There are more things to consider in senior living options than just price. One of the most important aspects is an extended living model that keeps you healthy and active for longer while retaining your independence. Many senior living communities do not consider important values of freedom and choice while optimizing lifespan for their residents.
At Resort Lifestyle Communities, we consider that a distinct advantage. An RLC community is built with the residents in mind, from the bottom up: Services are tailored to customizable choice and flexibility, living arrangements are based on need and convenience, and schedules revolve around residents who are able and willing to choose their own daily routines and activities that enrich their lives.
Take, for example, our Freedom Dining program. This program is designed to accommodate varied senior eating habits and palates. On-site teams and chefs prepare the meals and set the menus while prioritizing health and diversity of taste. Meals are scheduled but other dining options are available, including meals brought to rooms and snacks and a la carte offerings that work within set or adjustable schedules. This has the proven advantage of enhancing decision-making without overwhelming.
Many competitors and others in the senior living spaces do not offer such flexibility but instead focus on a cafeteria model that provides food but eliminates the options that make everyday life more interesting. Residents should never feel like they’re being shuttled into a schedule that works for the community’s bottom line instead of their needs. Similarly, many others do not offer nutritionally rounded meals for their residents.
For continuum of care, RLC communities always allow third-party services on-site. Contrast this with the assisted living model, which is built with in-house services that provide extended but non-flexible choices for residents. We believe residents should be allowed to set their own quality of aging standards and choose the services that best fit their lifestyles and needs. Many residents have built relationships with caregivers, and we consider that a critical consideration in service design.
This model is called aging in place, and it’s become a popular alternative for seniors who wish to stay in their homes while receiving enhanced care. According to research, many older adults do not like being bogged down with an overflow of information. They prefer quicker solutions and clear examples that address their health and wellbeing issues from across the continuum.
For seniors who choose to stay in their homes, there are many factors to consider:
· Are there open floors with wider doorways?
· Can you reach each room in your house without obstruction?
· Do you have handlebars in your shower or bathroom that can provide stability?
· Are bedrooms adequate for safe sleeping?
· Is maintenance of the home possible to enhance these features?
At RLC communities, we design spaces and communities for easier access and simpler maintenance. Services are taken care of (garbage, electricity, internet, meals, plumbing, etc.) to ensure you can enjoy your life while reducing the risks of injuries. When you move into an RLC community, you’re moving into a new home that is built for you, downsized for protection and freedom, and optimized for flexible services on-site with clear solutions and communication.
Similarly, the socialization process is vital for aging seniors. Resort Lifestyle Communities are built with socialization and connection in mind. Rather than locked-off rooms with static visitors and options, we design open spaces, consistent scheduled activities, and meals that accommodate friends and family. Many other communities create static order that makes it easier for their staff or their bottom line without taking into consideration the science of senior health and socialization.
Put all of this together and we believe it delivers a unified, consistent approach to senior living that puts choice and freedom first. From the design of living spaces to the tailored events that punctuate the days, from the aging in place care options to the socialization that greets every resident, an RLC community is a retirement opportunity without equal. The best choice is a choice you make for yourself, where you retire how you desire all year long.
