5 Tips For Helping Your Parents Make
The Best Retirement Living Decision.

The following tips stem from conversations Shannondell staff members have had with adult children, like you, who are helping their parents research retirement living options, including Shannondell.

Click on the tips below (or scroll down) to get you to the answer.

1. Use your online savvy to help your parents.

2. Understand the distinctions in different types of communities.

3. Don’t underestimate the emotional stress your parents will feel.

4. On moving day, treat your parents to a nearby day trip.

5. Give your parents some time after the move.

1. Use your online savvy to help your parents by providing findings from your research, but encourage them that the best way to compare one community to another is to visit each.

Communities may look and sound the same online and in print (as much as we try to prevent that), but each community has its own personality. As such, some will prove to be a better fit for some people versus others, and the only way to ascertain which is best for your parents is to go for several test drives. We encourage you to join them, if it’s convenient.

2. When helping your parents compare one community to another, make sure they understand the difference between a personal care (assisted living), life care, continuing care or age-restricted rental community.

Pricing structures, including covered amenities and services (and their quality) vary greatly, making direct comparisons confusing, and as a result, frustrating. For instance, on first glance some communities without quality continuing care services appear more affordable when just looking at monthly fees. But with no guaranteed access to these higher levels of care, including skilled nursing, you have to add in the cost of moving your parents, again, to one of these facilities, assuming you can find one with availability when you/they require it.

3. Don’t underestimate the emotional stress your parents will feel when they are faced with leaving their long-time home.

One of the things we emphasize to both you and your parents is that when they move to Shannondell, they aren’t downsizing. In fact, they’re upsizing to a community offering a plethora of resort-style amenities and services. As one of our residents recently described it, “It’s like we moved into the Greenbrier.” With that said, most do experience a reduction in square footage, making it necessary to choose what to keep, and what to give away, and to whom. If it helps, know we’re always glad to assist with arrangements for any donations to local charities. Just let us know.

4. On moving day, treat your parents to a day trip to downtown Philadelphia, New York City, the Jersey Shore or another nearby location.

They’re going to be anxious (on several fronts) and since we hire professionals to unpack and arrange furnishings for them, why not spend the day away together, enjoying the sights and each other’s company? At the end of the day, when they arrive at Shannondell, you’ll both feel relief and comfort knowing everything has been taken care of. A feeling that we work hard to replicate every day.

5. Plan your first visit to see your parents soon after they move, but not too soon.

Again, this is something we’ve heard from other adult children who have been in your shoes. Their experience tells them that the more time they give their parents to adjust to their new home and lifestyle, meet neighbors and make new friends, the more likely you will hear many good, positive things when you come for your first visit. And we know that you want to feel as good about their move as they do. Giving your parents their space and some time after their move helps both generations adapt.

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Click on the buttons above left for more information designed to help when discussing retirement living options with your parents.