Holiday Farmington

Assisted living and independent living are both offered at Holiday Farmington, 88 Scott Swamp Road in Farmington, which gives a couple or a single parent room to stay put if needs change over time. Holiday by Atria operates the community, which rents private apartments and handles meals, cleaning and upkeep. The building is large, so a resident who uses a walker should see how far the apartment sits from the dining room.

Rent covers the apartment, 3 meals a day, housekeeping and linen service, standard utilities, maintenance of the building and grounds, transportation on a set schedule for local trips and daily events. Care and medication management are billed apart from rent, which is important for anyone coming in for assisted living. Phone, cable or internet may be extra as well.

Shared spaces include a private dining room set up with a hutch and long table, where catering can be arranged for birthdays and family gatherings, and an exercise area stocked with resistance bands, medicine balls and similar equipment. Updates have been made throughout the building. Several floor plans are available, and a chosen apartment is reserved only after a deposit.

For assisted living, ask for a written description of what help is provided, how needs are assessed and how charges change as care increases. Checking those answers against other senior living in Farmington gives families a fair comparison. Sitting down for a meal during the visit also helps judge the kitchen.