Creating a Checklist of Your ideal Senior Living Community Amenities

Choosing the best senior living community for you is a major decision. One key element of that decision is carefully considering which amenities are most important to enhance your lifestyle. Acts Retirement-Life Communities has spent decades studying how amenities contribute to an enriching, fulfilling, and convenient retirement, and we provide for you here a checklist to help you prioritize what matters most.

Retirement Community Amenities 

• Apartment/Villa Options: Do you prefer a cozy apartment or a more spacious villa-style home? Consider floor plans, natural light, and if you'd like outdoor space like a patio or balcony. Also consider how much space you really need — do you need a two-story villa or even two-bedroom apartment, or are you better off saving those extra expenses for traveling or spoiling your grandkids?
• Maintenance and Housekeeping: Freeing yourself from common household chores offers a major lifestyle shift. If you want to spend your days in leisure, choose a senior living community with amenities that handles home maintenance like lawn care and snow removal, plus saves expenses like replacing water heaters. You can still enjoy your green thumb with the community garden, and many communities even handle additional chores like housekeeping.
• In-Unit Laundry: Evaluate the options: in-unit washer & dryers, community laundry facilities, or laundry services. Consider what aligns with your preferences and budget.
• Accessibility Features: Look for communities that prioritize accessibility in their design and unit features. This might include grab bars in bathrooms, wider doorways for wheelchairs or walkers, and elevators if you choose a multi-story building. You may feel spry now, but will you always want to climb stairs to get to bed?

Dining and Food Services

• On-Site Dining: Explore the variety of options. Do you want a formal dining room, a casual bistro-style restaurant, or both?
• Meal Plans: Determine the flexibility that suits you. Some communities offer meal plans included in your monthly fees, while others operate on a pay-per-meal basis.
• Specialized Dietary Accommodations: If you have food allergies or dietary requirements, make sure the independent senior living community has dining amenities that can cater to your specific needs.

Wellness and Fitness

• Fitness Centers and Equipment: Evaluate whether the community offers a well-equipped fitness center with cardio machines, strength training equipment, and areas for stretching and group classes.
• Fitness Classes: Look for a diverse class schedule that matches your interests – yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, chair-based exercise, and more.
• Walking Paths and Outdoor Amenities: Investigate whether the community offers manicured grounds with walking paths, gardens, or other outdoor spaces for exercise and relaxation.
• Swimming Pool: Is swimming your preferred exercise? Consider communities with an indoor or outdoor pool, or both.

Social and Enrichment Opportunities

• Clubs and Groups: What type of activities do you enjoy? Look for retirement communities with clubs and amenities aligned with your passions – book clubs, discussion groups, art rooms or woodworking shops, hobbies and classes, etc.
• Game Rooms and Social Spaces: Do you like socializing over board games or cards? Evaluate the availability of dedicated game rooms or common areas for casual gatherings.
• Performance and Event Spaces: Communities with auditoriums or multi-purpose rooms often host events like concerts, lectures, and educational programs. Some even let you use ballrooms or other areas for parties and activities. Prioritize this if it aligns with your interests.
• Spiritual Services: If faith is a major part of your life, ask about the community's spiritual offerings – on-site chapels or temples, worship services, chaplaincy programs, and the like.

Transportation and Convenience

• Scheduled Transportation: Do you still drive but would appreciate backup options? Communities may offer scheduled shuttles for grocery trips, medical appointments, or fun group outings.
• Accessible Parking: If you do drive, ensure the community has accessible parking options for residents, including covered or reserved spots if desired.
• Proximity to Local Amenities: Consider the distance to nearby stores, pharmacies, restaurants, medical centers, and cultural attractions. Is walkability a priority, or would you prefer convenient access to transportation services? How about driving or train proximity to other cities you like to visit?

Additional Considerations (Try a CCRC)

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) take amenities a step further by also providing health services on campus. If this seems appealing from the standpoint of investing in your future needs, here are specific CCRC considerations:

• On-Site Healthcare Services: What levels of care are provided right on campus? Assisted living? Memory care? Skilled nursing?
• Transitions Between Care Levels: Ask about the process if your care needs change. You should be able to transition to and from any health need at any time.
• Fee Structure: Do you pay more upfront but then any additional health services are already included in your existing monthly fee, or does it cost less to move-in but health services are charged out of pocket based on market rate?

Your Ideal Checklist is Unique

There's no single right answer for which amenities are "essential." This checklist exists to spark your thinking and help you prioritize what brings you joy and convenience. Some independent senior living communities may offer amenities beyond what's listed above – don't be shy about asking for a comprehensive list that resonates with you.

Contact Acts to Learn More

As longtime leaders in this space, Acts is committed to helping seniors live their best lives possible. Find more retirement resources, or explore any of our 27 incredible CCRCs.