Megg Markettos with Pearl & Pine Retirement in Burlington, Ontario says that the single most important question you can ask is “May I come for a tour?” Of course, it is important to understand some key facts like where the residence is located, if they offer the sized suite you are looking for and if the residence has the amenities you require and desire before embarking on a tour, however without stepping over the threshold you will never know if you could see yourself living there.
The moment you walk in the front door your questions will start to be answered. Am I priority? Is the concierge attentive, friendly and professional? Is the staff expecting me? This is likely to reflect how you will be treated should you choose this residence as your forever home. Are the common spaces clean? Is the décor something I can assimilate with? You need to look at this space as your home. Be sure to critique the finishes and cleanliness inside the suite as well. Is it as well finished as the rest of the residence? Can you make changes to the space?
On a tour you will learn much more about the retirement residence and who lives there. Likely you will discover the average age of the residents, how many men vs women live there and what kinds of activities are popular in the retirement community. Depending on the time of day you may have an opportunity to see residents going about their daily activities. Do they appear happy? Do they reach out to tell you how wonderful it is to live there?
One can ask the question “Do your staff like working here?” and of course the answer will be “Yes!” however a much better indication is how everyone on staff interact with each other and the residents. Watch for this as you tour the common spaces, hallways and suites. Engaged employees is critical to the overall success of a retirement residence and their happiness will translate to happiness of the residents.
Your current care needs and potential care needs in the future should be addressed on the tour if they were not addressed prior to your coming in. If not, this would be a cause for concern. How long can the residence care for you or your spouse? Will they separate you if one of you requires care and the other does not? At what point would you be required to move out of the property? This will be very different property to property and understanding how care is managed should very important to you and likely very important to your loved ones.
How is the culinary experience? One of the most common reasons for retirement living is a need for better nutrition and social interaction, both of which occur in the dining room. If you are seriously considering a move to retirement living then you must try dining there. Did the marketing manager offer a meal? “At Pearl & Pine Retirement”, explains Megg Markettos, “we encourage each and every interested individual or couple to eat at least once in our dining room”. You will learn so much about the residence in this experience. What is the dining room like? Is it easy to maneuver with any mobility device you require now or might require in the future? Is it comfortable bright and inviting? What are the cuisine options and can you make substitutions to meet your needs? Most importantly, is the food amazing? This is also a wonderful time to strike up a conversation with other residents and understand their feelings about living there.
It is hard to pin point one question to ask because different things are important to different people but go, visit, tour, dine, and go back again if you need to! Ask every question that comes to your mind. Gather information. Be informed. Most importantly though, make sure the “Vibe” at the residence makes you feel safe, comfortable and at home. There is no question that will give you that kind of important information!