Plan Ahead, Join a Senior Living Community Waitlist

Benefits of Joining a Retirement Community Waitlist

As human beings, we’ve been conditioned to believe that waiting isn’t a good thing at all. And in fact, research shows that our brains are wired to be impatient: If our ancestors waited patiently for too long at their hunting spot and the big game never came their way, we might not be here. Instead, their brains told them to move on quickly if they wanted to eat.

All this evolutionary impatience has led to our modern brains expecting things to happen quickly. Which leads us back to our original statement: Waiting isn’t good.

Unless you’re talking about joining a senior living waitlist for the Independent Living community of your choice. Now that’s a completely different story.

There are actually numerous benefits to joining a senior living community’s waitlist. Some of those reasons may surprise you — especially considering new Independent Living residents will often say, “I wish I’d moved sooner!” But if it’s right for you, there truly are advantages to waiting.

So let’s take a closer look at 5 reasons why it may benefit you to join a senior living waitlist.

First, what’s a senior living waitlist?

You’re healthy and active, and you know you’d like to stay that way. You plan to move into an Independent Living community someday — just not quite yet. A waitlist at a senior living community allows you to secure your future plans without a large commitment of time and money.
Usually a small and often refundable deposit is all it takes to join a senior living waitlist. Your name is added to a list, which may be for a particular residence or for any residence that comes available. Depending on how popular the community is, there may be several people ahead of you, which means you have some time to plan and prepare as your name rises to the top. In the meantime, you’re generally provided some access to the community, along with these other great benefits.

1. A waitlist is a good first step toward actually making your move. Pretend you’re moving to a different house next month. Just imagine all the steps you’d have to take — and quickly — to have everything packed and ready for your next house. Sounds overwhelming, right? Joining a senior living waitlist gives you time to start planning your move and downsizing your life, all of which can greatly reduce moving stress when the time comes. 

2. Being on a waitlist can provide you with a chance to “try before you buy.” As we mentioned above, some communities provide their waitlisters with certain perks, such as opportunities to enjoy dining at the community, use community services and amenities like the pool or fitness center, and attend special on-site events. Many older adults find joining the waitlist gave them the opportunity to be confident in their choice of independent living community before they even moved in.

3. Waitlisters can meet their neighbors before they’re actually neighbors. If the community offers waitlister perks like dining and use of its common spaces and amenities, you’re sure to meet residents enjoying their active lives. Developing social relationships with those who will soon be your neighbors allows you to strengthen ties to the community and build anticipation for your move. Once you do move in, you’ll feel much more connected to the community, the people, and the staff, which can greatly ease the stress of transitioning from your home to an Independent Living community.

4. You have time to find your desired floor plan. If you want a specific type of residence or floor plan, but it’s not available right now, joining a waitlist gives you the opportunity to essentially “get in line” for your preferred residence. This is a smart option for seniors who don’t want to move twice: once, when they move into a residence they don’t really want, then again when their first choice becomes available.
And this happens sometimes, especially if an aging adult doesn’t want to wait to become an Independent Living resident or may soon need the community’s continuum of care, such as Assisted Living, Memory Care or Skilled Nursing. 

5. You’ll have a plan in place for future care. As you’re preparing to enjoy your independent lifestyle, you’re also planning for any future care you may need for yourself and your spouse. And if you choose to join a waitlist at a Life Care community, you know you’ll always have access to a full continuum of excellent health care right here on campus – without financial surprises.

Choosing Independent Living at a senior living community that offers Life Care, like The Glebe does, represents incredible peace of mind for you and your family, whether you’re a single or widowed older adult or senior couple. That’s because, if health circumstances change, you can move seamlessly between Independent Living, Assisted Living and the Health Care Center, all right here at The Glebe. Life Care allows you to put a plan in place for future care and removes the risk of unexpected and rising health care costs. You and your spouse will have priority access to our high-quality continuum of care services, such as Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, and Senior Rehab usually with little to no increase in your monthly fee. 

Learn more about the benefits of joining The Glebe’s waitlist

Perhaps the biggest benefit of joining a senior living community’s waitlist is the time and opportunity it affords you to learn about the community. At The Glebe, we understand the decision to make a move is an important one, and not a decision we take lightly. 

It’s why we have an incredibly compassionate and knowledgeable group of retirement counselors, always ready to answer your questions, host you for a private community tour, and invite you to The Glebe for a special event or just for a friendly coffee. If you’d like to learn more about life at The Glebe, start by contacting us.