LIFE & ST YLE | GUIDE
The Perks of Aging
Senior living residences offer Oklahomans friendly and invigorating communities.
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any changes come with age. Some are wonderful, like wisdom and more confidence in choices. Some changes are less pleasant. But where a person calls home and the services around them can be a smooth and welcomed transition. Above and right: Covenant Living at Inverness offers residents a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Photos courtesy Covenant Living at Inverness Below: Resident comfort and happiness is top priority at Senior Star. Photo courtesy Senior Star
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Finances
One of the first concerns that often comes to mind when choosing a community for a senior is finances. Will this option be affordable? “Everybody has different financial goals, so we offer options that allow residents to select which plan is going to be best for them,” says Cari Bashaw, director of sales for Covenant Living at Inverness. “We want to make sure that this is going to be a good financial fit for them long-term as they decide what they want their next chapter to look like. They know that they are going to be taken care of and they know that this is a plan that provides for a secure future.” Bashaw recommends that someone sit down with a representative from the community they are interested in to have a conversation. There are many op-
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JUNE 2022
tions available. “Our mission is to ‘unite and serve’ and our promise is to ‘do for each other with love,’” says Dionicia McCallum Kelley, digital marketing director at Senior Star. “With those [principals] in mind, we are transparent about costs, so that the individual or family member considering a move is able to determine what costs are appropriate for them.” Senior Star also reminds that rates are different depending upon which community they are evaluating and the level of care needed.
Other Considerations
Finances are not the only consideration when looking at communities for those 55 and older. Bashaw recommends examining the culture and lifestyle. “Do they like swimming, art classes, social hour, nature trails, book clubs, woodworking?” she asks. “The right community will feel like home.” Amenities are also important, but consider the individual carefully when evaluating. Some people may be more social while others like more alone time.
Bashaw and McCallum Kelley both recommend visiting the community, so the potential resident and their family can determine their level of comfort. Other considerations should include the level of care needed as well as location (in regard to being close to family). Senior Star recommends observing how well the staff members appear to know the residents, how active and wellcared-for the other residents look, as well as how responsive staff are to phone calls and inquiries. The residents and their families should all feel comfortable with the community and ensure that it will meet the health needs, as well as the personal preferences of each resident.
Which to Choose
One good place to start when making this big decision is to consider the age, health and current lifestyle of the resident. Different communities (a term preferred in the industry to “facility,” as each is like a little town, Bashaw relates) offer various levels of care and supportive services, and continuing care retirement communities present a
