How to Find an Independent Living Community

Last Updated: July 22, 2019

A good independent community will provide all the activities you need to continue living a full, healthy lifestyle for many years to come.

Here’s how to find the right retirement community for you:

Step 1: Consider what you want out of an independent living community.

In an ideal scenario, what kind of activities would your days include? Are you more inclined toward long walks on nature trails, or days of shopping in a vibrant city center? Is there a new hobby you’ve been thinking about taking up, or an old one you want to be sure to continue?

If you know what you want out of an active senior living environment, you’ll have an easier time honing in on the one most likely to offer what you need. Sit down and think about all that you want out of life and take some notes you can keep handy during your independent living search.

Step 2: Do a search for retirement communities in your area.

Now see what’s nearby (or in the area you’d like to move to). Senior Advisor will let you search for independent living communities and quickly see a snapshot of what each has to offer.

You can gain some quick insights into what each option costs, what activities and amenities they offer, as well as what other residents have to say about their experience there. This should help you pinpoint which retirement communities are likely to be the best fit for you.

Step 3: See the top contenders.

Before you make any final decision, you need to see these places in person. Re-visit your notes from Step 1 and print out a copy of our independent living checklist and head out to see the retirement living communities you’ve narrowed your search down to with your own eyes. The independent living community you choose will play a huge role in what your life looks like in the coming years, you want to be sure you make the right choice!

Spend some time on the grounds: explore, have a meal, sit in on an activity you’re interested in. Does what you see come close to the active senior lifestyle you envisioned?

Step 4: Then make your choice and dive into independent living.

The preceding steps should put you in a pretty good position to make an informed decision. A wide range of new daily activities, experiences and friends awaits you.

Once you’ve got a good feel for the independent living community you choose, stop back over at SeniorAdvisor.com to give it a review. You can make the process that much easier for the next person.

SeniorAdvisor.com offers ratings and reviews on senior care providers nationwide. We can help you find what you’re looking for.

Kristen Hicks

Kristen Hicks is an Austin-based copywriter and lifelong student with an ongoing curiousity to learn and explore new things. She turns that interest to researching and exploring subjects helpful to seniors and their families for SeniorAdvisor.com.