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Is your retirement lifestyle providing you with the freedom and flexibility you imagined? When you are newly retired, sometimes the reality of leaving the workforce behind doesn’t quite live up to your dream of carefree living. And there are a variety of reasons why. While your house might be filled with great memories, the chores and maintenance that come with home ownership can become too much of a burden. As can grocery shopping and cooking for one or two. The financial side of staying in a house that doesn’t meet your needs anymore doesn’t always add up, either.
Then there’s another issue commonly faced by older adults: a decreasing social circle. After retiring, you might lose touch with close colleagues you worked with or have friends who move away to be nearer to their adult children and grandchildren. Finding new friends to travel or pursue hobbies with can be more challenging as you grow older. It can hold people back from living the retirement they hoped for, and even result in loneliness and isolation.
These are just a few signs that suggest it may be time for a change, such as a move to an independent living community. These thoughtfully planned senior communities offer amenities and services that enable residents to enjoy life on their own terms. We put together this Independent Living Decision Toolkit to help seniors navigate their way through the search for an independent living community that best meets their needs. You’ll find an overview of what independent living communities offer, tips for touring and asking questions, information about financing and answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Let’s get started!
An independent living community is a senior housing option designed with the active adult in mind. Older adults who choose to move to one are looking for a lifestyle free from the worries of home maintenance and repairs, giving them more time to focus on the social side of life.
Independent living comes in several forms:
There are a multitude of benefits associated with both types of independent living including a wide variety of amenities, including emergency response system and onsite staff 24/7.
Here are a few of the reasons older adults find independent living communities to be an ideal retirement solution:
A move to independent living comes with a maintenance-free lifestyle. No more worries about shoveling snow, mowing the lawn or fixing the dishwasher! The team at ASC handles all of those details.
Depending on the community you choose, you’ll find a wide variety of amenities and services, from meals to housekeeping, transportation and trash removal. These services and amenities are designed to make life more convenient for active adults.
Independent living communities offer residents meaningful ways to connect each day. It might be over a quick cup of coffee in the dining room before heading over to morning devotionals or an afternoon art workshop. The life enrichment programs are a leading reason seniors opt for a move to independent living during retirement.
Another benefit of independent living is the safe, secure environment it creates for older adults. Features ranging from on-site staffing around the clock to fire suppression systems and an emergency call system help residents feel safe living alone.
Older adults sometimes find having a transportation program to be more helpful and convenient than they anticipated. Outings to local shopping centers, restaurants, museums and concerts are easier when you leave the driving and parking to someone else.
We hope this overview provides you with a better understanding of Independent Living communities, and why they help offer older adults a better quality of life.
To continue learning more about independent living for active seniors, we encourage you to download and review the remainder of the ASC Independent Living Toolkit. You may also wish to share it with loved ones who will be involved in helping you find the community that best meets your needs, now and into the future.