Quick Summary: For older adults looking for independent living in Memphis, touring a senior living community can help you make a more informed, confident decision. This guide from The Farms at Bailey Station reviews steps to take before planning a visit and the top questions to ask when touring senior living communities to gather important details on cost, lifestyle, and residence options.
“Seeing is believing” is more than a saying when it comes to important decisions in our lives.
Walking the grounds of a college campus helps young adults picture themselves as students there.
Dating is essentially a trial run for a relationship, finding out whether you’re compatible with someone or not.
Test-driving a car helps you feel more confident in your decision and get a feel for how it drives.
While transitioning from owning your own home to senior living can be an emotional process, touring a senior living community can help you make an informed, confident decision to commit.
At The Farms at Bailey Station, a life care community located in Collierville, TN, we strive to provide a warm and welcoming environment for everyone who sets foot on our campus. As a member of the Retirement Companies of America (RCA) family, we’ve provided residents with first-class service, a fulfilling lifestyle, and a beautiful place to call home for nearly 40 years.
We’re here to support you as you prepare to make the next big decision in your life: finding a new community to live in. This guide includes our best advice on questions to ask when touring senior living communities, what to look for, and how a life care community like The Farms can offer long-term value.
Before Your Visit: Determining Your Top Priorities
If you’ve already begun your search for senior living in Tennessee, you may be surprised by the diverse array of senior living options today. Before you set foot on campus, spend some time thinking about what matters most in this next stage of your life.
Here are some tips to consider when determining your top priorities for senior living:
- Plan enough time to evaluate your options: The average independent living search can last anywhere from three months to a year. To avoid making a rushed decision, start looking before an event such as an emergency or health concern prompts the need for a move.
- The early bird gets the better spot: Many older adults don’t look for senior living until they have an urgent need. However, with current demand and high occupancy rates at many communities, waitlists can stretch as long as several years.
- Understand your budget: The Farms’ free financial planning tool can provide you with an overview in minutes.
- Visit when the community is most active: Summer is a great time to visit because residents are active and social events are in full swing.
- Don’t overdo it: A packed agenda might not give you enough time to see it all. Stick to two communities per day, max.
5 Questions To Ask When Touring Senior Living Communities
Like test-driving a new car before you sign on the dotted line, visiting a senior living community is a critical step in the process.
In addition to the valuable information you’ll pick up on your tour, this list of questions to ask when touring senior living communities will help you gather the details you need to make an informed, confident decision:
1. What is the Monthly Cost of Independent Living and What Does That Include?
The cost of independent living may vary based on a number of factors, including:
- Type of accommodation
- Number of residents
- Owner/operator costs
- Location, size, and property type
- Levels of care for seniors
- Services and amenities
Depending on the community’s pricing structure, you may be required to pay a one-time entrance fee or a monthly fee.
Under the umbrella of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are LifeCare communities, like The Farms, which charge entrance fees. While entrance fees may be a larger upfront investment, The Farms guarantees lifetime access to health care services even if your needs change, providing additional security and peace of mind.
Monthly maintenance fees can vary over time. The Farms residents have continually seen some of the lowest percentage increases on monthly fees in the country. We strive to keep monthly fees as low as possible without compromising on the quality of our operations and services.
2. What Levels of Senior Living Are Available?
While you may be searching for independent living in Memphis today, it’s important to understand what care and support the community offers should you need it in the future.
As an added benefit, life care communities allow residents to seamlessly transition into another level of care at any time at no additional cost. Should you require more support with activities of daily living (ADLs), care for Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, or senior rehabilitation to recover from an injury, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you have guaranteed access to convenient care.
Here’s an overview of the differences between each level of care, what services are typically provided, and what a typical day looks like:
Comparing Types of Senior Living Communities
| Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care | Respite Care | |
| Who lives on this level: | Older adults who are active and self-reliant. | Older adults who may need support with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, feeding, and dressing. | Older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or cognitive impairment. | Seniors and their caregivers/families in need of short-term care. |
| Support provided: | Amenities and services. | 24/7 support available at resident’s discretion. | 24/7 support from specialized caregivers who understand the needs of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. | 24/7 support and private respite care apartment, depending on guest’s needs. |
| Average length of stay: | Indefinite. | Indefinite. | Indefinite. | Varies, depending on guest’s needs. |
| Decision maker: | Older adults opt for a maintenance-free lifestyle. | Older adults and/or their family decide support is needed. | Caregivers decide full-time support is needed for their loved one. | Caregivers opt for short-term coverage and support. |
3. Will Support Be Available When I Need It Most?
What are the odds that you will need long-term care at some point in the future?
Recent survey findings show that most people are greatly underestimating these odds. A survey of retirees and financial professionals by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found that only 27% of respondents estimated they will need long-term care at some point. In reality, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates 70% of people will need long-term care after age 65.
That’s why making sure care will be available when you need it is a critical question to ask any senior living community you visit.
