Where to Begin

How Do I Find the Right Senior Living Community?

So you’re ready to do your research, weigh your options and make a decision. While the journey can be difficult to start, once you’ve decided that senior living is right for you, you’ll often feel a relief knowing that you’re about to embark on your next great adventure.

But what happens now?

Next is picking a place. But don’t worry. Because we’ve got years of experience helping seniors find the perfect fit, we have a few tips and tricks to make the process as smooth as possible.

Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing the Right Senior Living Community

There are several things you need to think through before you make a final decision on your next place to hang your hat. But don’t worry. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find the community that’s right for you.

Start by discussing your decision with your children.

In many cases, children are the ones to initiate conversations with their parents. But sometimes the parents take the lead, and that’s okay too. If you’ve decided to move into a senior living community, it’s often important to sit down with your children and talk to them about your choice.

You may want to explain some of the reasons that led you to this decision. Maybe you’re concerned about your health and safety, you want to downsize, or you like the idea of having more opportunities to engage in interesting activities and events in a community atmosphere. If they have a negative reaction or seem caught off guard, take the time to explain what you’ve learned and share all the benefits you’re looking forward to experiencing.

Get help having the conversation.

Start by discussing your decision with your children.

Get help having the conversation.

Think about the kind of lifestyle you want.

The next step is envisioning the kind of lifestyle you want. This means thinking through everything from the level of care you need down to the amenities on your wishlist. Perhaps you have spent the last few years wishing you lived closer to your grandchildren. Maybe you’ve always known you want to spend your retirement years improving your golf swing or working on the next great American novel.

There are a lot of things to consider, and your wishlist will look different than someone else’s. But the top things to think about are geographic location, the level of care you need and the amenities you want most.

Think about the kind of lifestyle you want.

Determine your budget.

It’s almost time to start looking for the place where you can make the most of this well-deserved retirement season, but it will often be helpful to determine a budget first.

This is a big topic, and it isn’t one we can cover in just a few short paragraphs. You can read all about the cost of senior living community and how to pay for it on our Financial Considerations page. Once you know how much you can spend and where the money is going to come from, you can check this box off the to-do list and move onto the next step.

Here are some resources for financial planning.

Determine your budget.

It’s almost time to start looking for the place where you can make the most of this well-deserved retirement season, but it will often be helpful to determine a budget first.

Here are some resources for financial planning.

Make a list of your top choices.

Now the fun begins! It’s time to start looking at communities and narrowing down your options based on your wishlist and budget.

We have an online search feature that makes it easier than ever to explore our Brookdale communities if you want to see what we have to offer. And we provide so many different care levels and have locations in so many different parts of the country that you’re bound to find a great fit no matter what your circumstances and budget are.

Find a Community

Make a list of your top choices.

Now the fun begins! It’s time to start looking at communities and narrowing down your options based on your wishlist and budget.

Find a Community

Visit the communities on your list.

If you have the option to visit communities in person, we strongly recommend you make that a top priority. Think about it like this: you wouldn’t buy a home without seeing it in real life first, so why would you choose a senior living community just based on the website or brochure? Being there in person will give you a better sense of the environment and atmosphere, and you can see the people, staff members and amenities with your own eyes.

If you’re exploring communities in another part of the country and don’t have the luxury of seeing them all in person, it’s wise to call each location and speak to a staff member. The best senior living communities have representatives who can answer all your questions and concerns, and they may even have some creative options for how you can get a better sense of what life in their community looks like.

Visit the communities on your list.

What Life Is Like at Brookdale

Part of picking a senior living community is feeling confident that you’re going to find the lifestyle you want. Here’s a look at what you can expect out of your future senior living home base.

Spacious Accommodations
Most of our locations have multiple apartment floor plans so you can choose the layout that best suits your lifestyle. Each one has an abundance of natural light and ample storage space so you can bring along any prized possessions or family heirlooms that will make your new space feel just like home sweet home. You can even choose between a private or companion suite, depending on your budget or the amount of social interaction you crave.

And because we understand that your animals are important members of the family, many of our locations are pet-friendly. But to be on the safe side, it’s always good to check with the individual campus before you start packing up all of Fido’s toys.

Engaging Activities
You can expect to find a surprising number of activities, events, and excursions on every community social calendar. In fact, after you move in, you can even play an active role in choosing what shows up on the agenda. Whether you want to jumpstart your day with a workout or have a loved one who could benefit from brain-stimulating games or a round of dominos, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

We even provide a series of signature programs that are exclusive to our communities. Learn more about those here.

Quality Dining
We all know that a great meal is one of life’s purest pleasures, which is why we believe dining well plays a big role in living well. While each community has its own dining programs, residents across all of our care levels can enjoy restaurant-style dining with chef-inspired meals in beautiful dining rooms designed to feel warm and inviting. Each day gives you or your loved one the opportunity to savor flavorful and nutritious meals, from appetizers and entrees right down to mouth-watering desserts.

And for our residents in dementia care, we go even further to make them feel as comfortable as possible, providing a wide range of dementia-friendly dining details. And don’t worry, we have members of our kind and compassionate care team on deck to assist anyone who could use a little extra help.

Passionate Staff
Our care team is very involved in the day-to-day lives of our residents. You'll have staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to be alerted to an emergency. We make a point to hire people who are passionate about providing you or your loved one with the enriching and caring experience you deserve. Then, we provide them with ongoing training opportunities. That’s why we think you’ll notice each team member is willing to go above and beyond to make sure you can enjoy the retirement of your dreams.

Social Connections
Studies have shown that many seniors who live alone struggle with feelings of depression due to social isolation. That’s one of the big reasons some of our residents chose to move to a community in the first place. Life at a senior living community presents a wonderful opportunity to connect with people who share your common interests. And because we have so many activities, from dancing lessons and storytelling to cooking classes and book clubs, you’re bound to find people who share the same passions as you.

How Can We Help?

We’d love to help walk you through the process and share a few of our senior living options, so feel free to give us a call. We’re always here to listen, and we’d love to help you find the perfect fit so you can enjoy the retirement of your dreams.

Speak with a Senior Living Advisor today! Call 855-350-3800.

What Level of Care Do I Need?

Understanding senior living begins with understanding the different types of care available.

Learn More

When is the Right Time for Senior Living?

How do you know when the time is right to explore your senior living options?

Read Now

See our communities and get pricing

Fill out the form to unlock pricing for our senior living communities. Then, you can head to a community page to learn more.

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