Submitted by Holly Hall, Village of Mercy Creek
Have you noticed that your home maintenance responsibilities have become a hassle? Or maybe your adult child has mentioned that you might want to start thinking about moving. Whatever the catalyst was, you’re wondering if it’s time to make the transition to a senior living community.
Making the move to a senior living community is a big life change. It’s natural to go back and forth about whether it’s the best decision for your lifestyle. Are you ready to move to a senior living community? Following are 5 considerations to help you find the right answer.
1. How Has Home Maintenance Been Going for You?
From mowing the lawn to making home repairs, the responsibilities of home maintenance can build up fast. Take some time to think about how you’ve been fairing with your home maintenance. Some of the early warning signs that home maintenance is becoming a hassle include:
- You’re spending more time keeping up with all your home maintenance tasks
- Certain areas of your home are starting to deteriorate
- You’ve had to hire people to handle tasks that you used to take care of
When you live at a senior living community, you’ll be able to put the hassle of home maintenance behind you. Everything inside your new home will be maintained by the community. That way, you’ll have more time to pursue your passions.
2. Think About Your Family
Do you have family members that you wished you lived closer to? Moving to a senior living community can be your opportunity to spend more time with your loved ones. Senior living communities take care of meals, help you make appointments and offer you other supportive amenities. Your family will have peace of mind about your well-being, and you’ll have more free time to share with them.
3. What Is Your Social Life Like?
When you’re in retirement, it’s normal for your social circle to shrink. Your friends might move to warmer climates or could be traveling more often now that they’re no longer working. Have you found yourself wishing for more social connections in your life? Senior living communities offer a variety of life enrichment activities. That allows you to spend time with friends who share your interests and hobbies.
4. Do You Want Peace of Mind for the Future?
Your health is good now, but you want to make sure that you’re covered should your needs change. If you’re looking for peace of mind about the future, a senior living community could be right for you. Many communities offer a continuum of care that help protect you from life’s unknowns. At a senior living community, you’ll have access to a variety of care services. With peace of mind about your future health, you’ll be able to focus on enjoying your retirement.
5. Are You Concerned About Your Cost of Living?
In retirement, your cost of living might be higher than you think. Between meals, transportation, home maintenance, and housekeeping costs, your budget might be feeling some pressure. A senior living community can take care of all these needs for you at one monthly cost.
When you’re a resident at a senior living community, the cost of any future needs also goes down. For example, five years from now you might have to make age-friendly modifications to your home, do extensive home repairs, or allow for increases in property taxes.
If your think you might be ready to start the next fulfilling chapter of your retirement, consider visiting some senior living communities and see what they have to offer.
For more information on senior living options, you may contact The Village at Mercy Creek at 309-268-1501 or online at www.villageatmercycreek.org. They have a wealth of experience with senior issues and can provide their expertise and experience to help you make the best decision for your individual situation. They are located at 1501 Mercy Creek Drive in Normal.