Planning Ahead: When to Start Looking into a Senior Living Community

You’ve built a life filled with experiences and relationships, and now comes the question of when to start thinking about your next chapter. Researching senior living communities isn’t necessarily about meeting an urgent need. Instead, it can be about timing your move so you enjoy freedom, connection, and peace of mind. 

Senior living isn’t about slowing down; it’s about having the time and resources to do more of what you love with living options that put you at the center. This article explores how to recognize the best time to start looking, what factors to consider, and how to make your next chapter everything you want it to be. 

• Senior Living Communities: A Life Built Around You
• When Is the Right Time to Look for Senior Living?
• How Do I Explore and Evaluate Senior Living Communities?
• Find a Community Designed for You

Senior Living Communities: A Life Built Around You

Around 70 percent of older adults will need some form of regular care in their lifetime, and that care can take many forms, including the kind provided at a senior living community. Today’s senior living communities are welcoming, engaging places designed to help you live life your way, focusing on independence and connection while providing the support and peace of mind you need to experience everyday ease.

From abundant social opportunities to amenities and resources, chef-styled meals, and lifelong learning opportunities, you decide how much support you want, how you spend your time, and what kind of living arrangement fits your goals and preferences. 

Senior living communities can include the following options: 

• Independent living: Independent living is ideal if you enjoy independence and can manage activities of daily living (ADLs) on your own, but you want more convenience, connection, and a variety of programs and events designed to support your well-being. Although team members are on-site, they don’t provide hands-on support with daily tasks, such as bathing and eating. 
• Assisted living: Assisted living provides privacy, comfort, and team members on-site 24/7 to help with ADLs and other tasks. The support they provide is personal and empowering; it helps you do more of what you love, not less.
• Memory care: Memory care is designed for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, providing a structured, secure, and engaging environment built around their unique needs. Residents benefit from enriching routines, dedicated and trained care teams, and more. 
• Continuum of care: Some communities offer multiple options in one location, so you can stay in familiar surroundings even if your needs evolve. 

When Is the Right Time to Look for Senior Living?

The best time to start exploring senior living communities is before you need to move. Think of this as a season of discovery—an opportunity to learn, plan, and dream a little about how your daily life might improve. Starting early isn’t premature; it’s empowering. 

Avoid crisis-driven decisions.

Holly Bell, regional director of sales at Cedarhurst Senior Living, puts it clearly: “Don't wait until you are in crisis mode due to a medical event or hospitalization. You don’t want to be in a position where you are acting reactively instead of proactively.”

Part of why it’s best to avoid being reactive is because the emotions from a high-pressure situation can make it difficult to see the bigger picture.

“It's important to focus on what I call facts over feelings because feelings can sometimes forgo the best judgment,” Holly says. 

Safety, independence, quality of life, overall happiness—these are all factors that should be carefully evaluated when looking for a senior living community. Waiting until a crisis forces your hand can make decisions stressful and rushed. Taking time to explore options now gives you control and helps you make a thoughtful choice. 

As Holly notes, “Not making a decision is still a decision.” 

Consider what you want now.

The real question may not be, Do I need it? but instead, Would I enjoy it? You don’t have to wait for a major change in life to crave a simpler, more social daily experience. Many people choose senior living because it enhances the way they already love to live while offering more opportunities, more freedom, and less worry. 

“Many independent people live in senior living communities who are looking for socialization after the loss of a spouse or after moving to an unfamiliar area to be closer to their kids,” Holly explains. “Senior living can be a great way to make new friends and find fun new hobbies.”

Look for signs that senior living could improve daily life.

If you’re wondering whether now is the right time to consider senior living for yourself or your family member, keep the following signs in mind: 

• You would like less isolation and more opportunities for friendship, connection, and participation in social events. 
• You’re not done exploring, learning, and connecting, and you would like a community where you can do all of these things with ease. 
• You want reassurance that someone is nearby when you need a hand. 
• You have medical needs, such as difficulties with medication management, increased falls, memory issues, and so on. 

How Do I Explore and Evaluate Senior Living Communities?

Finding the right senior living community starts with understanding your wants and needs and gathering data from there. 

Understand your priorities and what “home” means to you.

There is no single “best” community—there’s only the one that feels like the right fit for your daily life, preferences, and goals. Before you start your search, take the time to reflect on your priorities. 

Consider the following questions and create a short list of must-haves versus nice-to-haves:

• What kind of daily support do you need or want?
• What kind of social environment feels right?
• Which amenities and programs excite you most?
• How important is proximity to family, friends, or favorite places?
• Do you prefer a smaller, more intimate community or a larger, bustling campus?

Explore online via community websites, videos, and reviews.

Once you know your priorities and what you’re looking for, start exploring online. Community websites, videos, and social media pages can provide a glimpse into daily life. Keep an eye out for authentic details, such as event calendars, dining menus, photos of real residents, and stories families share. These will tell you about a community’s real spirit and values.

Schedule a tour.

When a place or two stands out, schedule a visit to take a tour, ideally in person, but a virtual tour can also help you get a sense of the atmosphere. Just make sure not to visit too many communities at one time.

According to Holly, “One tour per day is enough. Otherwise, what happens is you start to get everything confused. Focus on the positives. Highlight the opportunities that the community has for independence, social connection, and to support safety concerns.”

Ask questions and gather data to help you compare options. 

During your visit, take time to ask thoughtful questions and observe how the environment feels. Every conversation, meal, and interaction adds to your understanding. Pay attention to how team members greet you, how residents engage with one another, and whether you can imagine yourself feeling comfortable and connected there.

Holly recommends digging deeper than a simple glance around. “Ask what a typical day looks like for a resident and what that community does in advance of a move in to ensure that the experience is personal.”

Tours aren’t the only option for visiting a community either. Many senior living providers will have prospective residents stop by for a free lunch or attend an event so they can have a hands-on experience of what life is like in the community.

However you choose to visit, don’t forget to hear the perspectives of the residents.

“It's important to talk to current residents and their families,” Holly says. “A lot of the time, resident ambassadors will accompany your tour. They wear name badges just like Cedarhurst staff, and they are more than willing to talk about their journey of moving into senior living.”

Find a Community Designed for You

Choosing senior living isn’t about what you’re leaving behind—it’s what you’re moving toward. Today’s community options are about freedom, connection, and the opportunity to live each day with ease and purpose in a place that truly feels like home. When you find the right community, you’re not just choosing a new address—you’re choosing a life built around you. 

Discover what comes next with our ultimate move-in guide, your companion for planning a confident transition into senior living. 

*Originally published February 2021. Updated November 2025.

Contributor

Holly Bell is the Regional Director of Sales at Cedarhurst Senior Living, where she helps older adults and their families discover the right community and care to support their needs and well-being.