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5 Tips for Finding a Senior Living Community You Feel You Can Trust

June 28, 2019

You’ve probably watched news reports talking about trouble at a nursing home or senior community at some point. While the kinds of issues these news reports spotlight are rare, they can make families worry more when it comes time to find a senior living community that is a good fit for a loved one.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to feel more confident that you are making an informed choice.

Making an Informed Choice about Senior Living

Here are a few suggestions to help you focus on what is most important in making a decision about senior living:

Personal recommendations: Talking with people you trust who have been through this process can really help. Do you have any family members, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances who have a loved one living in a senior living community? Ask if you could sit down with them over a cup of coffee to talk about what they do and don’t like about it. An insider’s honest perspective can be very valuable as you make this decision.
Read community reviews online: There are several online review platforms that you can visit to read what residents and families have to say about the community. Caring.com, for example, has a directory that allows you to read reviews about specific assisted living, memory care, and other types of senior living in your local area.
Review state survey results: Learn what agency has oversight for any senior care option you are considering and then take time to read what regulators have to say about them during their annual visits. If you are considering an assisted living community for example, know that they are regulated at the state level and laws vary state by state. Contact your state’s department of health if you need help determining how senior living is regulated near you.
Make personal visits: Nothing can replace visiting and touring senior living communities in person. Take your time. Ask good, solid questions. Talk with staff, residents, and their families. Visit more than once and do so at different times, including making at least one weekend visit. Be sure to take good notes that you can refer back to as you work your way through each community you are considering.
Consider a short-term stay: If you are still a little hesitant, take advantage of respite care programs. While many think these short-term stays at a senior living community are just to give the caregiver a break, they can also be utilized as a trial run to see how your loved one likes it. Just make sure their stay is at least a few weeks so you have time to objectively assess the community.

Call Five Star Senior Living Today

If you have questions about moving a senior loved one, financing senior living or senior care in general, call the Five Star community nearest you. One of our team members will be happy to set up a time to meet with you in person, answer all of your questions, and help connect you with the resources you need!

Finding an Assisted Living Community for a Senior in the Midst of a Crisis

An ideal time to move to an assisted living community is when an older adult is still active enough to participate in the process. The senior can visit communities and select the one that meets their needs and feels most like home. Moving before a crisis also gives the older adult time to settle in and get to know the team members at the community.

Sometimes, however, something unexpected occurs. A medical emergency or a change in circumstances requires the decision to be made in a hurry.

As an adult child or close family member, what can you do to make an informed, thoughtful decision about which assisted living community is best amid a crisis?

We have a few tips that can be helpful during this stressful time.

Helpful Tips for Choosing an Assisted Living Community in a Hurry

Confirm the type of care: Before you begin the search, talk with your senior loved one’s physician or the discharge planner at the hospital to make sure you understand just what type of care is needed. Families sometimes assume that a nursing home is their only option when an assisted living community is actually a better choice.
Determine a budget: If your family hasn’t discussed senior care before, you may not have discussed the older adult’s finances either. You’ll need to have some idea about how much money they have. While you can usually get a bridge loan to help pay senior living expenses until assets can be liquidated, it is helpful to know about their financial situation.
Start the search online: Most assisted living communities have websites. Going online to learn more about the company’s mission, services, and amenities can save time. Create a list of questions that arise as you work your way through the websites. Once you have a few communities that look promising, start making phone calls. Ask about pricing, required contracts, and other items on your list.
Check review sites: There are a variety of websites dedicated to reviewing senior living communities. While reviews shouldn’t be your only criteria, they can help you get the perspective of other residents and their families.
Review state survey results: Assisted living communities are regulated at the state level. That includes complaints received from families. This is typically done through the state Department of Aging or the Department of Health and Human Services. Many states now publish survey results online. Before you move forward with personal tours, take time to review the state survey results for the past few years.
Visit the top choices in person: Once you’ve done your homework, pick the top two or three communities to visit in person. Schedule an appointment to see the campus and meet the team. This is the best way to determine if the assisted living community is a good fit for your loved one. If you aren’t able to make personal visits yourself, enlist the support of a friend or even consider hiring a geriatric care manager.
Try a short-term respite stay: One final tip is to consider a short-term respite stay. When time is short and a decision must be made, you can take advantage of an assisted living community’s respite care program. This short-term arrangement allows an older adult to stay at the community for a few weeks or up to a month. Your loved one will have access to the same care, services, and amenities as a permanent resident. It’s a great way to try out a community without making a long-term commitment.

