Bob knows that the house where he and his wife, Claire, raised their three children is too much to care for.
But he and Claire like being able to have the kids and grandkids over for holidays and get-togethers and can’t bring themselves to part with the home where family memories began. Bob loves walking through the door to the garage each day and seeing the hash marks and dates on the door where Claire carefully marked the birthdays and heights of each of their children.
After 63 years in this home, how can they possibly move?
But when a bad ice storm sent a huge limb from the old oak tree in the side yard crashing through the roof and into their bedroom, he and Claire began to rethink things. Yes, Claire has house cleaners come twice a month. But after her second hip replacement, she just hasn’t been able to move around quite as much. Bob finally did agree to hire a lawn service after getting his pacemaker. But maintaining the house has slowly but surely become overwhelming. And even though the kids are good about visits and calls, the winters feel long and lonely.
George and Myra put their house on the market the day after George retired at 58. They knew how much fun they would have living in a life plan retirement community because they visit Myra’s mother at her community several times each week, and sometimes join her for meals, bingo, and concerts by the lake. In fact, George and Myra’s two daughters have Sunday dinner with their parents and grandmother every other Sunday at the community.
George and Myra have already put down a deposit to hold their option on an Independent Living carriage home, and will use some of the proceeds from the sale of their home to pay the community entrance fee. Myra’s mother lives in an Assisted Living apartment home—just across campus from where George and Myra will live.
Two couples with two very different ideas about the right time to move to a retirement community. Of course, personal preference and individual priorities are certainly paramount when making the decision to move. But one thing is clear: one couple is worrying about planning their future and one couple is planning a future of fun.
What Bob and Claire may not realize is that moving into a retirement community doesn’t mean abandoning memories or missing out on family time. In fact, surveys of senior living residents show overwhelmingly that most seniors—even those who were reluctant to move—say that doing so was the right decision.
Here are their top reasons for making the move to a senior living community:
- Health and Wellness: Life Plan or Continuing Care Retirement Communities in particular offer a continuum of healthcare services as well as fitness programs and classes
- Security: Senior living communities offer both physical and emotional security and the peace of mind of knowing that help is always available
- Social Engagement: Opportunities for friendships are readily available at senior living communities and bring myriad wellness benefits
- Amenities and Activities: From indoor pools to libraries to cultural events, clubs, and transportation, senior living communities offer a wide array of opportunities for engagement
- Peace of Mind for Their Children: Senior parents know their adult children worry about them falling, being lonely, or not getting proper nutrition or care; these fears are eased when adult children know their parents are cared for
Bob and Claire involved their adult children in their decision to find a Life Plan Retirement Community and put their home on the market. They chose a community near their family, and were thrilled to learn that the community welcomes family members for visits. They were relieved to know that their family completely supports their decision to move. And Bob was delighted when his son helped him install a very special door from their old home in his and Claire’s new cottage!
