There’s so much to love about Salt Lake City. The Wasatch Mountains are legendary, vibrant downtown Salt Lake is thriving, and the arts and culture scene is diverse and ever-changing. Seniors also love the Salt Lake Valley for its great healthcare, tax benefits, and tons of things to do, from hiking and skiing to theater and museums. Plus, there are dozens of great senior living communities in Salt Lake. But with so many to choose from, it can be hard to find the right senior living community for you. This post will help you narrow down your search as we highlight three of the best senior living communities near Salt Lake.
Quick Answer: What are the best senior living communities in Salt Lake?
Based on their high ratings, beautiful locations, tons of activities, and high-end amenities, some of the best senior living communities in the Salt Lake Valley include:
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- Copper Creek is located in South Jordan, just 20 minutes south of Salt Lake City. This light-filled community with incredible views offers a full spectrum of support options, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
- Creekside is in beautiful Bountiful, a quick 15 minute drive from Salt Lake. Built around a gorgeous creek, Creekside also offers a wide range of care levels, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
- Park Lane is a resort-style 55+ community located in downtown Salt Lake City just outside the Avenues. This community is known for their fun, active, independent living, with tons of outings and activities, and a four-story central atrium filled with live palm trees.
Why Move to a Senior Living Community?
As a senior citizen, you have a variety of options when it comes to housing. The choices most seniors have include:
- Staying in your current home,
- Downsizing to a smaller apartment,
- Moving in with a family member, or
- Moving to a senior living community.
Independent seniors are sometimes reluctant to give up the familiarity of their current home. And seniors with care needs have the option to move in with a family member or bring in outside help, instead of moving to an assisted living or memory care community. So, why choose to move to a senior living community? While all of these options have pros and cons, senior living communities offer benefits you won’t get anywhere else.
Benefits of Senior Living Communities
The truth is, living alone often means spending a lot of time alone. Retiring means you lose the social aspect of the workplace, and your nearby support system tends to dwindle over time as friends and family get older and move away. Loneliness is common among seniors and retirees, and it isn’t just unpleasant–it’s a very real health concern. Studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, suicide, dementia, and even premature death.
But loneliness doesn’t have to be part of getting older. In fact, senior living communities make loneliness almost impossible. Many seniors choose senior living communities because of the social benefits of community life. Neighbors similar in age and at the same stage of life, plus tons of social activities every single day, mean it’s easy to make friends. At a senior living community, there’s always someone to sit with or talk to.
Senior living communities also usually provide housekeeping, transportation, and linen services, as well as chef-prepared meals every day. You won’t have to spend your days cooking, cleaning, mowing the lawn, or doing home maintenance. This maintenance-free lifestyle allows you to spend less time doing things you have to do, and more time doing the things you want to do. With all this extra freedom, resort-style amenities, and an active social life, senior living communities are not just more fun than living alone–they’re better for your mental and physical health, too.
Why Not Move in with a Family Member?
Moving in with an adult child or other family member might seem like a simple way to resolve the loneliness many seniors face. While moving in with family members can prevent social isolation, it often creates more issues than it solves. Living in a family member’s home can cause resentment, conflict, and strain relationships. Family members may come to feel that caring for their senior parent or loved one is an additional burden. No one wants to be a burden. And in your golden years, the last thing you want is more conflicts with the people you love.
Senior living communities offer a wonderful alternative. They create tons of opportunities for real friendships and true connection with a full and active social life. They also provide a fun, energetic lifestyle, as well as maintenance-free living. And since children and family members can visit as often as they’d like, those priceless relationships can be stronger than ever.
Why Choose Senior Living in Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, and the surrounding Salt Lake Valley, has a lot to offer seniors. The University of Utah provides incredible healthcare, including healthcare especially for seniors. Many retirees love all the entertainment options in Salt Lake, which includes everything from restaurants, fine art, and concerts, to botanical gardens and historic sites. Whether you love skiing, shopping, or social events, Salt Lake really has something for everyone. And with top-rated senior living options in quiet Bountiful or South Jordan, or right in the heart of the action in downtown Salt Lake, there’s sure to be a place for you here.
Choosing a Senior Living Community in Salt Lake
Many considerations go into choosing the right senior living community for you or your loved one. Before you begin researching communities, ask yourself:
- Would you prefer to live near family members?
- How important is proximity to major metropolitan areas?
- What amenities are important to you?
- What kind of lifestyle are you looking for?