Call the Five Star Senior Living community nearest you to learn more about assisted living or short-term respite stays!

How to Begin Searching for Assisted Living

Where you live plays an important role in your personal identity. Susan Clayton, an environmental psychologist who guides student research at the College of Wooster in Ohio, agrees. She notes that while it’s not true for everyone, home is how we identify ourselves.

That partly explains why we decorate and spruce up our home and gardens. These functions serve as both self-expression and a show of pride to the outside world.

When Where You Call Home is Assisted Living

This is all good information to know and consider as you are helping a senior family member search for an assisted living community. Remember, the home where your loved one currently resides may have been home for decades. It’s instilled with memories – in many cases a lifetime of them.

So, how does one begin searching for an assisted living community that your loved one will be proud to call home?

For many older adults, the answer lies in the word “community”.

Searching for a Senior Living Community

Here are a few tips to consider in your search.

A Sense of Community

There’s a long list of criteria you should use when searching for a good place for your loved one to call home. You can and should begin your search with checklist in hand, matching your options against the list as you search.

But knowing the fundamental basis for everything that defines an assisted living community will be far more helpful to you as you narrow your choices.

The determining factor of what makes an assisted living community a comfortable fit for your loved one is a sense of community. When the people who work there, as well as the people who live there, feel a strong sense of community, everything else can fall into place the way you need it to.

Ask About Staff Turnover

One sure-fire way to make a place not feel like home is to have a constantly-changing carousel of caregivers. If staff members are unhappy with their jobs, something may be amiss and chances are there’s not a very strong sense of community present.

That’s why making multiple visits before making a final decision is an important part of your search. Talk to staff, residents, and families and you will probably be able to tell a lot about the culture of the community.

Learn More About Staff

While we’re on the subject of staff, the staff-to-resident ratio is crucial, too. When there isn’t enough staff to help things run smoothly, it’s pretty difficult to maintain a good, strong community feeling. Overworked staff members are usually unhappy. When they’re unhappy, they probably won’t make good caregivers.

Ask What Kind of Staff They Have

Assisted living communities aren’t required to have a nurse on duty 24/7 in many states. The ones that do have a nursing team will stand out. It’s a nice benefit, and speaks to the commitment of the community to your loved one’s health. Ask what staff members are present during non-business hours, as well as during the daytime.

Sample Being Part of the Community Yourself

Eating a meal or two with residents can open up doors to conversations that will shed light on the sense of community. Ask about attending a lunch or dinner with residents so both you and your loved one can really get to the heart of the place: seniors who live there already.

Other Questions to Ask on Your Senior Living Search

Of course, there’s the business side of things, you should also ask about. Important questions to have answered include:

forms of payment the community accepts
whether they have plans in place to allow your loved one to age in place
what licenses they have
what activities they offer
whether they provide transportation to medical appointments
whether pets are allowed
whether there’s a waiting list

Visit a Five Star Senior Living Community Near You

We invite you to visit a Five Star Senior Living community near you. You’ll no doubt recognize the strong sense of community and caregiver support our residents enjoy every day when your tour.

Plan to stay for lunch or dinner when you visit so you and your senior loved one can enjoy the Five Star Signature Dining Experience firsthand!

10 Ways Senior Living Communities Improve Older Adults Lives

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) reports that more than 20 percent of the population will be age 65 and older by 2030. As a result, more older adults will be moving to a senior living community.

While some seniors may be hesitant to move into an independent living community or assisted living community, there are a surprising number of benefits associated with the transition.

Here are ten ways senior living communities improve the lives of older adults.

