Transitioning from a residential to a senior home can be a strenuous and scary process, but one local company is trying to make that switch a little smoother.
The Capital Region branch of Choice Connections, a free senior housing advisory service, is putting on their second Senior Parade of Homes this September right in Colonie. The full-day “parade” will take a busload of seniors to explore some of the area’s independent and assisted living senior communities.
“The idea here is that a lot of seniors are already in independent living and would like to see what the next level is,” Choice Connections Senior Housing Specialist Melonie Pratt said.
Seniors have several options when looking for their next place to move. Independent living is similar to regular residential homes, where seniors can rent apartments that surrounded by a full senior community. Assisted living provides care to seniors, including three meals a day and a staff to provide any assistance. Some communities even have a mix of the two, providing mostly independent living with help if necessary.
“A lot of seniors don’t want to move until they absolutely have to,” Pratt said. “It’s a great opportunity to see which home in the area feels good to them.”
So far, the tour will pick up seniors at the Belltrone Living Center in Colonie and venture to the Loudonville Home for Adults on Albany Shaker Road in Loudonville; Atria Shaker on Northern Boulevard in Albany; Diamond Ridge Independent Senior Living Community on Harris Road in Troy; and Mill View Assisted Living Residence on Old Loudon Road in Cohoes. Pratt said a couple more stops may be added to the itinerary as well.
Each stop will allow the communities to explain how they differ from others and what makes them unique, hoping to help find the right fit for each senior. For example, Diamond Ridge Independent Senior Living Community is an independent senior living community with all inclusive meals, housekeeping, transportation and outside activities.
On the other hand, Loudonville Home for Adults has three different options of a memory care facility, traditional assisted living and enhanced assisted living.
“We really individualize the care and services for each of our residences. It doesn’t matter what building they’re in, we really take the time to know them as they’re coming in. It’s homey and not institutional at all,” Lois Bol, director of admission at Loudonville Home for Adults, said.
The tour of each residence includes discussion and food, and possibly some activity. Pratt said the first Senior Parade of Homes in Schenectady earlier this year was extremely successful, especially because of all the food at each stop.
“By the end of the Schenectady tour, everybody was really full, joking how they had eaten all day long,” Pratt said. “They had had fun being a nice sized group. They got a really pleasant feeling for the day.”
For only a $5 registration fee, Pratt hopes to fill the 20-person bus before the trip.
“It’s very smart to be educated on your options. It’s an educational experience as well. Each senior will leave with information on what they can and cannot do in terms of senior living,” Pratt said.
For more information, call 894-2443 or visit choice-connections.com/capitalregion.
