Finding The Right Retirement Community for You

Finding the perfect senior living option takes time and patience. As you explore your possibilities, you will quickly learn that not every community is the right fit for you. Some may be too big. Others, too small. One may be ideally located. Another, not so much.

So, how will you know when you've found "the one"?

Many people are looking forward to forming a network of friends among their new neighbors. Others are thrilled by the prospect of customizing their ideal home in a community with amenities and services that will enhance their lives, now and in the future.

Then, some want to live in a community where they can pursue their passions--pickleball, theater, golf, or volunteering--free from the responsibilities of home maintenance and repairs.

While everyone's goals for retirement differ, there will be clear signs that you've found the right community for you.

Word of mouth
When June Fuhrman started exploring her senior living options, she knew what she was looking for. "I wanted to move to an open and warm community--that was important to me," she says.

After a neighbor moved to Devonshire, the Erickson Senior Living community at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and absolutely loved it, June felt inspired to follow her lead. So, she made the move too.

"Word of mouth is powerful," says Marty Bores, Devonshire's resident life director. "People trust advice from friends. When people are happy with their choices, they naturally want to share them with their friends--and we see that happening here every day."

"And my friend had already made inroads for me," says June, "inviting me to play card games and introducing me to people. That was wonderful."

Building relationships
When Californians Barbara and her late husband Mark Verbonich moved to Highland Springs, an Erickson Senior Living community in North Dallas, Tex., to be closer to their middle daughter and her family in Coppell, Tex., they didn't know a soul.

But given the community's welcoming nature, that quickly changed for the better.

"We learned that there are such friendly people here, many of whom we have things in common with," says Barbara.

"And while we were building relationships, we were doing things together--taking advantage of all that Highland Springs has to offer."

Carefree living
When Peggy Mayer announced that she was ready to embrace a carefree lifestyle and move to Ashby Ponds, an Erickson Senior Living community in Ashburn, Va., her daughters Katherine and Laurie were thrilled.

Maintaining the large house she'd been living in had become difficult for her. "Although she lived in a lovely community, all of her neighbors worked, so there wasn't anyone nearby to help," says Laurie.

While the community's maintenance-free residences were a huge draw, the new friends she made had an even greater impact.

"After living at Ashby Ponds for only six months, our mother turned to us and said, 'I have made the best friends I've had in my entire life,'" recalls Laurie.  

"Mom lived to be almost 101; I credit those friends for a good bit of that," says Kathie. "Living at Ashby Ponds allowed her to live a healthy and engaged life, even in her older years."  

A 'win-win'
Linda Schweighardt was a member of the communications team at Cedar Crest, an Erickson Senior Living community in Pompton Plains, for nine years before she and her husband, John, decided to make it their home.

They selected a spacious two-bedroom, two-bath corner residence and then worked with Cedar Crest's custom interiors coordinator to personalize the space to suit their needs.

With the perfect floor plan design, an array of amenities and activities, and access to the greater northern New Jersey area with family nearby, the Schweighardts say, "Cedar Crest is a win-win for us!"

Every resident of a senior living community has a unique story about the moment they discovered it was the right place for them. What will your story be?

Find an Erickson Senior Living community near you to see if it's the perfect match!