Exploring the Benefits of Senior Living Communities

Socialization Social isolation leads to detrimental health consequences including depression and disease. When seniors move into an assisted living community, they are encouraged to participate in planned social activities that relate to their favorite hobbies and interests. Life enrichment is a key to successful aging.
Physical Activity Living in a senior community presents older adults with opportunities to engage in fitness classes like Zumba and Chair yoga. The best part is these activities are a short walk down to the activity center. No transportation required! These convenient exercise opportunities are great options for older adults with limited transportation options.
Healthy Diet Adult children have peace of mind knowing their aging parent is eating a well-balanced diet while living in a senior community. Residents enjoy restaurant-style dining with an opportunity to socialize with friends at each meal.
Independence As we age, the fear of losing our independence looms large. But moving to a senior living community is one of the best ways for an older adult to receive the support they need to maintain their independence. Individual apartments or suites in a senior living community allow seniors to live independently knowing assistance is nearby if needed.
Safety There are many safety benefits to consider when thinking about moving into a senior living community. They range from personal security to health management support. An attentive staff ensures older adults are healthy and mobile while giving family members peace of mind that their loved one is safe.
Transportation A significant factor for maintaining independence is transportation. Most senior living communities provide transportation to and from errands, appointments and shopping centers. Transportation services also take stress off of family caregivers who may be juggling a full-time career and family of their own with the needs of an aging parent.
Improve Caregivers’ Health Adult children can hand over some of their responsibilities to the staff at the senior living community including meal preparations, medication management and housekeeping. When their senior loved one moves into an independent or assisted living community, the family caregiver often feels less stressed and weary. It allows them to regain their own health and to more fully enjoy the time they spend with their loved one.
Health Management Senior living communities offer a variety of wellness programs in-house. From fall prevention programs to weight monitoring and medication management, these services help residents stay active longer.
Memory Care According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans lived with dementia in 2015. If your aging loved one is affected by the disease, a memory care community may be the ideal solution. These communities provide the necessary stimulation, nutrition and security for older adults with cognitive loss.
Personal Care As we age, it’s harder to pay proper attention to our personal hygiene. The staff at a senior living community can provide personal care for older adults in the comfort of their rooms. These communities also offer in-house beauty salon services on a weekly basis.At first glance, encouraging a loved one into a senior living community might feel frightening. But the big move will likely turn out to be the best move to help them to live a longer and healthier life.

Contact Us Today

9 Tips for Touring An Assisted Living Community

Finding an assisted living community to meet the needs of an aging loved one requires research, legwork, and lots of discussion. It’s not a choice you can make sight unseen. You’ll want to tour potential communities before you and your loved one make a decision.

And, oftentimes, a partner or an adult child finds it easier to visit a variety of communities without their spouse or parent. Because many have an idea of what their senior family member will and won’t like, they can eliminate those they don’t think are a good fit. Then the whole party can visit the top two or three communities together later.

Whatever approach you choose, preparing ahead is the key to making the most of each tour.

How to Make the Most of Your Assisted Living Community Tour

Here are 9 tips to help you know what to ask and what to look for:

1. Discuss preferences to narrow down the choices.

Would your loved one thrive in a more luxurious community? Or would they be more comfortable in a laidback environment? What types of activities do they enjoy and want to stay involved in?

Each assisted living community has its own unique personality, and you will want to find one where your loved one will feel at home.

2. Investigate the staff-to-resident ratio.

Does the staff seem stressed and overworked? Or are they smiling and pleasant? Does the community appear to have enough staff members to care for the residents?

These are all important observations to make.

3. Watch how the staff treats the residents.

More importantly, but definitely related to the ratio of staff to residents, is how the staff treats the residents.

Try to be an unobtrusive observer to see how staff behaves when they think no one is watching.

4. Take a formal tour, but also wander the community on your own.

The formal tour will introduce you to all the services and amenities of the community. But it’s only when you walk the halls, visit the cafeteria, and peek in on classes unchaperoned that will you really see what the community is like.

After your formal tour, ask the staff member for a few minutes to wander around on your own.

5. Share a meal in the community.

Assess the quality and nutritional value of the food in the community by eating a meal in the dining room with residents. Pay attention to how the residents and staff act.

Are they friendly and welcoming? Do people seem to be enjoying socializing over their meal? Will your loved one easily make friends here?

6. Chat with the residents.

Chances are the residents in an assisted living community will be happy to have company and more than willing to chat. AARP recommends the following questions:

How long have you lived here?
Do you like living here?
What do you like to do during the day?
Is the staff attentive without being intrusive?
Are caregivers friendly?
Do you feel it’s worth the cost?

7. Ask about day trips and transportation.

Ask the staff about what services and enrichment opportunities are located in the local area from shopping to cultural arts. What sort of transportation does the community offer to take advantage of these? Does the community schedule fun day trips for residents?

8. Ask about area doctors and hospitals.

Investigate the doctors, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals that are onsite. Explore physicians and hospitals in the area, too.

Check the licensing and credentials of on-staff doctors. Are your loved one’s regular doctors nearby or will your aging loved one have to switch healthcare providers?

9. Explore the facilitates and grounds.

The physical buildings and grounds can tell you a lot about a community. Is it warm and welcoming? Is it clean and well-kept? Or are walls, doors, and floors in disrepair? Is the landscaping well maintained?