- What level of care do you need now, and what level of care do you expect to need in the future?
Knowing what you’re looking for will help you narrow down which senior living community will suit you best. Not sure what level of care you need? Keep reading!
What level of care do you need?
Senior living communities use specific terms to describe the levels of care they offer. Most senior living communities offer one or more of the following levels of care:
- 55+ or independent living, also called “level 0” care. Independent living or 55+ is best for active seniors who are completely independent and don’t need any help with daily life.
- Assisted living. These communities provide daily help for routine activities, like bathing, grooming, dressing, mobility, eating, drinking, and medication management. This level of care is good for seniors who aren’t experiencing memory loss or significant cognitive impairment, but need some physical help.
- Memory care. This is a specialized type of assisted living community for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, memory loss, or significant cognitive decline. These communities usually provide 24/7 care and supervision, as well as extra security.
- Skilled nursing. This level of care is for seniors with complex daily medical needs that can only be met by skilled nurses, doctors, or other medical professionals.
Choose a senior living community that offers the right level of care for your current needs, but also consider your future needs. Some communities offer multiple levels of care, which allows you to age in place even if things change over time.
The Best Senior Living Communities in Salt Lake
Now that you know what kind of community you’re looking for, which are the best senior living communities in the Salt Lake Valley? You have an overwhelming number of options, so we’ll spotlight just a few of the very best communities. We’ve selected these top-rated communities based on their beautiful locations, great staff, exemplary care, resort-style amenities, and tons of fun activities each week. All three of these communities have also been recently recognized as Best of State Senior Living Communities in Utah!
Copper Creek – South Jordan, Utah
The sun deck at Copper Creek Senior Living Community in South Jordan, Utah
Copper Creek is just about 20 minutes south of Salt Lake in family-friendly South Jordan. This community has bright, light-filled apartments and beautiful mountain views, plus daily fitness classes, an art studio and painting classes, an in-house movie theater, live concerts and ice cream socials, weekly outings, and a beautiful sunroom and outdoor terrace. Copper Creek also offers a full spectrum of care, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. This makes it ideal for those who want to make friends and put down roots, without needing to move if their needs change.
Creekside – Bountiful, Utah
View of the creek at Creekside Senior Living in Bountiful, Utah
You’ll find Creekside just outside Salt Lake City in peaceful Bountiful, nestled against the Wasatch Mountains. The outdoor areas are truly spectacular, with an idyllic central creek and walking path, plus a pond with fountains, a putting green, raised garden beds, and mature landscaping. They also have a thriving activities program, including themed events like Cruise Week and Disney Week, scenic drives, and shopping outings. You also won’t have to worry if you need more care in the future, because Creekside has a wide range of care options, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
Park Lane – Downtown Salt Lake City
The front view of Park Lane Senior Living in Salt Lake City
Park Lane is right in the heart of downtown Salt Lake, just outside the Avenues. This 55+ independent living community really feels like a tropical resort, with a central four-story atrium full of live palm trees. Park Lane’s diverse group of seniors enjoy educational lectures from residents and visiting professors, trips to the farmer’s market, yoga four days a week, and weekly outings. While this community is fully independent living, they have access to outside home health and personal care partners, provide on-site visits from healthcare providers, and can help you coordinate any help you might need now or in the future.
Senior Living in Salt Lake: Final Thoughts
Seniors love Salt Lake City, with its many recreation options, the epic Rocky Mountains, great healthcare, and an overall excellent quality of life. We’ve narrowed down the list of senior living communities to give you three unique and award-winning options. But how do you decide which community is right for you or your loved one?
The best way to make this important decision? Tour these communities in person! Friendly Family Advisors are ready to answer all of your questions and schedule a tour today. Call to schedule a tour at each community at the links below.
Top Senior Living Communities in the Salt Lake Valley
- Schedule a tour at Copper Creek Senior Living in South Jordan, with independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
- Visit Creekside Senior Living in Bountiful, with independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
- Chat with Family Advisors at Park Lane Senior Living in Salt Lake City, a 55+ independent living community.
Why Choose Stellar?
You may have noticed that all of these are communities managed by Stellar Senior Living. Stellar Living’s management is just one of the reasons these are some of the best senior living communities in Utah. Stellar has specialized in managing senior living communities for over a decade. They are family owned and operated, and committed to treating all of their staff, residents, and families with respect and integrity. Their goal is to provide seniors with a life that isn’t just good–it’s Stellar. Learn more about Stellar Living here.
