[Updated: January 2, 2023 | Published: December 22, 2022]
Looking for the perfect senior living community in Columbus, Ohio? You’ll find some wonderful options in Ohio’s capital city – including Friendship Village of Dublin!
But with dozens of options in central Ohio, finding the best senior living options for yourself or a loved one can be an overwhelming process.
It’s Like House Hunting, But Better
In a lot of ways, finding a Columbus senior living community is like shopping for a house – but one that can come with a lot of extra benefits, plus long-term health care if you ever need it.
Just as in residential neighborhoods, the costs and benefits of Columbus-area senior living facilities and communities vary widely.
With so many options available, it’s hard to know where to start. But don’t worry – we’re here to help! Our expert residency counselors can make the process much easier. Just call 614.426.0334 with your questions.
Below, we offer a step-by-step outline to help you find the perfect senior living community in Columbus, Ohio. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Put Together a Wish List
The first step in finding the perfect Columbus senior living community is to decide what you are looking for.
Begin by making a list of your priorities and needs. This will help you narrow down your options and find a community that’s the right fit for you.
When making your list, consider factors such as lifestyle, location, amenities and services.
For example, if you’re an active senior, look for a community with social activities, fitness classes, pools, fitness centers and other recreational facilities.
If you’re the creative type, look for a community with Arts & Crafts rooms or an on-site Woodworking Workshop. Our community has both.
If you have a green thumb, you might prefer a community with extensive landscaping and resident gardens where you can grow flowers and food.
Love to read? You’ll want an on-site library like the one at Friendship Village of Dublin.
If you need access to medical care or transportation, make sure the community you choose offers these services. For reference, Friendship Village of Dublin is the only retirement community in Central Ohio with a full-time private medical practice on-site operated by Central Ohio Primary Care.
Here are some other questions you might ask in developing your list:
- Do you want a small, intimate community, or a larger one with lots of activities, companions and amenities?
- Would you prefer a community that caters to couples or solo agers – or both?
- What is your preferred location – in the City of Columbus, a particular suburb like Dublin, or a more rural area outside highly populated Franklin County?
- What kind of care will you need? If you’re active and independent, you may not want much more than occasional help with things like transportation or housekeeping. However, if you have existing health concerns, choose a community that will help you thrive within your health constraints.
- Are you looking for a community that provides only independent living, or do you want access to levels of care such as assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care without having to move?
- What kind of floor plan do you want? Columbus senior living communities offer everything from cozy one-bedroom apartments to large, detached villas and patio homes. At Friendship Village of Dublin, for example, we offer over 30 different independent living floor plans.
- Are you prepared to pay separately for long-term care expenses in the future, or do you want a community that guarantees access to assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care at a predictable cost if you ever need it.
- Would you be more comfortable in a locally managed nonprofit, or one managed by a for-profit organization that owns communities across the country?
2. Consider Your Budget and Type of Contract
Columbus-area independent living and assisted living communities range widely in price, depending on their location and the structure, programs, services and amenities they offer.
Search for a community that you can realistically fit into your budget now and in the future.
When comparing prices, consider how you plan to handle the cost of long-term care, if you ever need it. Keep in mind that about 70 percent of people age 65 and older will need some type of long-term care during their lifetime.
Once you add up all your existing expenses in your current home, you may find that the monthly fee at a LifeCare community like Friendship Village of Dublin is the same or even less than you’re spending now.
Major Types of Senior Living Contracts
When comparing senior living options, it’s important to understand different types of contracts and their associated costs to determine which option is the best fit for your needs and budget.
Senior living communities in the Columbus area may include all, some, or no long-term care services in their fees.
As shown in the chart below, the four most common contracts used by Columbus senior living communities include:
- Type A: LifeCare
- Type B: Modified
- Type C: Fee-for-Service
- Type D: Rental Agreements
Type A LifeCare contracts, sometimes known as continuing care contracts, provide a range of services, including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care.
With a LifeCare contract, you pay an entrance fee and monthly fee. The contract guarantees access to the community’s long-term care services for an unlimited time if you need them in the future.
With a Modified contract, you pay an upfront fee and a monthly fee that includes a specified number of days in assisted living or nursing care. If you use the covered days, you’ll receive future care at a discounted rate.
In communities with Fee-for-service contracts, you will usually pay an entry fee and a monthly fee, but the fee does not cover assisted living, memory care or nursing care. This type of contract may be more affordable at first, but it may be more expensive in the long run if you need long-term care.
With a Rental Agreement, you’ll pay a monthly fee to rent your unit and have access to the community’s amenities and services. This type of contract rarely includes long-term care services, so you may need to pay extra for these services if you need them. Ask what the monthly fee includes.
Within the next year, Friendship Village of Dublin will begin leasing The Bailey at Bridge Park, a luxury senior rental housing community set to open in 2024. Residents of the Bailey will be able to sign up for our innovative Friendship At Home program, which offers LifeCare at home for older adults in central Ohio.
3. Research Senior Living Communities
Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to do your research!
Start by asking friends and family if they have any recommendations. If you have friends who live in a Columbus community, you might even want to consider becoming neighbors!
Next, talk to your doctors to see if they have recommendations. This is especially important if you have health conditions that will require ongoing care.
Then, take to the Internet. Explore websites of Columbus-area senior living communities and look at online reviews. This will give you a good sense of what each community offers and what others are saying about the different communities.
Ask to see any certifications, ratings and awards the community has received.
Remember that finding the perfect fit for you or your loved one will come after careful consideration, so take time to conduct a thorough review!
4. Tour Senior Living Communities
After you’ve done your research, it’s time to tour some communities in person.
This is the best way to get a feel for what a community is really like and whether it would be a good fit for you.
Ask questions about staffing, living spaces, activities, amenities, health care, nutrition and whatever else is important to you.
If you’re touring an independent living community, ask what will happen if you need a higher level of care. At a LifeCare community like Friendship Village of Dublin, you’ll want to see the higher living centers like our Waterford Place Assisted Living and Alderwood Health and Rehab.
If possible, ask to meet with some residents to see how they like living at the community – and whether you might want them for new neighbors! You’ll probably want to eat a meal or two at the various eateries at your top choices to make sure you like the food.
Make Your Decision
Once you’ve toured several communities and gathered all the information you need, it’s time to make your decision!
Choose the community that meets all of your needs and feels like home. That will be the perfect senior living community for you in Columbus.
Considering a Move to Senior Living in 2023? Call us today!
The sooner you make your move, the sooner you can start enjoying all the amenities and benefits that Friendship Village of Dublin has to offer.
And, because only a few of our 30 different independent living floor plans are available at any time, you might need to join a waiting list until your preferred floor plan is ready for you to move.
If you’re interested in joining our premier LifeCare community in 2023, we invite you to schedule a visit soon using the form below. Or, call 614.426.0334 to speak with one of our residency counselors.