Look for wide corridors, light colors, and well-lighted hallways, which can help reduce the risk of falls.

Making the Decision

A number of factors go into selecting an assisted living community for your aging loved one. And a personal tour is an important step in making an informed choice. Find a Five Star Senior Living community near you to schedule a tour today and see what sets us apart.

Contact Us Today

Creating a Budget for Senior Living

We’ve all experienced it: budgeting mistakes. One bill might not get paid while another one is paid twice. Maybe it was a one-time occurrence. That’s normal. But as our loved ones age, health issues, losses, and grief may compound distraction and contribute to poor decision making. Sometimes challenges managing finances can even be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

With empathy and kindness in mind, caregivers can help a senior loved one create a budget and keep their finances safely on track.

Caution, please!

If you’re helping to create a budget for your Mom or Dad, consider that they may perceive your efforts as a loss of their independence. So move forward with gentleness, compassion, and respect. Loved ones who are treated with dignity and diplomacy are more likely to work willingly with you as you help them with their finances.

Working with a Senior Loved One to Establish a Budget

Here’s how to create a budget for a senior loved one:

List their net income. When you are just estimating income and expenses, it may be easy to understate or overstate them. So start by making a list of all their income sources. Include social security, investments, pension, and any earnings from hobbies or other sources. From each income source, subtract any taxes or necessary deductions. Tally their final take-home pay.
List their expenses. Start with the basic fixed expenses: rent or mortgage, utilities, car payments, insurance, and so on.Then include the expenses that change each month: groceries, gas, medications or entertainment, for example. Help them read their credit card statement and checking account statement to complete the list. Watch out for sneaky expenses. Those may be one-time treat items that become a habit and begin to appear regularly on bank statements.To help create a list of possible expenses, many online tools are available. Some of the free and easy services include Mint.com, Budget pulse, and ClearCheckBook.
List their actual spending. Track daily spending when checks are written or credit cards are used. A slip of paper kept in the wallet will work, but helpful smart phone apps are available.At the end of the week, schedule about 15 minutes to help them record the expenses on their master tracking list. At that time, compare the actual spending with the expenses.
List saving sources. If necessary, work with your senior loved one to identify possible areas in which to make cutbacks. They may be entitled to a senior discount with a different cable company or get a better deal on cell service if they shop around. A little savings here and there will add up to bigger savings by the end of the year.
List their goals. Whether it is for a vacation, wedding and birthday gifts, major repairs, or additional retirement funds—life happens. It is important to plan for these events and unexpected issues. Estimate the amount of savings required each month to meet their goals. And to also prepare for anticipated caregiving costs.
List any obstacles. Let’s face it, for some people spending money fills a need. It can produce positive feelings or prevent negative ones. Some people shop for pleasure. The hunt for an item can be exciting, novel, or give a sense of empowerment and accomplishment. It can be a social activity that connects us with the community—that’s especially important for some retirees. At other times, shopping can help us avoid pain—maybe fear or loneliness. In any case, when over-spending occurs, there’s usually a negative outcome: stress, shame, or arguments.To help a parent replace the power of a habit, brainstorm to find ways to fill the real need. Is it people and community? Then schedule activities to help satisfy that real need. Is it the novelty, adventure, or a sense of accomplishment? Help your loved one find creative hobbies or alternate activities to address those needs.Finally, consider posting a note on the refrigerator to remind your Mom or Dad about their financial goals and the budget it will take to achieve them.
Seek support. Consider making a list of friends, family members, or organizations that can help you when their budget just won’t add up. For example, Debtors Anonymous offers in-person group meetings and telephone support meetings nationwide to people of any age. Our blog also has a variety of articles to help adult children discuss difficult topics, including money.

At Five Star Senior Living communities, our team can help you estimate costs for independent living or assisted living. Contact the community nearest you to schedule a tour today!

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Mistakes to Avoid When Searching for Assisted Living

The term “assisted living” is one you may have heard before, but might not understand what it means. Until they need an assisted living community for an older loved one, most people don’t spend a lot of time getting to know the senior housing industry.

That can change very quickly when an elder you love needs extra care. This is the time of year when many adult children begin the search for senior care.

The holiday visit home to see an aging parent is often the catalyst for realizing they aren’t safe or happy living alone. To help you avoid making a mistake, we’ve pulled together a few things you should know when it comes to finding a senior living community.

