By Dana Larsen on May 16, 2012
While remaining in the family home is the top choice of many, new research from AARP and MetLife Mature Market Institute shows that it may not be the best option for overall happiness, the family budget or quality of life in the golden years.
Many people don?t want to make the move into assisted living. People will fight ?tooth and nail? to stay in their family homes as long as they can. This makes sense as people feel they lose their independence along with their dignity when they succumb to moving to a senior community. But this simply isn?t true any more as the baby boomers have reinvented assisted living. Many retirement and assisted living communities have expanded their market by providing fun retirement and convenience services.
Assisted living is not your grandma?s nursing home, despite what people think. Today there are a myriad of amenities in many communities, including golf, beauty or barber services, gourmet dining and spas. Through these services as well as social activities, many seniors are finding that today?s retirement communities and assisted living provide socialization, convenience, happiness and improved quality of life.
Here are 4 reasons why making the move to retirement and assisted living communities may be a smart choice for you or your loved one:
- It Can Be Less Expensive. Keeping up a family home can be costly, especially on one fixed income. The cost of utilities, not to mention keeping up with repairs?from temperamental?appliances, a leak in roof as well as ?plumbing or any other thing that can age through normal ?wear and tear??can really add up. According to MoneySense magazine, a single person needs to earn about 70 percent more than someone living in a couple to cover typical home expenses. And buying in bulk to save money usually doesn?t work for a single person as food goes bad and storing items may not make sense.
- There?s More Socialization.?Let?s face it. Being alone in your house is less social than living in a community surrounded by many others your age with similar interests. And as people age, inevitably, they get less social as they no longer need to go to work or have the desire to plan continual social events. Retirement and assisted communities do all the planning for you!
- There?s More Opportunity for Physical Activity and Stimulation. Retirement and assisted living communities offer many programs to keep their seniors active, from physical therapy, endurance and strength-building workouts that are catered to senior citizens?to water aerobics and gardening. Staying active in a fun, organized group settings can help seniors treat arthritis, keep their circulation flowing and keep their bodies engaged in healthy living.
- Manners and Civilized Behavior Are Kept ?In-Check.? The old adage, ?If you don?t use it, you lose it? can even be used in a social sense. Manners and civilized behavior can start to deteriorate if you?re always alone, left in a funk or begin to feel depressed. In this way, community interaction is good. Involvement in the community makes people feel like they?re contributing to society, simply because, well?they are. Assisted living and retirement communities offer many outreach programs to keep seniors involved in the community, whether they?re working with kids, businesses or non-profit organizations. Having a connection and contributing feels good. And especially for senior citizens to help them not feel ?out-of-touch? in the world.
Read our Senior Living Adds Comfort and Reassurance for Many blog post to learn more about the benefits of assisted living and retirement communities.
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Category: Aging and Health News, Assisted Living Communities, Senior Living Trends
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