Find Senior Living & Care in Ridgeland, MS

The State of Mississippi's aging services list names Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, known as CMPDD, as the Area Agency on Aging for Madison County. That includes Ridgeland, MS. Its office is in Pearl, MS. It also covers Copiah, Hinds, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, and Yazoo counties.

CMPDD says its aging services are open to people 60 and older or to people with a disability. Its information, assistance, and referral program helps older adults and their caregivers learn what's available. A call there makes sense before deciding whether to add care at home or to move.

Begin by listing the daily tasks where you or someone you care for needs a hand. Then it helps to visit a handful of the assisted living communities below with one written list of questions. The State's list also names a local long-term care ombudsman at CMPDD for Hinds, Madison, and Yazoo counties, an advocate to keep in mind.

CMPDD says its certified ombudsmen regularly visit all licensed nursing homes and personal care homes. They look into complaints from residents or made for them, and they work to resolve them. After a first round of tours, a return visit at a different hour can settle which community is the best fit.

Madison County's community action agency lists a Transit Division that gives rides to the general public. It asks riders to reserve each trip at least 24 hours ahead. Its page also lists demand-response service and trips between Ridgeland, MS, and Jackson, MS. Those posted details are older, so it's smart to call and confirm what runs now.

For shorter trips, the City has built over 17 miles of multiuse trails meant for recreation, fitness, and getting from place to place. The main trail runs across the city, east to west, close to the Natchez Trace Parkway. When touring communities, you may want to ask whether one runs its own van, and where it goes.

The City, through Ridgeland Recreation and Parks, lists group exercise classes, yoga both seated and standing, martial arts, tap dancing, and pickleball. Bridge, bingo, a garden club, and art and seasonal craft workshops round out the program for adults over 50. A monthly newsletter from the City spells out the weekly, monthly, and seasonal schedule.

Two gatherings stand out. The yearly Senior Adult Valentine Luncheon comes the week before Valentine's Day, with food, flowers, and music. The City says it draws seniors from across the metro area. The Mayor's Fun Walk is a light walk led by the Mayor, and people can walk as much or as little as they like. Both make it easy to meet neighbors.

The National Park Service describes the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail as a 10-mile paved path on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Ridgeland, MS. It runs from Milepost 95.8 to Milepost 105.6. The park service calls it a great area for wheelchair-accessible trail options along the Parkway.

Motorized equipment needed for accessibility is allowed on the trail, the park service says. Its northern end is the Reservoir Overlook at Milepost 105.6, which looks out over the 33,000-acre Ross Barnett Reservoir. A paved path with a lake view at the end makes a good goal for a stroll or a wheelchair outing with visiting family.

The Madison County Library System runs the Ridgeland Public Library on Highway 51. The library system lists WiFi, printing, copying, faxing, a digital lab, bilingual help, and adult programs among its services. That covers everyday errands, like printing a form or sending a fax. It also gives people a reason to get out of the house.

The library system's Bookmobile travels, too, visiting assisted living homes, schools, daycares, and community events. For someone who'd miss the library after a move, that's good to know. On a tour, you could ask whether the Bookmobile already stops at that community, or whether staff would invite it.