The decision of whether or not you should move out of your home and into a senior apartment is a highly emotional one. It can feel as though leaving your home means losing your independence, and it’s never easy to leave a place that you have poured so much of your time and effort into. Never mind the fact that often your home will be where you have made precious memories with your family.
However, on the other hand, maintaining a home can take a lot of time and money. Not to mention the fact that many seniors find themselves becoming increasingly isolated, as it becomes more difficult to go out and meet people. Here are seven reasons why moving to a senior apartment might not be such a bad idea after all.
No more maintenance worries
The actual time and cost that you spend maintaining your home will vary hugely depending on factors such as the age and size of your property. According to Home Advisor,
homeowners spend an average of $1,105 on maintenance per year, and 30% of homeowners were also forced to spend money on an emergency repair throughout the course of the year. The average cost of these emergency repairs was $1,206.
If you are retired and on a fixed income, these extra unexpected costs are a worry. It can also become more difficult to carry out the repairs that you might have previously been able to do yourself as you get older.
Generally, with senior apartments you will pay a fixed monthly rent, which is inclusive of any repair costs. This is great because it removes a worry, and also gives you more time to spend doing the activities that make you happy.
A sense of community
One of the best features of senior apartments is the sense of community that they can provide. When you are living in a senior apartment you will be living in close proximity to other people of a similar age and with similar life experiences to you.
This sense of community is essential for your wellbeing, as being part of a community means that:
- You feel supported and can provide support to others. This means that not only will you have people to lean on when you are having a tough time, but you can also give yourself the sense of purpose and meaning that comes with helping other people.
- You have influence within a group, which brings an enormous sense of empowerment.
- By sharing with others, you will find that your own creativity and ideas benefit.
- You will feel connected to other people, which is our main reason for living as human beings.
- There are opportunities for learning, as new people always bring new perspectives and ideas with them.
Time to explore connections and hobbies
Most senior living apartments will be set up in such a way that they are community focused, and as such, provide easy access to social events and also hobbies. It’s much easier to get started with a new hobby or join a social group if you know that you can just walk there from home!
Exploring new hobbies and making new connections can make life seem a great deal more meaningful. Not only this, but it’s been shown to be important for neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to create new connections and to grow new neurons. This is essentially the brains ability to adapt and change in response to new experiences. It’s thought that neuroplasticity is an important part of maintaining our cognitive ability as we age.
By making sure that you are connecting with new people, maintaining meaningful relationships, and increasing your knowledge, you are giving your mind the best possible chance of staying healthy.
Conveniences and amenities
Most senior apartments will be located inside complexes that have everything you could ever need. Many will have fitness centers, pools, libraries, arts and crafts rooms, beauty and barber salons, and beautiful park-like grounds.
This makes it incredibly easy to take part in daily exercise, which as we all know, is very important for longevity and wellbeing.
Although they will be connected by public transport, it’s nice to know that everything you could possibly ever need is on your doorstep.
Centrally located
Senior living apartment complexes are built with seniors in mind, so they will generally be centrally located, making it easy to go and visit family and friends or take part in your usual activities outside of the complex.
They have been created knowing that everyone’s individual needs differ, so you should be able to find an apartment that meets your own needs. For example, many complexes will offer apartments where pets are welcome so that you can bring along your beloved four-legged pal!
Have a look at senior apartments near me to see if you can spot one that meets your needs.
Available for all budgets
There are, of course, incredibly luxurious senior living apartments available, which are located in sought-after areas, have greater square footage, and offer a huge range of services; but for those who don’t quite have the budget for that, there are also senior apartments that are priced at a competitive market rate. This should mean that you don’t end up paying any more than you would on rent for any other type of home, but you still get access to the community and additional facilities that senior apartments can provide.
There are also options available for low-income families, where prices are determined by the individual state. Generally, there will be funding available for these options.
In general, senior apartments are the cheapest option for seniors, because they don’t involve paying the additional cost of skilled nursing or care staff that other types of senior living do.
Maintain your independence for longer
Although it can seem as though you are giving up some of your independence by leaving your home and moving into a senior living apartment, it’s likely that taking up this option will actually allow you to maintain your independence for longer.
By removing the stresses of everyday life and focusing on your own wellbeing and happiness, it is much more likely that you will continue to enjoy a higher quality of life for much longer.