Have you or a senior loved one been considering moving to independent living, but are hesitating because you’re unsure if now is the right time to move? It actually makes sense to move sooner rather than later, says Angel Van Horn, Community Relations Specialist at Abe’s Garden Community (formerly Park Manor), the most trusted retirement community in Nashville, TN.
“Many seniors think they wouldn’t enjoy living in a senior living community while they’re still healthy, independent and active,” she says. “However, that’s actually the best time to move into independent living. You’ll be able to enjoy life in the community and take advantage of all the perks like maintenance-free living. Over the years, you’ll be able to truly make it your home, allowing you to age in place in a place you know and love.”
Angel says that many residents who have moved to Abe’s Garden Community as independent living residents often say, We wish we had moved sooner!
“Moving to independent living is a step that you or your loved one should be excited for,” she says. “We look at it as a bright new chapter of your life where you’ll be able to chase your dreams and do the things you’ve always wanted to do, and we’ll take care of the rest. It also gives you and your loved one’s peace of mind now and in the future.”
Reason #1: Aging in place and staying independent for longer.
Ask any senior and 99% of them will say that they would like to age “at home.” Today’s senior living communities, though, are far from the nursing homes of yesteryear – particularly when it comes to independent living. Beautiful private homes, delicious dining and socialization aren’t the only reasons seniors go to a community. Communities, even in independent living, are designed for the specific needs of the 55+ crowd. That means things like one-story floor plans, extra-wide doorways that can accommodate walkers and wheelchairs, and even security features like grab bars and emergency call systems. That means you’ll be able to keep your independence for as long as possible … and even when you need a little extra help, you’ll be able to get it.
Reason #2: Better nutrition.
Let’s face it – we don’t always make the best choices when it comes to the food we eat. Sure, we know we’re supposed to eat a certain diet in order to stay as healthy as possible. But when you get older and you’re cooking for just one or two people, making a full meal can just seem like overkill. A lot of seniors who live at home end up eating a lot of processed foods, ready-made dishes or frozen dinners – not nutritionally balanced to support healthy aging at all. By contrast, independent living offers meals that have been prepared by restaurant-quality chefs and are nutritionally balanced to maintain optimal health. Best of all, the food is good – really good. And seniors don’t have to do anything except sit and enjoy. No prep work or clean up required.
Reason #3: Social interaction.
Some seniors may have a shrinking social group due to illnesses, age and others moving away. It’s natural, but it can also get pretty lonely and boring. That’s not good for an aging adult. Experts have shown that lack of social interaction causes an increased risk of cognitive issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression and can even potentially increase your risk for dementias like Alzheimer’s disease. An independent living community is just that – a community. You or your loved one will find yourself living in a place with a large number of people in the same stage of life as you, who want to get out and enjoy the world during their golden years. Think of it a little like going to college, only you don’t have to take classes (unless you want to, that is).
Reason #4: A chore-free lifestyle.
Think about all the things you do on a daily basis to keep a house running. Grocery shopping, Cleaning. Laundry, Home repairs (some planned, some unplanned). And then, of course, you have to pay all the bills … it can get exhausting and, frankly, you may just not want to do it anymore. That’s perhaps the biggest draw that independent living has for today’s active seniors. Independent living takes all those chores off your plate so you never have to do them again. Think of all the time you’ll get back that you can use to read books, go on hikes, take vacations or do whatever else strikes your fancy. And your family will be relieved that you’re no longer getting up on ladders to fix things, or heading out to run errands when the weather’s bad.
Reason #5: Someone’s always around.
Adult children of seniors often worry about their parent’s safety when they live on their own. (Seniors may worry, too.) What happens if someone breaks in? Or there’s a power outage and they have no electricity? What if there’s some sort of health emergency and they can’t get to the phone? No one likes to feel helpless, but getting older certainly comes with its own specific set of fears and issues. An independent living community is a private community, and oftentimes it’s gated or there’s a guard on duty to screen visitors. Communities also have 24/7 security guards on staff to ensure that nothing happens in the middle of the night (or the middle of the day). They also have care team members around the clock, so if there’s a medical emergency or a resident needs help, someone can be there in a matter of minutes. That can be the difference between an accident and a life-threatening incident.
Reason #6: Increased happiness.
All these reasons (and many more) add up to one thing: a happy, healthier and safer senior. Independent living isn’t just a place to live, it’s a lifestyle. And that’s apparent at Abe’s Garden Community. We provide worry-free living with amazing services and amenities that are designed to make life as enjoyable and easy as possible for independent living residents.
Abe’s Garden Community is conveniently located in Belle Meade, one of Nashville’s most desirable areas. Our residents live comfortably on seven beautiful acres, secluded from the busy streets, but still close to Nashville’s great shopping, golf courses, fine dining, theaters and world-class entertainment.
Abe’s Garden Community’s approach to senior living is simply to exceed our residents’ expectations. We strive to provide everything they could possibly need and want so they can live life the way they choose. We continually add new activities, programs and amenities in order to heighten the experience and make it possible for residents to happily say they love where they live. We also know that living well means staying active and independent, so we offer a wide variety of education and exercise programs to ensure personal wellness.
If you have more questions about how independent living can benefit you or a loved one, please contact us at 615.997.3030.