Senior living apartments are designed considering the unique needs of older adults. They usually have wide doorways, walk-in showers, and limited stairs and require less maintenance. Most of these apartments are located inside buildings and community complexes and have a minimum age requirement for residents; for instance, 50+ or 62+. However, searching for them is easier said than done. Here are some practical tips for finding suitable senior living apartments.

Assess the apartment’s safety arrangements
While there are many factors to assess when choosing a senior apartment, the most crucial is safety. Older adults are vulnerable to falls and other health emergencies. Hence, they need someone to look after them. Depending on their health situation, one may require full-time staff for 24/7 monitoring or part-time staff for help with specific tasks. Accordingly, individuals should look for complexes that offer such facilities. If unavailable, one can move into an apartment that at least offers emergency on-call services. Some residential buildings have added safety features designed for seniors, such as emergency alert systems that can be utilized in times of need.

Evaluate the level of accessibility
Many affordable senior living apartments for sale are not easily accessible. They have narrow hallways, unreachable cabinets, and multiple stairs, making life hard for older adults with mobility issues. Instead of settling for these, one can keep an eye out for units designed to meet the needs of seniors and provide a desirable level of accessibility. The best homes are those with ramps, wide doorways and hallways, easy-to-reach cabinets and door handles, low-entry showers, elevated toilet seats, and grab bars. Besides the apartment, it’s essential to examine the neighborhood to ensure it has well-paved sidewalks, accessible curbs, age-appropriate crosswalks, and public transportation (in case one does not drive).

Read the contract thoroughly
When moving into an apartment, one must generally pay a monthly amount for rent (or down payment in case of purchase) plus an additional fee for senior-friendly services like laundry and housekeeping. However, most senior living apartments fall under the Federal Fair Housing Act. So, individuals must know what’s included and excluded from the contract. One should also look for hidden fees. Residents may consult an expert, if necessary, and negotiate a fair price for the accommodation and services.

Assess the proximity to grocery stores and hospitals
Before finalizing a senior living apartment, one must assess how far it is from the residences of their friends and family. It also helps to check the distance to the nearest grocery store and health center. One way to do this is to pin the apartment’s location on an online map and search for “departmental stores and hospitals near me.” Finding these facilities can be difficult, especially in small towns with a low population. Hence, choosing senior living apartments in well-planned urban areas is a wise decision.

While using these tips to find the right senior living apartments, one must stick to their budget. The monthly rent can range between $1,500 and $10,500, according to the unit’s size and amenities. Similarly, the cost of purchasing an apartment can also vary. Seniors may use apartment finder websites and apps to locate a suitable home.