DirecTV & Amenities to Consider When Choosing a Retirement Home

Like it or not, for most of us, spending time in a retirement center is likely to be a part of our future. It may be as a guest of someone who already lives there or perhaps it might be something in one’s personal future. If you have yet to reach the age of living in a retirement center (either by choice or of necessity), then you may have never given any thought to what it would be like to spend day after day in the same place.

However, if you have recently been tasked with helping a loved one find a retirement home, then you will want to pay close attention to the various activities and options available to the residents. For instance, what types of television viewing options are there? Did you know that retirement centers can be equipped with bulk direct television packages designed especially for retirement homes? That’s right. There is specially designed DirecTV for retirement homes that offer programming such as the Retirement Living Television channel along with specialty programing that the center can choose that helps make residents aware of other activities and events available at the home.  

Not only will you want to check on what type of cable television is in place, but you will also want to take some to look for other activities the retirement center has. (Typically, there will be an assortment of things to keep guests happy and engaged as Medicaid and Medicare certified facilities are required to have someone appointed as an activities director.)  Some common activities available at retirement centers include:

• Holiday celebrations, special dances and music groups
• Monthly birthday parties where residents, families and friends are able to attend
• Exercise sessions
• Arts and crafts classes that may be taught by other residents or from area artisans
• Computer /technology classes
• Gardening opportunities
• Cookouts—these sometime require help from extended family members, as smaller retirement centers might not have enough staffing to do this, or gardening, without help.
• Some larger retirement centers will have small cafes or coffee bars to encourage socializing
• Book clubs and library visits from area book mobiles
• Discussion groups that may be led by other residents, staff or outside guests
• Church services-these are also another requirement of facilities accepting Medicaid and Medicare. 

Most retirement homes will have local religious groups come in to perform these services. Family members are welcomed to attend.

In addition to making sure that a prospective nursing home has a variety of amenities, be sure to take the time note the friendliness, attentiveness and responsiveness of the staff. These are even more important than whether or not the facility has bulk direct television service or weekly socializing opportunities. After all, you will be entrusting your loved one’s care to them and you want to know that they will be cared for properly, in the event that your family member needs help.

Choosing a retirement facility does not have to be a difficult decision. Simply take the time to think about the elements that would be important to you, if you were the moving there, and then select a place that meets as many of the criteria as possible. It may take time, but it will be time well spent!