4 Things To Consider When Choosing A Retirement Home

Searching for a retirement home may be one of the most daunting processes you will go through, regardless of whether it’s for you or your parents. To help reduce some of the stress, here are some great things to look for when deciding which home to pick.

Is it somewhere you WANT to live?

Choosing a retirement home is, quite literally, choosing your next home. You wouldn’t go and buy a house without sussing out how you felt about living there, so you should consider that for the retirement homes you inspect as well. Are you happy with the vibe, would you feel content there, and does it meet your living standards? Asking simple questions like “how often are the gardens maintained” and “what cleaning service do you use” can help you get an immediate sense of the way things are run. For your reference, they should have garden maintenance on a weekly or fortnightly basis, and they should be using a professional cleaning company.

Is it appropriate for your worst-case scenario?

Everyone dreams about the perfect retirement, with golf or card games in the morning, followed by lunch with friends and a casual walk through the gardens in the afternoon. And that is a wonderful thing to plan for. But when thinking about your retirement home, you need to think about how it would suit you if things didn’t go as planned. Do they, for instance, have a nursing area you could be moved to if your level of care requirements increase? You don’t want to have to move again once you become too ill to stay in a retirement setting. You might have calves of steel at the moment, but if you were to grow weaker, would a large set of stairs really be the best idea? Plan for the worst, and aim for the best, and you can’t go wrong.

Is it in the right location?

Retiring in the country might seem like a very pleasant idea, but if you are a fan of Sunday yum cha or Friday nights at the theatre, you might find yourself unable to enjoy your hobbies in a more rural location. Similarly, if you never enjoyed crowds, you probably won’t want to find yourself in a retirement home in the inner suburbs of a major city. Think about what you enjoy, and plant yourself near that.

Are you getting what you’re paying for

Retirement homes aren’t cheap, so when you see the figure on the paper, make sure it’s going towards what you need. Marble statues look pretty, but you’re far better having that cost go into nursing staff and great dining services. Really consider the price, and if you think it’s where you want your money going for your retirement, don’t be afraid to keep looking.

These are just a few things to consider when choosing a retirement village, but there are plenty of things to think about. What did you look for?