It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of moving into senior living was something older adults refused to even consider. Today, however, many seniors are looking forward to moving into a community that offers maintenance-free living, restaurant-style dining, active friendships and more.
But even if the idea of never having to mow the lawn again sounds attractive, you may be wondering, “Is now the right time to move? Should I wait? How will I know when the time is right?”
Here are five signs that might mean a move to senior living would be beneficial–and even more importantly, that you are ready to move into senior living.
1. You feel like taking care of your home is too much work. Big homes are great places to raise children, but as we get older, taking care of the maintenance and tasks that homeownership requires can be overwhelming. Not only is it a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of time and money that you would rather spend on something else.
By contrast, senior living is maintenance-free–you never even have to change a light bulb if you don’t want to. It makes life a lot easier and frees you up to have a more independent lifestyle.
2. You don’t feel particularly safe in your home. Perhaps you’re starting to have mobility problems, and going up the stairs takes a lot longer than it used to. Or you worry about having an accident in the middle of the night and not being able to get to the phone to call for help. Or perhaps you’re worried about an intruder breaking in.
Whatever the case, you’d prefer to live someplace that’s safe, secure and monitored. One of the very real benefits of senior living is the 24-hour, seven-days-a-week safety it provides. That includes housing designs that are senior-friendly as well as safety features like emergency call systems–with the press of a button, help is available almost instantly.
3. The tasks of daily life are becoming difficult. Are you finding it more and more difficult to do certain tasks of daily life, like getting dressed or bathing? Is it hard to remember to take your medications? What about driving to the grocery store? Not to mention cooking? At many senior living centers, you no longer have to try and tackle things you don’t want to do. In short, senior living is a chance for you to be waited on so you can continue doing the things you love.
4. You’re lonely and you’d like the sense of community. As we get older, our social circle naturally shrinks due to people moving away or because it’s more difficult to get out of the house. Especially during the pandemic, this can lead to loneliness and boredom, both of which are big problems.
But at senior centers including Heritage Pointe, you’ll have an instant group of potential friends as soon as you walk through the door. Many seniors choose to move to a Jewish senior community because they want to be around others in the same stage of life.
Communities make it very easy for elders to strike up acquaintances, too, since there are many shared areas as well as activities and Jewish events that bring people together.
5. You want peace of mind. When you’re living on your own at home, there’s always the thought lingering in the back of your mind: What happens if something goes wrong and I’m forced to move into a “home?” Instead, why not take charge of your future and discover the convenience and peace of mind that living in a senior community can bring?
By actively searching for and choosing a place to live, you have control over the situation–and once you’ve moved in, that nagging little voice in the back of your mind will be silenced. You can relax, knowing that you’re in the best possible place, surrounded by the best possible care with so many wonderful things to look forward to.
For information and local resources please visit www.heritagepointe.org or call 949-364-9685.