4 Expert Tips for Navigating Senior Living

To support families beginning their senior living journey, Sunrise Senior Living recently brought together a panel of experts to answer their most frequently asked questions during an expert webinar. Our experts guide you through everything you need to know, from understanding senior care options and evaluating local communities to navigating financial and legal considerations. Here, you’ll find answers to your most pressing questions, along with helpful resources to support you every step of the way.

Addressing the Need for Senior Care

While many people use the term ‘nursing home’ when talking about senior living, it’s important to know that it’s a commonly used umbrella term for a variety of senior care options that cater to seniors’ varying needs as they age. In fact, assisted living is different than a nursing home. Seniors in nursing homes often require a higher level of medical care, whereas assisted living residents, like those living in Sunrise communities, receive support tailored to their needs and abilities.

It’s crucial for families to learn what senior living options are available to figure out which option is right for their loved one. If you’re unsure about which level of care to go with, a National Senior Resource Counselor (NSRC) at Sunrise Senior Living can help. NSRCs are trusted experts in senior living, guiding families through every step of their search. We asked Shalene Lewis, one of our experienced NSRCs, to walk us through how she helps families distinguish between care options to find the right fit.

Independent Living

“Independent living is designed for active lifestyles,” says Lewis. “It’s typically where you’ll be able to manage your own daily living needs with no assistance.

This level of senior living promotes socialization and encourages seniors to pursue their hobbies while diminishing daily worries of cooking and cleaning—unless it’s something they wish to do.

The key features of independent living include:

• Social opportunities
• Dining services
• Organized activities and clubs
• Home maintenance
• Light housekeeping
• 24/7 emergency services

Assisted Living

Assisted living, typically the next step after independent living, is for seniors who need care for specific health conditions or support with activities of daily living (ADLs). This includes help with daily self-care tasks like the following:

• Bathing
• Dressing and grooming
• Medication management
• Toileting and/or continence care
• Transfer assistance

“Some folks move into assisted living for things like the three nutritious meals every day and basic oversight. Then we have the option to do what we call aging in place, where we provide more care as needed to your current apartment,” said Lewis.

Assisted living services vary between residents and depend on each person’s individual needs. At Sunrise, care needs are outlined in an individualized service plan. To help ensure that changing needs are met, communities reassess needs and adjust care plans accordingly.

Memory Care

For those with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other forms of memory loss, many senior living communities provide memory care—a specialized type of care provided by dementia-trained caregivers in an environment that promotes safety.

Memory care offers the same services as assisted living, but they’re more specialized to accommodate individuals with memory loss. This care option also prioritizes safety, security, and specialized programming that helps residents stay engaged despite the changes that come with dementia.

Memory care offers round-the-clock supervision and caregivers who use specialized communication techniques to prioritize resident needs. Lewis says memory care is best for seniors who need a lot of cuing for daily tasks and a safe environment.

Continuum of Care Communities

Some senior living communities offer care that progresses with a senior’s needs, enabling them to age in place gracefully. These communities are called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), also known as Life Plan Communities.

“These can offer a range of care depending on the campus, allowing residents to transition from independent [living] to assisted [living] to skilled nursing as their needs change,” said Lewis.

Skilled Nursing

The highest level of care available for seniors is skilled nursing, which offers comprehensive medical and rehabilitative care in a supportive environment. It’s ideal for seniors who’ve recently faced an injury, surgery, or hospitalization.

“I think the biggest insight is that skilled nursing provides 24/7 medical supervision,” Lewis stressed.

She notes that assisted living communities do have registered nurses (RNs) and visiting physicians, but it’s not the same as the on-site medical supervision you’ll find in skilled nursing. Lewis explains that skilled nursing is typically covered by insurance because a senior’s care needs must be established by a clinical provider.

Figuring Out Which Option is Right for Your Loved One

When speaking with families, Lewis asks several questions to get a sense of what a senior needs and what they can do independently. “It’s good to evaluate your loved one’s ability to perform their activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, or cooking meals,” she said.

She also reviews cognitive function to determine if a senior may need memory care services. Lewis advises families to think about medical needs as well. “Your doctor is a great resource to do an evaluation on yourself or your loved one,” she said.

Lastly, Lewis suggests taking Sunrise’s care questionnaire, which can help you determine what care level may be appropriate.

Considering Financial and Legal Factors

Families often ask questions about affordability and cost early in their search. To help seniors navigate finances, we asked Joe DiAmbrosio, a Senior Resource Counselor with 25 years in the senior living space, to join our panel to offer advice. As a part of his role at Sunrise, he helps families understand what factors can affect the cost of senior living, and which documents they may need to have ready.

