‘Come see for yourself’: 5 tips for choosing the right assisted living community and how Primrose can help

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Choosing the right assisted living community is one of the most important decisions you and your loved ones may ever make. If you are just beginning to search, it can be difficult to know what to look for – so we have compiled a list of some of the most important factors to observe during your visit.

Primrose residents interact with friendly staff, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Primrose Retirement Communities, St. George News

“Spending time in a community is the key to understanding the lifestyle it can offer you,” said Aubrey Brown, marketing and sales director for Primrose of Washington. “Many of our current residents made the decision to move to Primrose because of an excellent lunch experience, or a conversation they shared at an ice cream social they attended. They felt like it was home.”

Ask questions about safety 

In any assisted living setting, safety is one of the most essential areas to investigate. Knowing that your loved one is taken care of at all times and that their needs are being met creates peace of mind.

When visiting a community, pay attention to the bathrooms. Are they accessible? Do they have grab bars in the right places? You may want to ask the nurses how residents contact them if they need anything. Do they have pull cords in the rooms? Do residents wear pendants?

You also may want to ask if there are registered nurses in the community 24 hours a day, and how they staff their building during the day versus the evening. Ask specific questions about how the staff will care for your loved one’s specific needs.

Is the staff friendly? 

Pay attention to how the staff interacts with other residents. Are they making eye contact and spending time in conversation?

Primrose residents participate in life enrichment activities, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Primrose Retirement Communities, St. George News

It is also a good idea to come up with questions for the management team. When planning your visit, ask to meet with them and take some time to get those questions answered. 

Schedule a visit during an activity 

Before you visit, look the community up online and check their activity calendar. Do you see anything listed your loved one would be interested in? Is there a good balance of internal activities and outings away from the community? Are there religious services?

Find an activity of interest and schedule your tour at that time so you can attend. Pay attention to how many people are at the event and how engaged the staff and residents are. 

“An activity calendar full of events is great, but more important than just being busy, our residents need to be engaged in meaningful events,” said Kamra Cundick, activities and life enrichment coordinator for Primrose of Washington. “A resident-driven calendar is going to enrich the lives of our community far more effectively than a check-the-box schedule of assorted games and movies.”

Come for lunch or dinner 

The dining experience is very important. Most retirement communities will allow you and your loved ones to enjoy a meal free of charge – so take advantage of it. Visit with the dining services manager and find out about dining options.

Do they have diabetic entrees? Do residents order off a menu, or are their choices limited each day?  Is it mandatory to eat in the dining room, or can residents have meals delivered to their rooms? How many meals are served per day?

Primrose resident interacts with friendly staff, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Primrose Retirement Communities, St. George News

Ask around 

Talk to others you may know who have loved ones living in the community you are visiting. If you know any current residents, stop by and pay them a visit to find out what they think about it. Ask your doctor for their opinion, since they may have referred people there in the past.

In the end, trust your instincts. You’ll know the right community when you find it. 

“I challenge you to take the next step,” Brown said. “Set up an appointment to ask the questions, eat a meal, talk to your soon-to-be neighbors. Come see for yourself why at Primrose we say, ‘This is living!'”

If you are currently searching for yourself or a loved one, Primrose would be honored to help you learn more about the assisted living options available to you. Just visit PrimroseRetirement.com for more information or to contact the Primrose closest to you.

• S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T • 

Resources

  • Primrose Retirement Communities | Address: 5190 S. Washington Fields Road, Washington City | Telephone: 435-256-8236 | Website.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!