One of the most exciting parts of searching for the ideal Life Plan Community in the Westchester area is stepping foot on campus and taking a personalized visit. As you tour the community, you’ll get an invigorating preview of the residence options, the delicious dining venues, and the spirit of the neighbors and staff.
To be sure the tour covers all the bases and provides all the details you need to make an informed decision, you’ll want to ask some important questions during that visit. With that in mind, this article completes our two-part series on the types of questions you should ask during your senior living tour.
Here, we share the final two questions to ask, plus a bonus tip that you might find most helpful of all. Click here to read Part One, which contains the first three questions to ask the sales counselor during your on-site visit.
As we mentioned in the first article, when you’re done reading this series, bookmark these blog posts, or simply print the articles and bring them along on each tour. By the time you return to your current house after touring your favorite senior living options near Westchester, you’ll feel confident, informed and inspired to dive into what’s next.
What if my health needs change?
Should your health needs evolve, you don’t want to have to move again, or live separately from your spouse, if the community at which you live lacks the healthcare services you may need.
Fortunately, it’s quite simple to make sure that a community will grant you certainty and stability for whatever the future brings.
During your onsite tour, ask about the higher levels of care available, such as home care, assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care and physical rehab. All Life Plan Communities, The Osborn included, offer such continuums of care that allow for graceful aging in place and priceless peace of mind for you and your family. Also ask and verify that the community is CARF-accredited.
Later on, look up the community’s ratings from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), as well as rankings from publications such as U.S. News & World Report to get an idea of the quality of care. Not all retirement options in Westchester are crafted equally, so doing some legwork and research now will enable you to move forward with confidence.
What’s next?
Perhaps you’ve toured several communities and have whittled your choices to a select few. You know how advantageous it is to move sooner rather than later, so at this point, it’s fair to ask any of your “finalist” communities about how they can make your transition into living there as smooth as possible.
Ask if the community offers any downsizing or move-in assistance, or if they let you customize fixtures and finishes ahead of time so that your new residence feels just like home from day one. You can also inquire about the waitlist (most top-rated senior living communities in Westchester County have them), or programs like The Osborn’s “Future Residents Club” that offer benefits associated with “joining” the community before actually moving in.
BONUS: What’s life here really like? Ask a resident!
There’s no better way to learn about life at a Life Plan Community like The Osborn than hearing it straight from those who call it home. While you’re visiting, ask your guide if it would be possible to share lunch or coffee with a current “resident ambassador” at a later date.
During that informal get-together, you’ll be able to meet a potential future neighbor, get a more organic feel for the community, and get the resident’s point of view on life there. In the meantime, you can look over the community’s website and see resident testimonials similar to this YouTube playlist featuring The Osborn residents and why they enjoy life here so much.
Now that this blog series has provided you with the questions to ask onsite and important considerations to keep in mind, there’s no better time to schedule your visit. Click here or call 888-9-OSBORN to arrange your personalized tour of our community, and feel free to bring this article with you. We look forward to welcoming you!
(In case you missed the first article in this series, click here to read it.)