What to Know About Senior Living Communities

Assisted Living vs. Nursing Home: The first tip is to understand an assisted living is very different than a nursing home. Sometimes the fears created by outdated nursing home stereotypes keep seniors from making a move to an assisted living community. These communities are vibrant living environments designed to help seniors age successfully. They allow older adults to maintain their independence, while still having staff close by when extra support is needed.
Good Economic Sense: Seniors and adult children often think assisted living communities are more expensive than they truly are. When you factor in how much you save on utilities, home maintenance, appliance repair, landscaping, lawn services, snow removal and food expenses, you can see how living at home — even when the mortgage is paid off — can still be expensive. When an older adult needs to hire an aide to assist with laundry, housekeeping, and transportation on top of other expenses, it becomes easier to see the value an assisted living community offers.
Communities are Regulated: A persistent myth is that assisted living communities don’t have very strong regulations in place to protect residents. In fact, they are licensed and regulated at the state level. Each state establishes its own regulations and conducts regular surveys of communities to be sure they are in compliance. Communities must make their survey results available for visitors to review. In some states you can even look the survey results up online.
Not All Equal: Don’t make the mistake of assuming you only need to visit one community because they are all alike. They are not. This is why you need to spend time visiting and touring a minimum of two or three communities before you make a decision. Investigate their commitment to senior nutrition and dining services. Explore their philosophy on aging and wellness. Get to know what makes them different and then decide if the community’s culture is a good fit for you or your senior loved one.

Our door is always open for seniors and adult children who have questions or would like to arrange a tour. We invite you to call or visit the Five Star Senior Living community nearest you for more information.

Myths that Create Fear Among Seniors Considering a Move to Assisted Living

One idea that may have crossed your mind is moving to a senior living community.

A major advantage of living in a senior living community is that you can maintain your independent lifestyle without worrying who’s going to help you if you need assistance. Another advantage is ready access to peers and activities which makes it easy to maintain a social life and stay active.

However, despite these advantages, the concept of senior living is often misunderstood. Most of the time, misconceptions are perpetuated by people who haven’t taken the time to find out what modern senior living is truly all about.

Most Popular Myths About Senior Living

To help you gain a balanced view of all your options, here’s a short list of the most popular—and the most pervasive— myths.

1. Senior Living Communities are Depressing

If your notion of senior living is based on old memories of nursing homes, then you obviously haven’t paid a visit to a senior living community lately. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Boomers have reinvented the whole notion of retirement living and senior communities. Older adults these days choose senior living because that’s where they feel they’re most able to keep up the independent lifestyle they want.

What does that lifestyle look like? It’s active, social, and offers easy access to the resources people need to stay healthy.

2. There Won’t be A Way to Feel Useful

One falsehood about senior living is that there won’t be anything to do or residents won’t find purpose. On the contrary! Today’s senior living communities are buzzing with activity, whether it’s planned activities or residents enjoying an active lifestyle through sports, exercise, clubs, hobbies, outings, mentoring, volunteering, or attending classes.

3. It’s Too Expensive

Many seniors have already paid off their mortgages, but home maintenance can still take a major bite out of the budget. There are also utilities, insurance payments, repairs, and taxes to figure into that cost, too.

If you need a little help with personal care or daily activities, those costs can add up quickly. You may be surprised to learn that the average monthly cost of homemaker services in 2016 was $3,813.

Compare those costs to the national average monthly fee for living in an assisted living community: $3,628. Keep in mind that amount covers significantly more than just a roof over your head.

Assisted living fees often cover:

well-balanced meals and healthy snacks
personal care close at hand
round-the-clock security
caregivers to help with basic activities of daily living
transportation
medical reminders
entertainment
social network with other residents
cleaning & laundry services

Some senior living communities provide even more for their residents, such as innovative wellness programs.

A New Approach to Wellness at Five Star Senior Living

Residents who live in a Five Star Senior Living community enjoy a wide variety of services and support. We provide wellness programs, upscale dining, nutrition options, and activities designed to develop mind, body, and spirit.

Through personalized service and support, each resident works toward self-fulfillment in all areas of living: physical, mental, and spiritual.

It’s called the Lifestyle360 program. Designed to enrich the lives of the people who reside in our communities, it’s one of the differentiating features of our communities.

Call us to learn more about our Lifestyle360 approach to wellness!

How Senior Living Communities Help Seniors Thrive

As we grow older, where we live plays an important role in how well we age. Companionship helps prevent isolation which in turn, can help you avoid or delay developing chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and depression.

