Choosing a Retirement Home

When choosing a Retirement Home: Search! Make sure you'll be comfortable in the aged care home you choose and which facility can best serve you -- that is after understanding your needs. Your specific needs speak of the factors to consider when choosing an aged care home. It's all about making the right personal choice.

A good start is to ask for resident family references you can contact for opinions. Seek out friends and relatives, for their recommendations, or new developments they may have noticed being built. Try calling estate agents, especially in areas with large retired populations. The local press is also `in the know' especially for new developments. You may check whether the development is run by a company with a track record in retirement housing. Or consider hiring a consultant to help you find a suitable retirement residence.

Visit. The best way to assess if an aged care home is right for you is to visit the home in person, where you can assess the facilities and talk to the staff to determine if the level of care is suitable for your needs. Talk to the residents about their perceptions of the place. Don't limit your tour to suite and common areas; ask to see the other sections and facilities of the residence. Be wary of routines, people and environment.

Plan to stay or return another day for a complimentary lunch or dinner. A trial visit may include an overnight stay; you may want to try that.

Compare. Pay particular attention on their notes about services available, building amenities and suite amenities. It can be a long list but it will help you when comparing different retirement homes. Ask for copies of any paperwork required for admission, including admission policies along with samples of menus, activity calendars and newsletters.