The Senior Living Industry is composed of many layers ranging from in-home care needs to specialized settings for those challenged with Dementia. For someone who may be new to understanding next steps for their loved ones, we have hand-selected the best industry partners to share insight into the world of Senior Living.
Amy Bonner-Jones - Director of Sales and Marketing
Somerby Sandy Springs - somerbyliving.com
ajones@somerbyliving.com

November 8, 2022
How do you know when a community is the right fit for you or a loved one?

Touring and selecting a senior living community can be a bit overwhelming for even the most experienced, let alone someone just starting the journey. And my is it a JOURNEY!

You have friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, church friends, golf buddies, all giving you their opinions and recommendations. While their input may be helpful, they may not know what you really want. YOU may not know what you really want.

Think back to when you rented your first apartment or bought your first car. What made you choose it? Probably a few different things. But what REALLY made you choose was the FEELING you had when you walked in the front door or when you sat behind the wheel. Accompanying families and seniors on their search for “the right” senior living community, I get to see their checklists of what is most important to them. Many say the food, the care, size of apartment, the activity calendar, etc… so, that is what the sales director focuses on during your tour. You see the dining room and the menu, you see a model apartment, and you get to take home a calendar of activities to review along with a lot of other brochures from every community you visit. What do you remember most about what you saw? Well, out of the many visits, you may feel like they all seemed alike….except for one. There was one where the concierge knew your name when you arrived.

The residents looked happy when you saw them exercising as a group - one even stopped and came over to introduce themselves to you. You passed by a housekeeper coming out of an apartment that said, “Hello, how are you?” And when you walked into the dining room, a server smiled and asked, “What is your favorite meal?” If you ask me, the most important aspects of a senior living community may not be what others think you are looking for. In this next season of life, what connects you most to what will be your new home is the people. Did they make you feel welcomed? Did they make you feel noticed? Did they make you feel cared for? Did they make you feel at home? That’s where you want to be.