What Personality Fits You Best? - Philadelphia Protestant Home
Independent Living Phone: 215-697-8086 Personal Care Phone: 215-697-8031 Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Phone: 215-697-8005
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What Personality Fits You Best?

Posted on: Nov 12, 2019

The Research

When you embark on a search for a Life Plan Community (formerly Continuing Care Retirement Community), you quickly discover many similarities. You compare the brochures and notice that most have a fitness program, dining program, different floor plan options and a social calendar. You are armed with your questions and ready to start visiting. Your “top ten” questions may include pricing, floor plan sizes and layouts, future care, services and amenities and the types of social opportunities available.

The Visit

Once you set foot on a community’s property you quickly discover differences. Just like people, Life Plan Communities have different personalities. Some seem formal while others have a warm, friendly feeling. One community may sit on a large piece of property with open space while another is set on a small property and feature high-rises.

As you learn more about each community and meet with the community’s sales representative, you either start to imagine yourself living there or you are quietly planning your exit!

Pay Attention

Even if you cannot imagine yourself in the physical setting, pay attention to certain nuances as you are learning more about the community. Are staff and residents smiling and greeting you as they walk by? Do you see many residents while you are on your tour? When you ask direct questions about financial stability and future care quality, are you getting a straightforward answer? (These are questions you should be asking).

Does the sales representative talk negatively about the competing communities? (This is poor practice). It is just as important to get a feeling for the staff at a community as this gives a good indication of the community culture. How is staff turnover?

Is this community a “stand-alone” or is it part of a larger corporate structure? Does this matter to you?

Post-Visit Analysis

At The Philadelphia Protestant Home (PPH), we recommend only visiting one community per day. We see many people bleary-eyed and overwhelmed, sometimes visiting two or three communities in one day! It is overwhelming and you need to allow yourself the time to visit, absorb the information and then go home to regroup, take notes and analyze what you just learned.

Follow-up

Any reputable community will follow up with you in the days that follow your visit. Once you’ve visited several communities it is a good idea to whittle down the list to your top two or three. Visit again and have a cup of coffee or a meal with a resident. These visits are invaluable. You can get a true sense of the community life as well as learn why they made the decision. One sentiment you will hear from PPH residents is: “don’t wait, move in while you can enjoy everything the community has to offer!” We couldn’t agree more.

Resources

We’ve gathered a few websites that have lists of questions to ask during your visits. We wish you good luck in your search!

https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/articles/the-top-5-questions-to-ask-retirement-community-residency-counselors

http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com/directories/National/EguideQA/pdf/seniors_e-guide_active_independent_living.pdf

What Residents Say

"In my nine years at PPH, I’ve grown to like it very much. At first, I felt like a stranger and then as I began to talk to people, we increasingly became good friends. A way to meet people is to join clubs. I’m now part of the PPH Auxiliary. I love helping with their flea markets because you never know what you can find. Recently, I’ve joined an evening quilting class. I love that I can continue to enjoy my life outside of PPH while experiencing the offers here.…especially the pool! Everything is just so convenient.

– Lucille Hite, Independent Living resident

What Families Say

"My mom is sooo happy at PPH, I can’t even describe it in strong enough words. She’s met so many new friends and these ladies do EVERYTHING together! She sees Dad every day in Pathways, but can have her life too. She’s gone to so many activities and I think I’ve already been to Scoops with her at least 15 times. She loves the dining room and Bistro too. My sister, Ilene, and I are so delighted that Mom is happy.......Wow, it feels like Mom’s been there about 2 years—but it’s only 2 months!! That’s how comfortable and natural it feels for her – and for all of us.

– Rhonda Frenkel, daughter of resident Bernice Segal

Philadelphia Protestant Home