria

You might think it would be tough at first, but finding a retirement community that fits your individual personality and lifestyle in 2018 is getting easier than ever. New retirement communities are popping up all over the place at a rapid rate. However, we know that choosing the right retirement home can be tough, and for that reason, we put together this guide to help you know what to look for. Read this guide to help you find a Retirement Community In Peoria you would love to call home.

1. Check the location’s temperature. Climate is considered to be one of the most important factors when choosing retirement communities. Do some research about your destination to make sure you can handle weather changes. The average temperature in Peoria, Arizona reaches around 71.95°F, with a high average temperature of 86.4°F and a low average temperature of 57.5°F [1].
2. Feel the vibe. Every community will have its own vibe or character. One of the best ways of figuring out the vibe of the community is to talk to the residents. This will also help you get to know your potential neighbors. This would also be a great chance to ask the facility director what kind of amenities and activities they offer. Vista Winds offers a full monthly calendar of fun activities you can enjoy including Live entertainment, movies in our state-of-art theater and more.
3. Plan for future medical needs. Health should be your first consideration as you age. Most communities in the Peoria will offer a variety of advantages, but not everyone of them can provide the right medical care for your individual needs. Before transitioning into a new community, check to make sure that all of your medical needs can be met in the future, whether your health declines or not. Vista Winds offers retirement communities for nearly any stage of your retirement transition, independent living, assisted living and memory care with care givers on staff 24 hours a day.
4. Determine Your Budget. You want to choose a retirement community that fits your budget. After all the long hard years to grow retirement fund you want to make sure your savings can cover retirement community costs. Seeking the help of a professional financial planner could be one way to find out. Some communities will have monthly fee increases annually. Be sure to ask facilities how often and how much they change their rates every year.
5. Make a checklist. Having a checklist will help you remember what types of questions you should be asking retirement communities. Depending on the level of care you need, you will need a specific checklist for each of the different types of retirement communities. Feel free to download our help independent living checklist, assisted living checklist or memory care checklist.
6. Take a look at the activity calendar. Every community will most likely have an activity calendar with a list of activities planned out for the month. Be sure to check and make the activities are ones that you would enjoy. Most communities will offer activities, like tennis, gold and swimming. Staying involved in activities is a great way to stay fit while and maintain good health. Vista Winds offers many activities, including golf, swimming, live entertainment and more.
7. Learn the rules. Most facilities will have rules and regulation that residents much follow. For example, some retirement homes do not allow pets. Others might have rules about smoking cigarettes or grilling food outdoors. It is wise to research the facility you are interested in to find out what rules they might have and if those rules line up with your lifestyle. Vista Winds does allow pets and reasonable rules for residents to follow.
8. Security and safety. Most facilities have care givers on staff around the clock to ensure the health and safety of residents. Furthermore, some facilities, like Vista Winds for instance, offer gated entries for your security and privacy, as well as care givers on staff 24 hours a day in case of emergencies. We even provide free housekeeping twice a month and free laundry facilities.
9. Local Tax Rates. Some communities are more tax friendly than others. The local tax rates in your area are an important consideration when thinking about investing in a specific retirement community. These taxes can be a burden to carry. Make sure and speak the facility owner or director so you know what kind of taxes or additional yearly fees to expect.
10. Signing The Agreement. Before you sign the leasing agreement, be sure that you know what to expect from the community and that they community knows what to expect from you. If you’ve never lived at a retirement community before, you will be surprised to know that some facilities have rules about decorating your home, parking your car and more. Vista Winds will let you know all of the rules upfront so you know what to expect before moving into our faculty.
11. “Understand your financing options. For a senior purchasing the best retirement community, it is certainly possible if you are paying in cash. If it’s not the case, you should understand your financial options. This may include mortgage tax.” [2]
12. Pros and Cons. Create a pros and cons list to help make it easier to choose a retirement home. Having a list of what you liked and what you didn’t like will make the decision a little bit easier. This way you can find out which facility works for your individual personality and lifestyle the best.

What To Look For In a Retirement Community

Know what types of questions you should ask and What To Look For In a Retirement Community by using this checklist .

