The holidays are a season when families often gather together to celebrate. For those who are separated by great distances, it may be the first time all year everyone has been reunited. Loved ones are frequently caught off guard by the decline they see in an older family member. This is one reason senior living communities often experience a spike in phone calls from adult children during late December and early January.
While touring an assisted living community may not have been part of your original holiday plans, it can actually be a good time to visit. From the festive decorations to the hustle and bustle of activities, here’s what to know about visiting an assisted living community during the holidays.
Why Visit an Assisted Living Community During the Holidays?
1. The community is lively and fun
It’s not just the holiday décor that makes the community seem so lively and fun. Assisted living communities also have very full life-enrichment calendars during the holiday season. Many of these activities and events are intergenerational gatherings, such as elementary school choir concerts and visits from scouting troops.
Families tend to visit more during the holidays, as well. This will provide you with an opportunity to talk with them about how satisfied they are with the community’s care and support.
2. Beat the post-holiday rush
Though family members may realize a senior loved one needs more assistance during their holiday visit, they often delay contacting assisted living communities. Many put off making calls and scheduling visits until after the holidays are over. This makes January one of the busiest times of year for assisted living communities.
If you start researching and touring communities in December, your aging parent or relative will likely have more open apartments or suites from which to choose.
3. The entire family can help
One of the best reasons for touring assisted living communities during the holidays is that more family members may be in town. You can divide up the research and the tours. If adult children conduct initial phone calls and visits, they may be able to eliminate options that aren’t a good fit for the senior. Then family members can all return together to visit those that seem like the most viable options.
Schedule Your Holiday Tour at Five Star Senior Living
If you will be visiting assisted living communities on a loved one’s behalf, we hope you will consider Five Star Senior Living. You can find a community near you or call us to schedule a time!
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