If you are seeking an assisted living community for a parent or loved one, you want to make sure it is the right fit. But how can you or the family members and friends taking a tour know if the senior living community is the right fit if you don’t know what to look for?
It’s important to ensure the community offers the services and assistance your loved one requires, that the staff is friendly and attentive and that the community as a whole is well-maintained. Still, those are not the only characteristics you should look for while touring an assisted living community.
Brickmont Assisted Living has assisted living communities throughout the Atlanta, Georgia, area, including Milton, Woodstock, John's Creek, and West Cobb. We understand that the process of touring and finding a new home for a parent or loved one is no easy task. We want to be a resource for your family throughout your senior living journey, so we are providing four things to keep in mind when touring an assisted living community.
1. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
During a tour of an assisted living community, it will likely focus on the bigger aspects of the community while diverting your attention away from smaller details. It’s essential to pay attention to your surroundings and assess the general atmosphere of the community.
- Are the caregivers and staff being attentive to the needs of the residents?
- Do residents look engaged and happy?
- Outside of the senior apartments, are communal areas of the community kept clean and organized?
Your loved one will likely spend years in this community, calling it home and shaping memories here. You want to make sure it’s a place to be proud of!
2. Dine-in and Try the Menu
You may not consider the food and dining options during your tour, but it’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about a community’s senior dining services. As nutrition and diet are vital for a senior’s health, take time to inspect the dining areas, and ask questions about the menu options and how food is prepared. 
Many assisted living communities even allow you to sample the food or enjoy a meal on them. If that’s an option, do it! The best way to learn about dining services is to experience them first-hand.
3. Explore the Outdoor Spaces
Since the assisted living community will be your parent or family member's new home, make sure they have ample activities to participate in and enjoy. Getting fresh air or spending time with nature can be a health benefit to your loved one, so take time to inspect the community’s outdoor spaces. A recent study from The Kings Fund found that gardening and being outdoors is not only good for your mental health but your physical health as well.
4. Amenities and Quality of Life
While it’s easy to focus on the general appearance of an assisted living community during your tour, make sure to look closer! Though the presentation is crucial, what’s more important is the content of the community - the amenities offered and its impact on the resident’s quality of life.
A few of the amenities offered at Brickmont Assisted Living include:
- Private dining rooms for entertaining family and friends
- Theater room with frequent movie showings
- Arts and crafts studio
- Outside patio areas, gardens, and walking paths
The amenities provided at an assisted living community should represent the things your loved one finds passion in or enjoys. Brickmont Assisted Living is a vibrant community full of attentive caregivers, and beautiful shared space for our residents to explore and enjoy. Our founding principle is “Lived Where You’re Loved,” and we embrace and live that every day.
We would love to show you around one of our Brickmont Assisted Living communities throughout Georgia. Schedule a tour, and see what we’re all about!
.png){kind=logo}