Understanding Senior Living Costs

DiAmbrosio encourages families to be aware of the cost of living in their loved one’s area. Communities in an area with a high cost of living are more expensive than those in areas with a lower cost of living. As a point of reference, the median cost of assisted living is $5,900 per month in the U.S., according to the 2024 cost of care survey conducted by Genworth.

Location aside, DiAmbrosia identifies three components that affect cost: Room rate, level of care, and medication management.

The standard room rate covers essential services, including:

• Meals
• Daily activities and programming
• Light housekeeping
• Laundry
• Emergency call systems

Determining a resident’s level of care will help you figure out which care level to go with and what services are required. Typically, more care equates to a higher cost.

A senior’s level of care is determined based on an assessment performed by a registered nurse (RN). “After the assessment, the wellness director will sit down with you to explain the results and how they impact care needs and costs,” explains DiAmbrosio.

Medication management costs are also unique for each senior. “This charge is based on the complexity and frequency of medication administration,” said DiAmbrosio.

There’s also often a one-time move-in fee, equal to one month’s rent.

Gathering Legal Documents

Many families want to know what legal documents they may need as their loved one’s care needs change. DiAmbrosio strongly recommends working with an elder law attorney, especially since legal requirements vary by state.

DiAmbrosio suggests speaking to your loved one about:

• Establishing a power of attorney (POA) for medical and financial needs
• A living will or advance directive for life-sustaining care decisions
• A last will and testament or trust to manage assets

Researching and Evaluating Your Senior Living Options

Once you understand the care your loved one needs and what factors determine cost, you’ll be able to start researching options. For most seniors and their families, tours are the best way to evaluate whether a community will be a good fit.

Ashley Ray, a Senior Resource Counselor with 17 years of experience, believes it’s important to tour several communities to make a confident decision. The care and services will be similar in each Sunrise community, but each community’s spirit is still unique.

“The team [and resident population] feels a little bit different at each location, and only you are going to know what feels like the best fit for your loved one at the end of the day,” said Ray.

DiAmbrosio, who also has previous experience as a community executive director, says it’s important to look for smiles among the residents and see how engaged they are in community life. Ray suggests touring with your senior loved one at strategic times to see residents in action.

“Visit at a time when you know a meal is about to happen. Or join us for a social event or an activity,” said Ray. “Once they get in that environment with peers, they really start to thrive and see potential, especially for a senior who’s been at home alone.”

Preparing to Transition and Providing Support

Finding the right senior community can take time. It’s important to be supportive and understanding of your loved one’s feelings throughout the process—from the initial conversation to planning the move to getting settled into their new home.

Starting the Conversation

Ray encourages families to do some preparation before bringing up the topic of care to their senior loved one. Educating yourself about the types of care can help you speak from a place of confidence.

It’s also important to be empathetic. “Sometimes if feels like a loss of independence, so we have to be very mindful of that,” explains Ray.

Ray also encourages families to be careful with their wording—an assisted living community sounds much more welcoming than a nursing home, which can be a triggering term for some seniors.

If your loved one is hesitant to commit, DiAmbrosio recommends suggesting a trial period to start, that way they can experience the community’s offerings. Many Sunrise communities offer a 30-day respite or short-term stay, which gives seniors time to feel out the community.

“Your parents aren’t going to be the first or last people that don’t want to move out of their home,” said DiAmbrosio. “We try to make Sunrise the best second choice. We get to know [them] as best as we can.”

Helping Seniors Adjust After the Move

During a senior’s assessment, community team members ask about their hobbies and interests to help them feel welcome and at home. This makes it easier to introduce new residents to others in the community with similar interests. Oftentimes, activities directors at the community help new residents find activities that match their interests or add them to the activity calendar.

As a family member or loved one of a senior moving into a community, it’s important to help them through their adjustment period by checking in often. Whether that’s visiting in person or through a phone call, Sunrise encourages families to stay engaged and in touch. We offer a family engagement app, which lets families see how their loved one is enjoying their days. We also encourage visitors to drop by and even join in on community activities with their loved ones.

Taking Advantage of Additional Resources and Support

Choosing a senior community is deeply personal and it’s normal to have questions. Sunrise offers several resources that can help you throughout this decision-making process.

Our advice and planning page is a good starting point for anyone who wants more information on care types, financial options, and ways to feel at home in a new community. You’ll also find on-demand webinars on topics ranging from ways to pay for senior care to how seniors can share their legacy.