At The Farms, residents have access to a full continuum of healthcare services, including long-term care options such as skilled nursing and senior rehabilitation, at the Jordan River Health Campus.
The skilled nursing residence at the Jordan River Health Campus is designed for accessibility and improving mental and physical health outcomes. Every detail, from seating areas to handrails, hallway width, and signage, is intentional, allowing residents to navigate the environment safely and easily.
The 4,300 sq. ft. senior rehabilitation center at the Jordan River Health Campus offers a full range of highly effective orthopedic, cardiac, respiratory, and neurological rehabilitation programs. A comprehensive array of exercise and therapy equipment is available to help improve mobility and encourage safety and independence. Additionally, the Therapy Garden offers therapeutic healing and socialization.
4. What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
While you’re likely familiar with the process of house hunting, searching for senior living in Tennessee is more about planning the kind of lifestyle you want to live.
Transitioning from home ownership to senior living doesn’t mean giving up on your current lifestyle. Whatever brings you joy—staying fit, socializing with friends, pursuing your hobbies, or checking out the latest restaurants—should continue to be a part of your life when you move to a senior living community.
The Farms at Bailey Station is designed to offer residents an unparalleled upscale lifestyle. Our mission is to offer the most rewarding senior living experience possible, and we offer a wide range of services and amenities to fulfill that promise:
- An Athletic Club fully equipped with the latest high-end equipment.
- On-site sauna and massage therapists for relaxing self-care.
- Diverse dining options that are chef-prepared with fresh ingredients.
- Outdoor entertainment areas in our independent living neighborhoods for grilling and socializing.
5. What Types of Residences Are Available?
You shouldn’t have to settle when choosing your next home in retirement. Today’s modern senior living communities offer many different types of residences that rival the inventory available in the Collierville and Memphis real estate market.
The Farms offers three different types of independent living residences:
- Independent living apartments: Choose from 26 floor plans, with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts.
- Senior townhomes: Available in three- and four-bedroom layouts, ranging from 2,500 to nearly 3,000 sq. ft.
- Senior garden homes: Spacious single-family homes from 2,500 to 4,000 sq. ft.
All of our residences feature the latest fixtures and appliances. Our townhomes and garden homes are located on beautiful Lake Christie.
Some older adults are concerned about transitioning from home ownership to independent living, worried they’re “giving up” what is most important to them: a home decorated in their personal style, seeing friends, and being active in their community.
At modern senior living communities like The Farms, independent living residents are just that—independent. Residents here can choose the floor plan and layout that fits them best, enjoy the same cozy neighborhood feeling they love, and gather together in outdoor social areas that feel just like a backyard barbecue.
Is The Farms at Bailey Station Right for You?
If you’re considering independent living in Memphis, taking time to thoughtfully consider the type of lifestyle you’re looking for and asking the right questions can help you find a community you’ll love being a part of for years to come.
As part of your decision-making process, make time to visit the communities you’re interested in. Talk to the residents. Look around. Do people seem happy? Does the community seem well-maintained? Are the interactions with the staff pleasant and friendly? Does this seem like the kind of place you want to live in?
On your tour, be sure to ask your guide about:
- Monthly fees and what they cover
- The levels of care available
- On-site healthcare facilities
- Types of independent living residences available
- Amenities and services available
If you’re looking for an independent living community that offers upscale residences, best-in-class amenities, outstanding healthcare, and a solid plan for your future, The Farms at Bailey Station should definitely be on your list of communities to tour.
If you’re ready to schedule your personalized visit, contact our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1.What questions should I ask when touring senior living communities?
The most important questions to ask when touring senior living communities are:
- How much are the monthly fees and what do they include?
- What levels of living for seniors are available?
- What healthcare is available onsite?
- What types of residences are available?
- What amenities and services do you provide?
Asking these questions on every tour can help you compare communities fairly and make a confident, informed decision.
2. What is the cost of independent living in Tennessee?
Costs may vary by community, location, residence type, and the services included. Nationally, independent living averaged around $3,000 per month in 2026, according to U.S. News & World Report. Because pricing structures differ—some communities charge a monthly fee, others a one-time entrance fee—it’s worth asking each community exactly what’s included so you can compare accurately.
Under the umbrella of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are life care communities, like The Farms, that charge entrance fees, which are more of an investment upfront. However, this investment guarantees lifetime access to health care services even if your needs change, providing additional security and peace of mind.
3. When should I start looking for senior living in Tennessee?
Sooner than you think. The average independent living search can last anywhere from three months to a year, and many communities currently have waitlists that can stretch for years. Because most people begin searching only after an urgent need arises, starting early gives you time to tour, compare, and choose the right community without pressure.
4. What’s the difference between a life care community and a regular senior living community?
A life care community offers guaranteed access to multiple levels of care—independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and senior rehabilitation—usually on one campus. This means that if your health needs change, you can transition to more support without leaving the community or facing large unplanned cost increases, which is why many people consider life care communities one of the more secure long-term options.
