So you’re just back from taking the kids to see the grandparents up in Dallas, Houston or perhaps out-of-state. Or maybe mom and dad are in town, and although the holidays gave you that chance to spend some quality time with them, you’re a little uneasy with what you saw.

Perhaps their home needs a lot of work, or they’ve gotten behind in managing all the details of the household. Maybe they’re not eating well because “it’s just us” and it’s not worth cooking. Or perhaps your mother, who always thrived on the social scene, tells you her friends have moved away, and so she rarely leaves the house.

If you find yourself in this situation—and many of us do—then you may want to consider the value of a senior community. Far from the old stereotype of the retirement home, today’s senior communities are active and alive. In fact, many seniors actively seek independent living communities for the amenities and quality of life they offer.

Today’s seniors are discriminating in what they look for in a retirement community. They want the amenities to be plentiful and in line with their lifestyle. Seniors also seek locations where residents are active and involved in the community, and where they can dive into cultural, social and educational opportunities.

In many cases, the presence of this active community allows the resident to regain a former lifestyle. The senior who lately has become withdrawn can now blossom and thrive, much to the delight of friends and family.

If a senior, or his or her family, foresees the possibility of care needs in the future, the presence of assisted living onsite is a valuable feature. Knowing that trained professionals are taking care of mom and dad’s medical and care issues provides great peace of mind.

Franklin Park Sonterra, San Antonio’s newest independent and assisted living community, will open its doors in spring 2010. Like the other Franklin communities in the Metroplex, Franklin Park Sonterra will promote social interaction, mental stimulation, spiritual connection and physical well-being for its residents.

The community, consisting of 150 independent living apartments and 52 assisted living apartments, will offer a new concept in senior living. A 36,000-square-foot clubhouse sits at the heart of the building. This clubhouse will be equipped with three dining venues, a heated indoor pool, chapel, general store, coffee bar, library, theater, business center, reading rooms, full-service salon and spa, billiard’s lounge, ballroom, cocktail lounge, card room, “grandkid’s corner,” fitness center, on-site bank, arts and crafts center, greenhouse and a men’s woodshop.

Franklin Park Sonterra is artistically designed to capture a sense of style. Functionality mixed with luxurious details gives each apartment home substance and beauty. The Franklin Park lifestyle is enhanced with added services and amenities to help seniors stay healthy, independent and fulfilled. With several floor-plans to choose from, seniors are sure to find the perfect home.

As a family-owned and operated company, Franklin Park is dedicated to making a difference in senior living. “We stand behind our Foundational Belief: Embracing freedom, family and friends,” says its founder Aubra Franklin of San Antonio. “It’s at the core of all we do.”

Welcome to Franklin Park Sonterra – it just feels like home.