When their children leave home, many older adults decide they have no further need for a large house. Cleaning more rooms than are in use becomes a tiresome chore. Maintaining property requires an expenditure of time and money that might be spent on more pleasurable activities. Many couples think about relocating to a more hospitable climate long before their children achieve independence.

Moving to a retirement community can be an attractive option for seniors. Retirement communities cater to older adults. Most set a minimum age limit (typically 55) for at least one resident. Younger people can visit (and might be allowed to stay as overnight guests) but usually cannot become long-term residents. Retirement communities therefore tend to be peaceful, despite offering amenities (such as swimming pools and pickleball courts) that encourage an active lifestyle.

Adult children often help their parents decide that the time has come to move to a retirement community. They may also be asked to help their parents choose a particular community. While that choice may be driven by location and amenities, several other factors may influence a final decision.

Factors to Consider

U.S. News recently published an independent living checklist that might help older adults decide upon a retirement community. Setting aside price, location, and amenities, the checklist emphasizes the need to conduct serious research before making a commitment to a particular community.

Health is a significant consideration. A senior who suffers from one or more disabling conditions may need help with her activities of daily living. Daily visits by a nurse or caregiver are not usually a problem, but rules that govern the community might not permit a live-in caregiver. When adult parents need frequent assistance, they might want to consider moving to an assisted-living facility.

When adult parents can live independently without daily assistance, their focus should be on finding a retirement community in a desired location that meets their budget. Having narrowed down the list of suitable communities, seniors and their adult children should dig into the details as they compare alternatives.

Seniors should give careful attention to rules that govern the community. A “no pets allowed” policy is probably a deal-breaker for seniors who love their dogs and cats. Grandparents who anticipate a grandchild’s summer-long visit might need to avoid communities that prohibit residents from having minors as overnight guests or those that limit visits to a week or two.

Not surprisingly, U.S. News encourages retirees to consult its own list of Best Independent Living Communities. Retirees should gather data from as many credible sources as they can. To know whether a retirement community is a good fit, however, an onsite visit is essential.

Questions to Ask During Onside Visits

A visit to an independent living community merits its own checklist. Seniors should ask if they are free to take an unsupervised stroll. They should look at amenities and make sure they are operational and in good repair.

Prospective residents should try to say hello to as many staff members as they can. Are their responses friendly or gruff? Are they helpful or do they act as if they don’t want to be bothered?

It also pays to chat with residents. Questions to ask include:

• Are you satisfied with your unit?
• Which units in the community benefit from the best location?
• Are common areas well maintained?
• Are walking paths suitable for residents with disabilities?
• How well do you get along with staff members who manage the property?
• How responsive is staff to your requests for maintenance?
• Do residents feel antagonistic toward board members who make decisions about the community?
• How would you rate the quality of meals? Are you satisfied with menu choices?
• Are you satisfied with your options for transportation to supermarkets and shopping centers?
• How would you rate your wifi signal

During tours of the community, seniors should direct important questions to more than one staff member, even if they need to make repeated visits. Comparing answers can help seniors learn whether some staff members are hiding uncomfortable truths. Questions to ask staff members include:

• What kind of units are available? What are the floor plans? Does the community have a unit available that meets your needs?
• How does location within the community affect the price of units?
• How do staff members respond to medical emergencies? Do any of your staff members have medical training?
• How far away is the nearest emergency medical facility?
• What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
• What are the job titles of staff members and how many employees fill each position?
• What background checks do you conduct before hiring staff members?
• What background checks do you conduct before hiring independent contractors?
• What is the average vacancy rate? What is the current vacancy rate?
• What meal plans are available and at what price points? Can your meal plans accommodate special dietary needs?
• Is room service available?
• Does the community serve meals at fixed times or can residents visit the dining hall whenever they are hungry?
• Does the community keep up with pest control?
• Does the community association have a history of imposing unexpected special assessments to deal with developing problems, or does it set aside money each month to address foreseeable problems, including damaged roofs and broken pipes?
• What options are available for internet service and TV?
• Do you have copies of recent activities schedules I can review?
• How often have monthly dues been increased during the last five years?
• What restrictions do you place on pet ownership?

Comparing answers given by staff and residents might shed light on whether staff members are promoting the property rather than offering honest information. Comparing answers given by staff and residents in multiple retirement communities will help prospective residents decide which community is right for them.