Having easy access to social and wellness activities is also vital. Being surrounded by peers to laugh and commiserate with give purpose and meaning to the day.

What other benefits does a senior living community offer?

The list is a long one!

The Benefits of Life at a Senior Living Community

Here are just a few reasons why it might be time to consider a move:

Opportunity to socialize and make new friends: Isolation has officially been declared a health risk to seniors. In fact, researchers say it is even tied to early mortality. Senior living communities provide older adults an opportunity to meet new people and make meaningful connections.
Support to remain independent: Older adults who move to a senior living community from a private home often find it to be the best of two worlds. They are free from the burdens of home ownership —no more snow shoveling or mowing the lawn—but still have a private apartment or suite to call their own. Most communities also offer assistance with other daily tasks ranging from housekeeping to medication reminders.
Life enrichment activities: Senior living communities offer residents a wide range of activities and events to participate in every day. At Five Star communities, for example, we offer our Lifestyle360 program. Through it we help promote intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Residents can go on day trips to local destinations, attend morning devotionals, tackle a new hobby, or join in a spirited game of cards.
Transportation services: One of the most popular services offered at senior living communities is transportation. Many residents find it easier and less expensive to leave the driving to someone else. They can hang up the keys knowing they still have a way of getting where they need to go, whether it is a shopping trip to a local mall or an appointment with their dentist or doctor.
Well-balanced meals: Another task you can leave behind when you move is grocery shopping and meal preparation. While most of our residents have small kitchenettes in their apartments, they no longer need to cook if they chose not to. Our chef-inspired meals are both nutritious and delicious.
Thoughtful environment: Older adults who move from private home to an independent or assisted living community are often surprised to discover how much safer they feel. The environments are thoughtfully designed to lower the risk for a fall or other injury. No more stairs to climb. Handrails in hallways. Grab bars in the bathrooms and at the bedside. Emergency call systems throughout the community.
Peace of mind: The peace of mind that comes from moving to a senior living community is another benefit. Adult children also appreciate knowing someone is always nearby if their loved one needs assistance.

The bottom line is a senior living community does more than just provide a place for older adults to live. They promote good nutrition, physical fitness, spiritual awareness, socialization, and independence. For older adults, it all adds up to a productive, engaged lifestyle.

How Senior Living Communities Keep Adults Healthier

Staying actively engaged in the world around you during retirement is an important part of aging well. From reducing your risk of disease to lowering the odds you’ll experience depression, where you choose to spend your retirement years is important.

Research shows that isolation is a health risk for older adults. It is linked to higher rates of chronic health conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, and even to early mortality.

Seniors are also at risk for leading a more sedentary lifestyle. It’s a health risk that researchers say can be as dangerous for you as smoking!

That’s where senior living communities come in.

Senior living communities provide older adults with more than just a safe environment with fewer household chores to worry about. They also help prevent isolation and loneliness, while nurturing the body, mind, and spirit.

Here are a few of the many ways retirement communities improve seniors’ health and well-being.

Time for a Move: The Benefits of Senior Living Communities

Opportunity to meet new people and make new friends
Develop a support system of peers who are experiencing similar aging-related changes and challenges
Participate in daily life enrichment opportunities that range from art classes to morning devotionals, card groups, and gardening
Chef-inspired meals that support healthy nutrition and meet seniors’ unique needs
A thoughtfully designed environment that promotes a feeling of security
Caregivers available around the clock
Emergency call systems in apartments and suites
Opportunity to join in on community outings to local destinations ranging from shopping malls to museums and movie theaters
Wellness activities to meet a variety of interests from Tai Chi and chair yoga to walking clubs and stretching
Informal gatherings and social opportunities throughout the day
Transportation services for local outings, shopping trips, and appointments
Peace of mind that comes from knowing more care and services are available should the need arise
Hassle-free living (no snow removal or lawn care anymore!) means more time for hobbies and travel
Volunteer opportunities on-campus and in the local area

Watch and Learn More about Senior Living

We know the decision to make a move during retirement can be difficult to do. Sometimes older adults want to learn more about senior living without committing to visiting a community in person just yet.

We understand. In fact, it’s the reason we created a series of video stories. They will help you learn more about Five Star. You can watch as many as you choose to hear the personal stories of our residents, their families, and our dedicated caregivers.

Then, when you are ready, call us to schedule a time for a tour. Our door is always open to new friends!