Picture this: waking up in a home that you absolutely love and enjoying a leisurely bite to eat and a cup of coffee. Then you head to the fitness center for a yoga class, and after that, you meet some of your close friends for an art activity. Lunch is a lively affair as you grab a quick bite with those same friends. After lunch, you head back to your apartment to read a book, nap, or maybe both! In the late afternoon, you join your neighbors for a wine and cheese social hour before heading to the dining room for a delicious dish served by friendly, attentive team members who know you and your preferences. After dinner, you join another group of friends for a movie and conversation, and then you head to bed, ready for another great day tomorrow.
Does that sound like fun? If so, then you may want to consider moving to independent living at a senior living community – even if you don’t necessarily “need it.”
“One of the things we hear all the time from our residents is that they wish they’d moved here sooner,” says Angel Van Horn, Community Relations Specialist at Abe’s Garden Community, the original retirement lifestyle community in Nashville, TN. “Communities these days have so much to offer seniors who are active and independent, and the best time to enjoy it is now.”
Angel says that seniors who move into independent living “early” can really live the retirement of their dreams. “It’s the best of all the worlds,” she says. “When you’re completely independent and healthy, you get the benefit of saying goodbye to chores and all the tedious tasks that are taking up your time currently in your family home. That means you can fill your days as you please, having new adventures, making new friends and enjoying retirement to the fullest.”
And that’s not all. Here are some of the advantages of moving into independent living while you’re still a young, active, healthy senior.
1. You say goodbye to chores and home maintenance.
A lot of seniors balk at the idea of moving into senior living because their home is paid off free and clear. And while no longer having a mortgage payment is very attractive, there are still all sorts of fees and costs that add up when you own your own home. Utilities, taxes, insurance and repairs still need to be taken care of, as well as caring for the yard, cleaning the house, cooking and general maintenance. You may be perfectly capable of taking care of all those things and more. But do you really want to? Shouldn’t retirement be the chance for you to shake off your obligations and instead live a life that revolves around you?
Moving into independent living means that everything gets taken care of for you – while you get the benefit of your own private living space. You have a home that’s rightsized for your lifestyle and you never have to shovel the driveway again or go shopping for a new refrigerator when the old one breaks. Instead, you’re going shopping, traveling, or making new friends, or learning a new skill – whatever it is that strikes your fancy.
2. You get to enjoy the benefits of the community for longer.
While you certainly can wait to move into senior living until you need it, moving now means you get to enjoy everything the community has to offer to the fullest. If you move when you need assisted living services or memory care you may not be able to partake in the more active events and activities. Independent living gives you freedom and options while also allowing you to develop a personal connection with the team members and other residents.
3. You have peace of mind.
Right now, you want to enjoy your retirement to the fullest. And that’s exactly what you get – and more – when you move into independent living. You get the benefit of the independent side of things, while also giving the option of additional care if and when it’s needed. It’s a lot easier to age in place if you’re already in a place that’s been designed to help you live a healthy, independent life no matter where your health takes you. It also is a lot easier to age in a place that really feels like home – because you’ve spent so many years here that it is home. In other words, moving into independent living now gives you peace of mind for the future because you’re making an investment in your future.
4. Your social calendar will be packed.
Maintenance-free living means that you’re able to spend more time building and maintaining relationships with the people you care about. Independent living means you’ll be surrounded by people your own age, who are in the same stage of life and are looking to socialize with like-minded people. Not only that, but it’s incredibly easy to strike up conversations and form friendships. Senior communities have full-time activities coordinators who set up everything from fitness classes to off-site events to clubs and so much more. Socialization is a key component of healthy aging; plus, it simply makes life more enjoyable.
5. You can design the retirement future you desire.
Moving into independent living early on really allows you to take control of your retirement years as well as your future. It’s the first, biggest step in ensuring the highest quality of life for you in your senior years. You also have the freedom to design each day as you choose, whether it’s enjoying the benefits of your new home or heading out to explore the world at large. Want to travel the world, or simply take an extended vacation? It’s simple as pie since you no longer have to worry about finding a house sitter or concerning yourself with security systems – your home will be watched over and cared for by a staff you know, trust and care about. Want to pick up a new hobby, learn a new skill or maybe launch a new career? It’s all within reach, and the staff at your new community will do everything possible to help make it easy for you.
“We’ve found that our residents who move here when they’re relatively young and independent are some of our happiest, most fulfilled residents,” says Angel. “I always tell seniors who are on the fence that it’s never too early to move into independent living because there really are no downsides – only upsides. If you want to truly love where you live in your retirement years, I urge you to look into independent living and see just how amazing it can be.”
For more information, please call 615.997.3030.