Facility Highlights

• Is the location of the facility near things you might need a regular basis (Shopping, etc)?
• Is the retirement home close by for visits by friends and family?
• Is the community located near entertainment complexes?
• Can residents access medical care easily?
• Does the community offer transportation to and from appointments?
• Did the staff greet you with a warm welcome when you entered their facility?
• Do the residents appear to be socializing or do they seem content?
• Do you notice the staff addressing the residents by their names?
• If the staff professionally dressed, welcoming, outgoing and friendly?
• Do you notice staff members treating other members in a professional manner?
• What percentage of the facility is occupied?
• Does the facility have a waiting list and if so how long until a unit will become available?

A Look Inside The Community & Common Areas

• Does the community offer a floor plan that is easy to follow?
• Do rooms, hallways and doorways offer walker or wheelchair access?
• Does the community have elevators for seniors that have difficulty using handrails or stairways to assist with walking?
• Do the floors have carpet or non-slip flooring for safe walking?
• Does the community have clearly marked exits, sprinklers and good lighting?
• Is the facility properly cooled/heated, clean and free of odors?
• Are common areas clean, comfortable and attractive?
• Is there a patio, garden or courtyard for visitors and residents to enjoy?
• Does the community offer security and care givers on staff 24/7 in case of emergencies?
• Are there a variety of types and sizes of units available?
• Do they have single units and double occupancy apartments for sharing with others?
• What can you bring from your home and is the residence furnished or unfurnished?
• Can the residents decorate their rooms and is there storage space available?
• Is a 24-hour emergency response system accessible from the unit with own lockable door? [3]
• Do bathrooms have handicapped accommodations for walkers and wheelchairs?
• Do all units come will cable TV and telephone access and is there an extra charge for that?
• Does the apartment or condo have cooking element/sink/refrigerator?
• Can residents smoke cigarettes in public areas or their units?

Finances, Contracts & Moving In

• What do you need to know about the moving in and out process?
• Can the facility provide you with a statement of responsibilities and rights of residents?
• Does the facility have a contract that discloses supportive services, personal care, accommodations, healthcare, fees, as well as move in and move out provisions?
• Find out about payment arrangements and if residents can only rent their apartment or own it?
• How much does the monthly rent cost? How often does rent increase and why?
• What happens if you run out of money or payments can no longer be made?
• Is there an corporate, private or government programs available to help you cover costs?
• If additional services are needed, can the facility accommodate for these new needs?
• Are there common procedure to pay for additional care services such as physical therapy or skilled nursing care when they are needed during a temporary amount of time?

Personal and Health Care Services

• What personal or health care services are available? Who will provide these services and what qualifications do they have?
• In case of a medical emergency, what are the procedures?
• Are there dedicated staff or procedures for providing additional care services in case of a temporary need?
• Are personal laundry, linen service and housekeeping included in the monthly fees or do you have to pay additional for those? Are laundry facilities convenient to access?
• Are physical therapy, barber or beautician services available on site or close by?

Recreation and Social Activities

• What type of individual/group activities are offered?
• Does the community offer scheduled trips to and from other events off-site?
• Can the residents of the community participate in outside activities in neighboring communities?
• Does the facility provide supplies for games and social activities, like cards, gardening, crafts and others?
• Does the facility offer worship services on-site or can off-site arrangements be made?
• Are fitness facilities on-site or do they offer exercise classes to keep you fit?
• Can the residents have pets in their units? Does anyone else at the facility have pets?

Dining

• Does the facility provide meals? If so, how many meals per day?
• Can residents get involved with the menu planning and can they request special foods?
• Does the facility have a nice dining room that appears relaxed and social? Do residents seem to be enjoying their food?
• Is there any flexibility in the dining schedule? Can you receive snacks in-between meals?
• How many meals does your monthly fee include? If a resident was to become sick, can special accommodations be made or would tray service be available?
• Are residents allowed to have guests or visitors dine with them for free or is this an additional free? Do they offer private dining rooms for special occasions or events the residents might desire?

Conclusion

Knowing the right types of questions to ask your potential retirement community will help ease the worry and stress about transitioning. Take you time to figure out what type of facility works best for your individual personality and needs.

Vista Winds Is An Upscale Retirement Community Located In Peoria, Arizona

If you are doing research about retirement communities in Peoria, Arizona, Vista Winds Retirement Home should definitely be on your list. Vista Winds offers retirement living at its finest. We have a rich calendar of activities, meals prepared by a Chef and caregivers on staff 24 hours a day for your health and safety. We offer award winning independent living, assisted living and memory care services. Come tour our community to see how we are a step above the rest and how easy it is to Make Yourself at Home! Vista Winds is surrounded by amazing views and our resort style property will be sure to impress!