Choosing your new home for life after 60 isn’t easy. With all the details to consider, doing it alone can feel overwhelming. That’s why we provide an advisor (or as we like to call it, a counselor) to walk you through the process. Here’s what to expect when meeting with your senior living advisor or counselor.
What is a Senior Living Advisor?
A senior living advisor is someone that helps guide you through the process of finding a retirement community. At Woodcrest Villa, our advisors are called Senior Living Counselors (SLCs). They walk you through the process of finding your fit here. If you have questions or concerns, they’re your go-to resource.
They will help personalize this move-in experience from the very beginning. You’ll meet one-on-one with your Senior Living Counselor early on in the process so we can get to know you… and you can get to know Woodcrest Villa!
This meeting is your opportunity to not only learn about our community and see if it’s the right fit, but also a time for the SLC to understand your needs.
What to Expect When Meeting With a Senior Living Advisor
If you’re nervous before heading into the meeting with your counselor, don’t be! Senior living advisor meeting preparation is pretty simple, especially with this guide to help you.
Before the Meeting
Here’s our best senior living advisor meeting tips to help you prepare. We recommend writing down a list of questions you want to ask. Don’t hold back! Our counselors are here to make you feel comfortable so you can get all the information you need to make a decision about your future. Here are a few questions to be sure to include on your list:
- What are the living options?
- What campus amenities are offered?
- What sort of activities and social events are there?
- What is the mission and values of this community?
- What is the history of this community?
- What is the cost of living here?
- Are there refund options?
- What levels of care are available? Who has priority to those next levels?
- Is transportation provided for off-campus outings?
- What do residents say about living here?
- What is included in the monthly fees?
- What is the pet policy?
- Is the community in a single site, or are there multiple sites?
- Who is the managing company?
- When I pay the entrance fee, do I own that home or apartment?
- What does the application process look like?
This list may seem like a lot, but don’t be overwhelmed. Most of these topics will naturally come up during your conversation, but be sure to call out any that matter most to you.
Along with these senior living advisor meeting questions, also remember to come prepared with the necessary information and goals. This will help the meeting be as productive as possible.
Ideally, you will head into your tour with an idea of what you are looking for in a new home. Not just the housing style, but consider the type of life you want after making the move. You should also think about what you want to get out of community living.
Our last senior living advisor meeting preparation tip is to relax and enjoy your time. We know that touring independent living communities is a whole new ballgame compared to traditional real estate. That’s because you are not simply moving into a new house, but you are buying into a lifestyle and community that may be different from what you’re used to.
Don’t stress! If this is totally new to you, your Senior Living Counselor will help make things easy.
During the Meeting
Now that you’re fully prepared, it’s time for the meeting itself. Here’s what to expect when meeting with a senior living advisor or counselor.
This meeting is typically in-person and held in the marketing office conference room on campus. However, if you’re not available for an in-person visit, we can do it over Zoom. But we highly recommend you stop by in-person so you can get an accurate feel for the atmosphere of the community.
What does it look like? What are the residents like? Are there activities going on? These are observations you’ll be able to make when you visit to help you make your final decision.
During this meeting, your SLC will take some time to get to know you and your priorities. This will help them guide you through the process and be a better advisor to you.
They will also highlight the features of our community and culture, amenities that are available as a perk of being a resident, and different care options should you need them in the future. You will also discuss the cost and value of moving into our community.
This initial meeting with your counselor can take anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours. The time varies depending upon your personal goals for the meeting, the questions you ask, and the length of the tour.
Speaking of a tour… our Senior Living Counselor would love to show off Woodcrest Villa with a campus tour! Based on your interests and needs, this tour is personalized to meet your ideal lifestyle.
If physical fitness is important to you, then you and the counselor may spend some extra time in our wellness wing, exploring our beautiful (and heated) indoor pool, gym, and fitness studio. If connecting with nature is a priority, then you’ll make a few special stops at our bocce court, pickleball court, nature trail, arboretum, gardens, and greenhouse.
The counselor will also walk you through one or two home styles, which are discussed and selected before the appointment.
Throughout this meeting, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask your senior living advisor meeting questions and get all the answers you need.
After the Meeting
And that’s what to expect when meeting with a senior living advisor! Easy, right? Once the meeting is complete, the ball is in your court. Are you ready to commit to Woodcrest Villa, or do you need a little more time?
Our final senior living advisor meeting tip is to not rush your decision. You may find that other questions arise, or you still want to take some time to consider all your options. That’s fine! This process can be done at your own pace. As you think it through, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
But if you’re satisfied with what you saw and heard, you can apply right away. Just download the application from our website and fill in all your details. If you’re approved, you can complete the paperwork and get added to the waitlist.
Find Your Fit at Woodcrest Villa
Now that you know what to expect when meeting with a senior living advisor, you can get started. Get to know Woodcrest Villa by taking a virtual tour, or even better, an in-person one! There’s no better way to get a feel for the culture here and picture your new life.
During this process, you’ll find that we’re not like your average senior living community. The folks here are vibrant, active, and dedicated to living life fully every day. And our campus supports that lifestyle. We offer a wide variety of amenities including multiple dining options, a fitness center, a movie theater, a wood shop, and so much more.
Whatever your hobby or dream, we can help you find your place.
Don’t want to stay on campus? No problem! With downtown Lancaster just a few minutes away, it’s never been easier to pop over for a bite to eat, a trip to a gallery, or a night on the town. Look a little farther and spend a weekend at a nearby city like Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington D.C.
Our location is so special—but don’t take our word for it. See for yourself.