Senior Living Options As You Age
If you’re approaching retirement, you may be contemplating how you wish to spend your hard-earned free time. Do you want to stay in your family home and age in place, or would you prefer living in a senior community? It can be a difficult, emotionally charged decision. For some retirees, it’s a no-brainer. They are ready to relinquish the responsibilities of owning a home and seek a simpler life, where they can devote their time to hobbies and travel. For others, saying goodbye to their longtime home can be a much more painful experience. Some retirees even face resistance from their families about giving up the “home base” and letting go of childhood memories. Such arguments can tug on the heartstrings, but just remember that you need to do what’s best for you.
Here are some of the pros and cons of aging in place vs independent living at a senior community.
Household Responsibilities
You are well aware of the responsibilities that come with owning a home. Maintenance, upkeep, taxes, and insurance can eat away at your retirement income. If you move to independent living, the staff takes care of maintenance, yard work, and trash and snow removal. And, if you want, you can also ditch cooking and eat in the community dining room, where you can feast on restaurant-quality food. Some communities also offer housekeeping and laundry services. On the other hand, if you’re an interior decorator at heart, you may be limited on what types of changes you can make to your apartment or villa, such as painting or making any structural revisions. And if you love gardening, you may have to give that up unless you live in a villa. (There is always container gardening!) Cost-wise, you will pay one monthly fee for your rent and any additional services you’ve signed up for. You will only have renters’ and car insurance if you keep your vehicle.
Social Life
At an independent living community, you will have neighbors in your age range who will bring with them a variety of backgrounds, life experiences, and interests. Senior living communities offer all types of social events and outings. You can find fitness classes and other wellness activities, crafts groups, book clubs, and much more. Many communities have volunteer opportunities for residents and planned outings. If you have a unique interest or talent, create your own group or offer to teach a class. If you are more of a hermit, that’s fine, too. Stay in and chill out with a good book or Netflix binge. You have the complete freedom to come and go as you please and participate in activities as often or as little as you choose. Your family and friends can visit you as often as you’d like. If you age in place, you will have your circle of friends, neighbors, and family. However, if you develop health or mobility problems that limit your ability to get out and socialize, it’s easy for isolation to set in.
Amenities
Most senior communities have fitness centers and swimming pools that are included with your monthly rent. That easily offsets the cost of a gym membership or community pool pass if you age in place. Depending on the region, senior communities can have walking paths and access to hiking trails and lakes. Other amenities may include a movie theatre, pub, on-site hair stylists and barbers, and more. These perks are particularly attractive during hazardous winter weather.
Healthcare
Senior communities have nursing staff on hand, and many offer 24/7 access to care, which should be included in your monthly rent. In addition, most of them offer in-house services such as physical therapy and host visits from subspecialists such as podiatrists. If you age in place and need continuing care, you will need to hire a home health agency.
Costs
When you live in a senior community, budgeting is a breeze because you know what your monthly rent will cost, plus any additional services you sign up for. When you age in place, you never know when you will need to make an expensive home repair. On top of that, you may need to pay for lawn care and snow removal. You will also have to deal with other related expenses that come along with homeownership.
Kingsbury is Here When You Are Ready
Where you decide to live during your retirement years is a big decision and not one to be taken lively. If you would like to learn more about assisted living apartments and villas, consider Kingsbury. We are proud Ohioans and are expanding throughout the state, with established communities in many locations. We strive to provide our residents with safe, stress-free living combined with our first-class amenities. When you live at a Kingsbury community, you will be treated like royalty.
Schedule a tour at one of our Ohio senior living communities to see what we have to offer in person.