Retirement offers many choices and opportunities and one that takes serious consideration is whether to age in place at home or move to a senior living community. Different circumstances and situations can sway the decision either way, but here are some of the most common reasons many older adults choose to make the move to senior living.
Reason #1 – Greater independence
Independence is relative, but it essentially means the freedom to do as you please. That’s why older adults who want to travel, spend time on hobbies or with friends and family realize senior living communities offer more independence than living at home. In senior living, residents have no home maintenance chores, no lawn to keep up, and peace of mind when away knowing their home is safe and secure. To find out just how much independence senior living offers older adults, take a look at our blog, “A Day in the Life of Older Adults in a Senior Living Community,” for the inside track.
Reason #2 – More social opportunities
Living at home can be a wonderful choice when older adults have the benefit of mobility and lots of family and friends to share time with. But when seniors spend days and even weeks alone with little companionship and only the television to entertain them, their health may be impacted. In fact, according to the consumeraffairs.com article, “Elderly Loneliness Statistics,” loneliness and social isolation substantially increase risk for stroke, heart disease, mental health concerns, and premature death. In senior living, however, residents have diverse activities and entertainment options available every day and those who need help to participate have it on hand. Learn more about the importance of staying social as we age in our blog, “Combatting Senior Loneliness: Connectedness and Health Effects.”
Reason #3 – Excellent exercise options
Exercise is absolutely essential to healthy aging but keeping a regular exercise routine can become boring and tedious when home alone. In senior living communities, however, daily exercise is part of an overall healthy and vibrant lifestyle, and often becomes a social activity residents don’t want to miss. Whether working out with a buddy in the fitness center, joining a yoga class or going for a walk around the grounds with friends, residents have plenty of opportunities to get the exercise they need and have fun doing it! Get more about staying in shape in our blog, “The Importance of Fitness for Older Adults.”
Reason #4 – Help is always available
Senior living communities offer a broad range of assistance from very little to 24/7 care. Maybe a helping hand is needed to bathe and get dressed or memory problems require full-time oversight to ensure a senior’s safety. If getting all the help needed at home, when it’s needed, becomes a burden, senior living is often the best choice, hands down. Residents and their families can rest assured that all the help they need is always available and that it is delivered by caring, knowledgeable and skilled team members. To better understand the different levels of care available in senior living, our blog, “A Look at the Care Options in Senior Living Communities” is a great resource.
Reason #5 – Emphasis on nutrition
Getting all the nutrition seniors need to stay healthy is a concern many share, especially when they live alone at home. From grocery shopping to meal planning to cooking and cleaning up, all these tasks can make eating well difficult to impossible for some older adults. In senior living, however, nutrition is high on the list of priorities. Mouth-watering, chef-inspired meals are the norm, and residents enjoy them in a restaurant-style dining room in the company of good friends. And when combined with exercise, a healthy diet can add years to life. Learn more about the importance of diet and exercise in our blog, “Eat Well, Get Fit, Have Fun!”
Reason #6 – More fun!
Retirement should be a time for pampering yourself a little, right? After all, years spent in demanding careers earned you that much. So, when looking for a better way to spend retirement than just sitting around the house, senior living offers all that and more! From amenities like onsite theaters, hair salons and barbershops, to trips to festivals, shopping, and concerts, to daily classes, lectures and clubs, senior living residents have opportunities galore to pick and choose what they want to do, when and with whom, right at home. If you are ready to live your best life, take a look at what’s waiting in our blog, “Boredom Busters: Top Amenities to Expect from Today’s Senior Living Communities.”
Whether or not to move to senior living is a very personal decision and one that should be based on what each senior wants and needs. For more about choosing the right senior living community, download our Family Decision Guide. Learn more about Thrive’s communities, housing choices and amenities by contacting us today!