How You Know You're Choosing the Right Senior Living Community

Moving to a senior living community is a major transition, but it's also an opportunity to focus on what's important. Instead of spending your weekends mowing the lawn or tackling home projects, you can relax and enjoy everything your new community has to offer. That's why it's so important to choose the right senior living community for your needs. Here's how you'll know you're making the right decision.

Matching Your Environment to Your Lifestyle

The right community offers an environment that matches your lifestyle. If you love to golf, hike or engage in other outdoor activities, look for Independent Living options that have a variety of parks, green spaces or golf courses nearby. If you prefer to shop, visit museums and try new restaurants, you may choose an Independent Living community with easy access to a bigger city with a thriving cultural scene. You'll know you're in the right community when you can enjoy all your favorite activities without having to trek long distances or search for entertainment options.

Aberdeen Heights is a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Kirkwood, MO. Kirkwood is home to the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood Park and Emmenegger Nature Park, so there's no shortage of opportunities to move your body while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Kirkwood also has the National Museum of Transportation, Kirkwood Performing Arts Center and the Dance Center of Kirkwood, but it's also just 20 minutes away from St. Louis.

When you live so close to the city, it's easy to visit City Museum, Campbell House Museum, the National Blues Museum and the St. Louis Art Museum. St. Louis is also home to restaurants serving almost every type of cuisine imaginable, from classic diner food to gourmet fare.

Finding the Right Amenities

Getting out and about is important, but your senior living community should also have plenty of amenities to help you feel at home. A vibrant community typically has a wide range of lifestyle amenities, such as wellness programs, cultural outings and educational activities. When you take advantage of these amenities, you have the opportunity to make friends with other residents, keep your mind sharp and stay engaged.

Community amenities are also essential, as they make day-to-day life more rewarding. At Aberdeen Heights, we have a private dining room, giving residents the perfect place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones. We also have several spaces designed to encourage socialization and help residents stay active. You can play billiards, join a card game or work on a craft project in a safe, comfortable setting. Residents also enjoy these amenities:

• Dog park
• Raised gardening beds
• Beauty/barber shop
• Library
• Woodworking shop
• Outdoor courtyards
• Arts and Crafts Center
  
  • In our Art and Crafts center, you'll find classes hosted weekly and residents utilizing this space daily.

You'll know you're in the right community when you have access to a wide range of activities that match your personal interests.

Making Health Care Accessible

Approximately 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition. As a result, it's common for seniors to have regular medical appointments. If you're researching Independent Living options, it's important to look for a community that makes health care accessible. Your senior living community should be close to your primary care provider and any medical specialists you see regularly. If you take specialty medications, it's also helpful to choose a community near your preferred pharmacy.

You also need to think about access to emergency medical services. Even the healthiest person can develop a kidney stone or break a bone, so it's wise to choose a community near at least one hospital. Due to its location in the St. Louis metro area, Aberdeen Heights offers convenient access to some of the top hospitals in the state, including Mercy Hospital St. Louis, Missouri Baptist Medical Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

You'll know you're choosing the right community when you're confident that local medical facilities will be able to meet your unique needs.

Engaging in Long-Term Planning

Many people choose a senior living community based on their short-term needs, but it's important to think ahead. You may be comfortable in Independent Living now, but what will you do if you develop a health condition that makes it more difficult to perform basic activities of daily living? What if you need Memory Care at some point? Long-term planning can help you address these needs now instead of worrying about them in the future.

Aberdeen Heights offers multiple levels of care, so we can easily accommodate your changing needs. For example, you might choose Independent Living today and then move to Assisted Living a few years from now. Choosing a community with multiple levels of care eliminates the need to pick up and move somewhere else if your needs change.

Contact Aberdeen Heights at (314) 909-6001 to schedule a tour and learn more about how our community makes life better for seniors.