If you’re just starting to explore premier retirement communities or have already been on a few tours, it’s important to know what to look for when deciding whether a community is the right fit. You want a place that truly feels like home, where you can enjoy comfort, connection, and peace of mind. Yet with so many choices, it can be difficult to tell which community is the best fit for you.
Finding the right senior living community is about understanding what day-to-day life really feels like, from the personalized care and supportive staff to the activities, amenities, and dining experiences that make life even more enjoyable.
There are many retirement homes in Cincinnati and the surrounding Tristate region, but only some of them, like Episcopal Retirement Services’ Deupree House community in Hyde Park, offer a truly premier senior living experience. When you’re looking at prospective retirement communities, what criteria should you use to make your choice? How can you know that the provider you choose will offer you a premier senior living experience?
To help guide your search, here are seven (7) important things to look for when choosing a senior living community.
1. Is there a high staff-to-resident ratio?
When residents have more staff available to provide daily support, they receive more personalized attention. Healthcare research has shown that higher staffing levels are often linked to better health outcomes and greater resident satisfaction.
2. Does the community offer independent apartment-style living?
Do residents enjoy a private apartment, condominium, or cottage? The best retirement communities work to support their residents in living as independently as possible, for as long as possible, with additional support options as your health needs change.
3. Can you receive additional services in your new apartment if needed?
At Deupree House, additional services are available to come directly to residents’ apartments, providing access to a range of support in the comfort of their own homes. Here, residents can also opt to receive services that assist with activities of daily living, such as laundry, bathing, and light housekeeping.
And for residents who need additional long-term care, Deupree Cottages, located next door to Deupree House, offers skilled nursing as well as memory support provided by specially trained staff.
Related Content: View the Doors of Deupree
4. When you visit, are the staff friendly and happy?
When visiting senior living communities, take note of how team members interact with residents. Do they greet residents with a smile? Is there a sense of comfort and connection among those who live and work there? A positive, engaged staff often reflects a supportive, caring environment.
At Deupree, that spirit of compassion guides team members. The community is owned and operated by Episcopal Retirement Services, which has been recognized as a Top Workplace for 16 consecutive years. This recognition is based entirely on staff feedback—proof that those who work at ERS communities like Deupree feel valued and inspired by what they do. Their commitment to service helps create the kind of community where residents and staff thrive together.
5. What amenities, activities, and entertainment does the community provide?
Does the community foster a rich social experience? Do residents enjoy off-site trips and in-house programming featuring the performing arts, movies, music, sporting events, and cultural gatherings? Does the community have a fitness center and indoor pool? Does the wellness center offer massage therapy? Are residents encouraged to form hobby and interest groups, and are those groups supported by the community?
When you visit a community like Deupree, ask residents about their social lives. Do the people you meet seem bored or unfulfilled? Or are they enjoying retirement, doing what they want to do, with neighbors and friends they care about?
Related Blog: So Much to Do: Deupree House’s Activity Calendar
6. How’s the food?
It’s hard to enjoy your retirement if you’re not getting the nutrition you need. Before you sign a lease, make sure you check out the community’s dining services.
Are dishes carefully planned and prepared by expert chefs? Will you have multiple dining options for your varying moods, including formal dining, bistro cuisine, and room service, or does one dining room serve all? On your tour, ask if you can sit for a meal to experience the atmosphere and taste the food. Are dishes carefully planned and prepared by an expert chef? Is there a mix of casual dining and restaurant-style menus? Can they accommodate your dietary needs?
7. How do the grounds and corridors look?
A community that takes care of its exterior appearance is more likely to care about the cleanliness of its interior, too. When choosing a retirement community, make sure you choose one that pays close attention to the details. That level of awareness often translates into happier, more fulfilled residents—and a community that’s more likely to remain vibrant, well-maintained, and inviting for years to come. A thriving community should be a place residents are proud to call home.
Learn More about Deupree House
Life in a continuing care retirement community offers a new way to embrace retirement, one filled with choice, connection, and opportunity. At Deupree House, residents enjoy the freedom to shape each day as they wish, whether that means joining friends for a fitness class, attending a lecture, or simply relaxing over a meal. Retirement here goes beyond great dining and the attractions of Greater Cincinnati—it’s about continuing to grow through intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social experiences that make every day meaningful. You don’t have to take our word for it, hear from our residents on why they love Deupree House.
Complete our free (and quick) 4-5 minute survey to learn more about senior living and which options may be the best fit for you. To schedule a complimentary tour of Deupree House, contact Karen Immell at (513) 561- 4200, kimmell@erslife.org or visit our website.
