Seeing a floor plan for the first time can be daunting. Filled with symbols, lines and numbers, floor plans can be confusing for those who aren’t adept at reading them. To find the best apartment for senior living, you need to learn to understand and read apartment floor plans. With that, you can visit and tour retirement communities in Columbus, IN, knowing exactly what you’re looking for so you can choose the best one that suits your needs. Read on for some considerations and tips to help you confidently find the best senior living apartment for you and your loved ones.
What Appliances Do You Need?
Do you need an in-unit washer and dryer, a dishwasher and a garbage disposal? These appliances may be crucial for some. These things may not be visible simply by looking at the floor plans, so make sure to check if the floor plan you’re looking at has the appliances you require and wish to have.
These appliances may be labeled as such:
- Washers and dryers: “W/D” or “W” and “D”
- Dishwashers: “D”
- Refrigerators: “REF”
If you have a specific preference for a shower or a bathtub, do look out for them in the floor plans as well. Bathtubs are marked with open spaces with a tub-like shape inside, while showers are marked with crossed lines shaped like an “X” over the space.
How Many Bedrooms and Bathrooms Do You Want?
Here are some considerations you need to make when looking for your ideal senior living apartment. Are you moving in alone or with a partner or friend? Do you need an extra bedroom as a home office or guest room? Are you comfortable with sharing one bathroom with others or would having two be more suitable? Once you’ve determined the number of rooms you need and the number of bathrooms you would like, you can narrow down your search for the most suitable senior living apartment for you or your loved ones.
How Much Space Do You Need?
Knowing the approximate desired square footage for you to live comfortably will be advantageous for your search. If you or your partner use a walker or wheelchair, 1,500 square feet may work better for you with wider hallways. If you enjoy having a cozy space, then a 500-square-foot studio might be the right choice for you. Having trouble deciding how much space you need? Use the square footage of your current home as a reference and decide if you need more space than what you currently have or whether you would like to downsize. This will help you determine your desired total square footage.
Next, look at the room dimensions. These are usually shown in the center of each room. For example, a room that is 12 feet 10 inches wide and 15 feet 9 inches long will be labeled as “12’ 10” x 15’ 9”. Do consider if it would be large enough to fit the furniture you have. If you love cooking, you may also want to take note of the dimensions of the kitchenette, pantry and amount of counter space available. Pantries are labeled as “P” in floor plans.
If you’re looking for a retirement community in Columbus, IN, contact us today to schedule a tour and find out more about our Independent Living community!
