Spring Meadows - Trumbull, Connecticut - Senior Living Community

Choosing a senior living community, whether for independent living or assisted living, requires thorough investigation. Location, convenience to friends and family, services offered, and proximity to shopping, doctors, highways, are important parts of your search. Next, it is important to assess your current needs, and understand how a community can accommodate changing needs over time. Investigate the options available in your area. Information is available through a variety of sources including the internet, local town social services, Area Agency on Aging, the yellow pages, and word of mouth referrals from friends and family.

Every community is unique, so it is important to do your homework. While brochures and checklists are good, personal tours of different communities will give you a lot more information. Your personal level of comfort with a provider is the most important criteria in determining what community is right for you. Consider how you feel as you walk around: Were you greeted promptly at the front desk and offered assistance? How does the environment make you feel? Is the building and grounds clean and attractive? Is the staff friendly and helpful? Does staff know residents by name? Observe resident and staff interactions. What do residents say? Do they seem happy? Is there a varied range of activities? Are there activities outside the community? Do you observe residents socializing with each other and attending activities? And of course, how's the food?

For those families or friends seeking a community on behalf of someone who cannot personally visit, it is important to include them in the search process as much as possible. Respect their needs and wishes as much as possible. This will lead to better acceptance in making the transition, and ultimately result in greater satisfaction.

Other factors to consider:

Services offered (activities, housekeeping, maintenance, transportation, salon)
Licensure requirements
Community ownership/management
Available medical and health services
Contractual agreements
Rental vs. Purchase
Memory impairment/dementia programs
Resident/family participation in care planning
Costs (entry fees, bundled services and a-la-carte charges)
Physical layout of building, elevators
Common area décor & amenities (library, lounges, card rooms, fitness center, exterior)
Handicap accessibility (doorways, corridor widths, grab bars,)
Range of apartment styles and sizes (finishes, climate control, appliances, storage)
Telephone and cable television
Residency criteria (admission/discharge; pre-lease assessment)
Fire alarm and sprinkler systems
Emergency call system
Staffing levels and availability (24-hour staffing, experience, length of employment)

We wish you good luck in your search. Our staff is available to assist you and to serve as a resource. Please do not hesitate to call upon us at 203-261-0006.