Are You Ready For Senior Living?
Before you say,“No! I’m not ready for a retirement community,” please take a few minutes to answer these 4 questions for yourself.
1) What am I “not ready” for? Sometimes people think that because they are moving to a retirement community, they need to give up all the things they hold dear…home, family events, friends and neighbors, independence. In truth, that does not happen at all. People who move to retirement communities want to maintain their independence, make their own decisions, and for some: expand their horizons. You are not giving up on the important things in your life but gaining so much!
2) How will I know when I’ll be ready? That one is easy: do you worry about home maintenance or lawn care? Are you tired of shopping and preparing meals? Do you have health concerns, or troubled by personal safety or security in your home? Would you like to explore new interests and meet new friends? If you answered ‘yes’ to ANY of these questions, you may be ready to move.
3) Why should I consider a move if I’m still healthy? I can’t think of a better time to make this move if you are still healthy. You will be able to more fully enjoy all that the community has to offer. Plus, you are able to make this decision yourself instead of others doing it for you. If you wait until your health presents bigger concerns, it may be too late.
4) A retirement community is for ‘old people’ and I’m not old. Why would I move to an old folks home? That is a common misconception. People who move to retirement communities (the average age nationally is 82) while they are still young enough to enjoy them find they are able to stay healthier and younger-feeling. They are surrounded by peers who are as active as they are. As they ‘age in place’ they have the support system to stay right where they are, eliminating the necessity to move again and again as their needs become greater. That is the beauty of a retirement community. Why not do the fun parts of life and let others take over the day-to-day drudgery of daily living … the cooking and cleaning, repairs and maintenance?
There is a process for finding the right retirement community though. Not every community will suit every senior. I will discuss this in more detail in my next blog, so stay tuned… And HAPPY NEW YEAR!
– Vickie Sheppard, Executive Director
