Should You Bring Your Loved One When Touring Senior Living Communities Near Rocky Mount, VA

The process of searching for the ideal senior living community may start simply enough with a scheduled tour, but it is still undoubtedly a stressful and overwhelming process. Those with loved ones that are a little more fragile may wish to avoid causing them unnecessary stress. As such, one of the most frequently asked questions from those looking to tour senior living communities near Rocky Mount, VA is whether they should bring their loved one along with touring the neighborhood. 

This is a complex question that heavily depends on your circumstances. As such, we must take a more nuanced look at this question by putting forth further considerations that may help guide you to the right decision for your family. 

• Is Your Loved One Ready to Make the Move?

If your loved one is unwilling or not ready to make the transition to an assisted living community, then attempting to coax them to participate in touring potential retirement communities may serve to further agitate them or cause them undue stress. As such, if your loved one is not on board with moving yet, it is advisable for family members to visit the neighbourhood themselves first. You can tour the community and make initial assessments on whether the environment and culture is well suited for your loved one first. This will allow you to narrow down a list of promising communities, streamlining the selection process and make the entire experience easier on loved ones who are not as excited about moving. 

Contrastingly, if your loved one is ready to make the shift to senior living, then it is best to consult them on how much involvement they want in the selection process. They may enjoy the opportunity to come along and tour the neighbourhood with you so that they can gain first-hand experience and make their own judgement regarding the suitability of the community.

• Should You Leave the Decision Up to Them?

Your loved one may take pride in making their own decisions whilst other might not appreciate the hassle or may find the prospect of making such important decisions overwhelming. Therefore, it is largely up to the discernment of the family members when it comes to whether they wish to leave the decision entirely to their loved one, make a joint decision, or simply take over the decision making. 

Consider the personality, circumstances and preferences of your loved one. If still unsure, consult them personally about what they are most comfortable with. Keep in mind that there are numerous factors to consider, including the culture of the neighbourhood as well as the cost of senior living, which may affect the final decision. Furthermore, It is important to remember that choosing a senior living community is a major decision that affects the entire family. With all this in mind, if your loved one wishes to make charge of the selection process and make their own choices, then bring them along for the tour!

• Are There Any Outdated Views on Retirement Communities?

Retirement communities do not always have such stellar reputations and it is not uncommon for older adults to have misconceptions about what senior living entails. If your loved one harbors such misconceptions, visits to the communities may help dissuade them of their outdated beliefs and make them more perceptive to the idea of transitioning into senior living. 

Additionally, there are many different types of retirement communities, each with their own unique cultures and programs. Thus, bringing your loved one along for the tours may allow them to better understand what they are looking for.