Moving your parents to a senior independent living community is a process that starts with a conversation between you and your family. Your parents are going to have questions you may not have the answer to, and you may even have questions of your own. The transition to a new home for your parents is one that requires a great deal of careful consideration.
At Querencia, our goal is to eliminate the unknowns for you and your parents. The clearer we can make the process for you, the more comfortable you’ll be every step of the way. There are a number of important things to consider as you move through the process, and here we’ll make sure you know what to keep in mind as you find the right home for your parents.
Talk to your parents about their wants and needs
You may be starting to see the signs that your parents need more help and support, but the decision to move to an independent living community is best when made together. That means educating them on the benefits of independent living. At Querencia, there is plenty to promote, from the upscale senior living experience to the Austin area attractions. Your parents can traverse the two-mile nature trail, find a creative outlet in the arts studio or maintain a healthy and active lifestyle in the fitness and wellnesscenter.
But you must also listen as much as you talk. Your parents have a routine to which they’ve become accustomed over the years, and they have wants and needs that will have to be fulfilled by their new community. It’s also important to address any fears they may have about moving to independent living. Maybe they are concerned about the financial aspect, or they are concerned about losing their independence. Talk through those concerns and provide comfort and reassurance.
Get both of you parents the levels of care they need
Both of your parents may be ready to make the move to a senior living community, but each of them may require a different level of care. The good news is that you don’t have to go shopping for separate solutions. Querencia can offer both of them the care that they need.
With couples, if one spouse requires a higher level of care than the other, they have the option to share an independent living apartment and have personal care services brought in for the spouse in need. This option would allow your parents to continue sharing the same living space while both receiving the appropriate level of care.
The alternative would be to have the parent in need of additional care move into the health center for specialized treatment, while the other parent lives in their independent living home. While this would mean living apart, both would be close together in the same community and your independent living parent would be able to visit their spouse whenever they choose.
Avoid surprises when it comes to cost and fees
Sooner or later, every conversation about independent living comes around to the cost. It is unavoidable, and it can create a lot of stress for many families. At Querencia, we recognize the need to be transparent about our cost and fees and believe that doing so will allow you to focus on what matters most. Our goal is to be surprise-free when it comes to the financial aspect.
One of the most common questions we get is the difference between a Life Care community and a rental community, specifically in regards to the cost. But it’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison. In a Life Care community, otherwise known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), residents are charged a one-time entrance fee that covers a full continuum of care should they need to move to assisted living, rehab or memory care in the future. There is no entrance fee in rental communities and additional care will cost the market rate.
The monthly fee charged for independent living will cover the cost of the services and amenities available to residents. The exact amount will depend on the size of your parents’ residence, the number of occupants, and the specific services and amenities offered. At Querencia, services include lifetime maintenance, 24/7 concierge service, transportation and more.
Moving to independent living means downsizing
It should come as no surprise that the actual move itself can be the most challenging part of moving to independent living. The process of sorting, organizing and packing belongings can be especially difficult if your parents are moving from a home they have shared together for many years. Downsizing from a family home to a one- or two-bedroom apartment can force them to make some tough decisions regarding what will not be making the trip to Querencia.
The good news is that there are resources available to help make for a smoother move — starting with our on-site move-in coordinator. It is the move-in coordinator’s primary goal to assist in any way possible to make the move as pleasant and seamless as possible for your parents. We can also connect you with a third party service that specializes in providing moving assistance to older adults and their families. They respect and understand that moving to a senior living community can be an emotional experience for you and your parents and have the experience and expertise to help guide you through the process. Before you know it, everything your parents need will be boxed up and on its way to the community they’ll soon call home.
Adapting to independent living is a process
It is important to set realistic expectations for how quickly your parents will settle into their new home at Querencia. We’d love to be able to tell you that every resident feels right at home the moment they step foot on our campus, but for many older adults it is a process that takes time. It is completely normal for your parents to need an adjustment period. The transition can be especially hard when leaving behind a home where a lot of memories were made and shared.
Fortunately, our team understands that everyone adjusts at their own pace. They are here to provide kindness and compassion as your parents get comfortable, allowing them the space they need to settle into their new community. We also trust that, with time, your parents will come to find that they are in good company with their neighbors. Our residents are among the most interesting people they’ll ever meet, and they are what makes our community so special.
If Querencia sounds like the place for your parents to call home, let’s talk. Fill out the form below or give us a call at 1-855-433-8157.
