Retirement is an exciting milestone. After years of hard work, you finally have the opportunity to pursue your passions and spend your days in the ways that are most meaningful. At the same time there are significant choices to be made, including where you call home. If you’re weighing staying in your current home vs. living in a community, use this guide to help make a decision that’s right for your desired lifestyle.
Where to Spend Your Retirement Years: 4 Factors to Consider
Deciding where to spend your retirement years is unique to each individual. You want to make sure the situation is comfortable and provides the support you need to thrive. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, these are some of the common factors that are especially influential.
1. Social Network
One of the most common issues among older adults is loneliness and isolation. As friends, family and neighbors move away and aren’t easily accessible, it can become more difficult to make new social connections. Though it might be tempting to stay in a familiar setting, a lack of socialization can have a detrimental impact on the health of individuals 50 and older.
In fact, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found isolation can have health impacts that rival those of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. Community living often provides easier opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals who share your same interests and goals.
2. Financial Flexibility
Retirement comes with a lot of careful financial planning. Without a regular income, it’s important to stick to a fixed budget and ensure all expenses are covered. Living at home might have the advantage of a mortgage that’s been completely paid off, but you never know when a major issue could arise. You should determine if you have the cash available to handle these unexpected expenses. With community living, costs are much more predictable. It’s easier to anticipate future expenses and find options that work within your financial means.
3. Skilled Care Needs
Access to skilled care both now and in the future should always be a top consideration. For those who call more remote areas home, access to specialists and medications might be more of a challenge. Even if you live in a large city, fighting traffic or coordinating transportation for regular doctor visits can become increasingly burdensome. Should you anticipate your need for care will increase, a community setting can be an ideal solution. Professional care is available on-site, around the clock, and can always be customized over time.
4. Upkeep and Maintenance
Among the joys of home ownership are more tedious tasks like mowing the lawn or weeding the garden. As many older adults age, some of these routine tasks become more challenging and may seem impossible to maintain. Plus, after 30+ years of upkeep and maintenance, do you really want to spend your retirement years working on the same old chores? Community life completely removes these responsibilities, offering a maintenance-free lifestyle that provides time to spend your days doing what you love.
The Benefits of Community Living
Most people have their own notions about what community living offers. Whether right or wrong, in many cases you have to see the advantages for yourself to understand. As you consider staying at home vs. living in a community, these are some of the numerous benefits the latter can offer.
A Focus on Wellness
There’s much more to wellness than just exercising and eating healthy. Many communities for older adults embrace this outlook and put an emphasis on the health of mind, body and spirit. When these wellness opportunities are integrated into everyday life, it becomes much easier to thrive in the ways you find meaningful.
Increased Social Opportunities
When you live alone it can be hard to find new social opportunities. The advantage of community living is that there are practically unlimited possibilities for interaction and connection right outside your door. With a robust offering of everything from yoga classes to community gardens, you can easily develop relationships with others who share your interests.
Supporting Independence
It’s a common misconception that choosing community life means sacrificing independence. In reality, the goal of most communities for older adults is to support the ambitions of residents and encourage independent living. It allows you to leave behind time-consuming chores and plan each day around what makes you feel fulfilled.
Maintenance-Free Living
Those who move from living at home to community life find one of the easiest aspects to leave behind is the constant grind of upkeep and maintenance. In a retirement community, both building maintenance and groundskeeping are completely covered. Most communities also offer additional services such as laundry, housekeeping and on-site security.
Customized Health Care
Having the option for skilled care available at all times is a huge benefit of living in a community. Even though you might not require this resource now, it’s always available should your needs change. Many services are conveniently available on-site, and treatment plans can be customized for each individual.
How to Choose the Community That’s Right For You
If you’re giving community living serious consideration, it can sometimes feel overwhelming with all of the options available. As you search for a place to call home for your retirement years, here are some tips to help inform your decision.
- Make an in-person visit to the community to get firsthand experience.
- Spend time in the surrounding town or city to acquaint yourself with the local area.
- Bring trusted friends or family members in on the process to get multiple perspectives.
- Hear from those who live in the community about their favorite aspects and why they made their decision.
- Understand all of the financial details and commitments to make sure they match your budget.
- Verify the amenities and activities match your interests and how you enjoy spending your time.
- Determine if the community has the health services you need now and in the future.
- Be open in your communication, asking any and all questions you might have.
What The Waterford Offers Residents
The Waterford is an exceptional senior living community unlike any other. We work tirelessly to exceed the expectations of residents and help them cultivate a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and enriching. Located in Juno Beach, Florida, residents are just minutes away from the beach and the other area attractions of West Palm Beach.
No matter your interests, you can find something to enjoy within The Waterford’s community life. This includes everything from exclusive membership privileges at the nearby PGA National Resort and Spa to chef-prepared meals at our gorgeous dining venues.
With wellness as the central focus, our community offers a plethora of cultural, social, recreational and leisure opportunities. The goal is to help residents make meaningful connections and focus more time and energy on their passions.
In addition to the many amenities and activities, The Waterford’s health services have been rated among the top in the country by U.S. News & World Report. We have a caring, compassionate team of skilled professionals available around the clock. Residents benefit from priority access to a full continuum of care to meet each individual’s specific needs.
As you consider the choice between staying at home and living in a community, please consider us a resource that’s in your corner. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or details you want to learn more about. Our dedicated team will be more than happy to have an honest conversation and show you what makes The Waterford so special.
