The Flipping Pad

Posted by clarkbrynnezra on Jun 3, 2012 9:44pm

One of the toughest and most frustrating challenges for many people is looking at the thousands of retirement communities out there and trying to pick the best one that suite their needs. Each varies in the type of specials they try to offer to get you to move in. These may include special move-in prices, activity programs, or even a spa or fitness center. While these are all great, you should not move into a community of these reasons alone. Let’s look at four different things you should factor in when looking for a community.

Adequate Location and a Fantastic Staff

Wherever you choose to settle down, you should make sure that your new community is near places that you enjoy. Do you go to church frequently? Do you love to shop? If you’re the type of person that loves to shop, there is no sense in choosing to move somewhere where the nearest shopping mall is two hours away. You should also be sure that this location is near enough where your family and friends can still visit you quite easily. Along with proper location, you should also make sure that the staff is of top notch quality. In order to ensure this, be sure to ask questions. The staff should all be friendly, knowledgeable, and always be willing to take care of any of the citizens’ needs.

The Costs Involved

Do you know of all the costs involved when moving into your new community? If not, you should find out immediately. Besides the month-to-month living fees, there may be additional expenses on things like medical care or activity programs. Also, many communities will charge either a security deposit or fee that may or may not be refundable. Along with these costs, make sure to read the fine print of any contracts that you may sign. Whenever you move into a new community, you must sign a binding contract. If you are unsure that you are making the right decision or don’t know what all of the terms mean, you can hire an attorney to help you out.

Security Issues

Does your new community have a security force on staff 24/7? Are there features like gates, window locks, cameras, and alarms? Anyone moving to a new place wants to feel safe and if a community that you are looking at lacks any of these essential security features, it’s best to look somewhere else.

When searching for the best retirement communities around, these are four of the best rules to abide by. The location should be favorable, the staff should be helpful, you should be aware of all costs, and the community should be packed with security features. If your community has all of these things, then you should be set!

I’m a retirement home specialist with an expert knowledge of Seattle-area retirement communities. For more resources and information, check out Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest.