Am I Ready For a Senior Living Community?

When is the right time? Am I ready for a move to a senior living community? How will I know? It’s one of those big questions that only you know the answer to. Yes, there are many aspects to consider, and you bet – we’re here to help point those out. Take it from us, we’ve seen a few – er, a few thousand – people move into our community over the past 100 years.

1.   Consider your health.

Remember: a retirement or senior community doesn’t mean nursing home. Whether you’re in great health or you have a few health concerns, this could be the perfect time to make the move. At an independent living community, you’ll find that there is no medical or daily living assistance, but there is a whole community of neighbors and staff members abound to support you. An assisted or catered living community offers a layer of built-in nursing or caregiving support as needed. If you’ve ever thought that it would be nice to have a little help with your daily routine, you’d undoubtedly benefit from the helping hands available at assisted living communities. A great aspect of most assisted livings is that you pay for what you need, so if it’s a little or a lot, they’ll work with you. When in doubt, ask.

2.   How’s the home maintenance going for you?

For many people, the stress and strain of home maintenance gets old fast as it takes its toll on your time and body. The grass is getting shaggy already?! The furnace is making that clicking noise again?! One of the perks of a senior living community is being safe and sound in a worry-free, maintenance-free home.  If you hear your faucet start to leak – never fear! Maintenance professionals come to your rescue, and not on your dime. If you do want to garden a plot in the community garden, most communities will offer you an enjoyable-sized lot (without the weeding, mowing, spraying, etc… that a whole yard requires). Additionally, many communities offer light housekeeping services, even in their independent apartments… what a bonus.

3.   Think about your family.

Do they live close by? Do you see them often? You may start to think about the frequency of their contact and what they do or don’t do for you. If your family is further away, consider a senior living community where concierge services or personal care attendants are built right in to daily life to help you with some of the things your family or friends might – driving to shopping, helping make appointments, reminding you of events and activities. Imagine inviting your kids for a chef-prepared Sunday brunch in the restaurant and not asking them to pick up something from the store for you on their way, or run downstairs and put some salt in the water softener for you. You can just enjoy your time together without worrying about those little tasks you used to ask for their assistance with.

4.   What’s your recreational and social life like now?

If you enjoy activities and opportunities to be involved, chances are you’ll relish the opportunities available at a senior community. You’ll find that most have things going on day and night, so it doesn’t take much to find a group or activity you enjoy and be welcomed to participate, lead, or volunteer with. If you enjoy quality ‘me time’ and like to interact on occasion, chances are you’ll find a senior community a great place to retreat. You can be as busy as you want to be, or not, depending on your lifestyle. Any community will be happy to show you their schedule of activities so you can get an idea of what goes on during the average day.

5.   If someone says “senior living community”, what’s your initial reaction?

If it’s less than enthusiastic, we encourage you to set foot in a few communities and see for yourself. Nowadays, senior living communities are not what they were 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. Chances are top-of-the-line amenities and features that you would never expect await you. Picture this: you start your day in the state-of-the-art fitness center strengthening your muscles with a pal followed by sipping a hot cup of java as you read the paper in the sun room. Then you take a brisk walk through the sun-dappled woods and across the river to freshen up in your apartment before you head to the restaurant for a chef-prepared spinach, swiss, and bacon quiche for breakfast.  Sounds okay, doesn’t it?

If you’re in our neck of the woods, we encourage you to contact us to learn more. We would be delighted to show you why so many have chosen to make Three Pillars their home.