Am I ready for senior living? That’s a question that many seniors find themselves asking when they start to reach a certain age. You may be asking it yourself, whether for you or a senior loved one. It’s possible that the idea seems laughable – after all, you’re still active, healthy and relatively young. But being younger, active and healthy doesn’t mean that you still can’t benefit from senior living, says Barbara A. Keller, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Peter Becker Community.
“A lot of people can be opposed to the idea of senior living simply because of the name and what they assume it’s like,” Barb says. Which is why it’s possible you may have heard the terms independent living or retirement living as you think about senior living options. “Today’s retirement communities are a lot more like upscale resorts than the nursing homes of old. It’s a maintenance-free lifestyle, with all sorts of benefits and services, plus a residence and a lifestyle that’s designed for healthy aging.”
A lot of today’s seniors choose to move into retirement living before they “need” it – you’ll note that need is in quotes, says Barb, because need can be defined in a lot of different ways. “Need can mean requiring care or certain levels of assistance, or need can mean simply not wanting to do home chores anymore,” she says. “It’s up to the individual, and no answer is right or wrong.”
Still, you do need to be “ready” to move to senior living, since that will put you in the best mindset to take advantage of everything community life has to offer. So how do you know if and when you’re “ready?” Take a look at our checklist and mark down what sounds like your situation.
What’s your take on home maintenance?
- I love doing it! It’s my favorite thing.
- It’s okay – I don’t necessarily love it but I know it has to be done.
- I’m not able to do as much as I would like.
- I despise it and wish I never had to deal with it again.
How’s your social life these days?
- It’s never been better. I’m so social that I wish I had more time to myself.
- It’s a little slower than I would like because people have moved away, but I’ve still got a good friends group and we do lots of things together.
- I can’t get out as much these days, which means I’m not as active, but I still have a social life every once in a while.
- I tend to stay at home a lot, and my social life is pretty nonexistent.
Do you find it hard to stay on top of things like bills and mail?
- It’s never a problem, and I always open my mail on the day I get it.
- I eventually get around to it.
- I’ve been finding it a little overwhelming and sometimes pay bills late.
- I can’t keep up with it.
How often do you have meaningful communication with friends and family?
- Multiple times each day
- At least once a week
- Maybe once a month
- I can’t remember the last time I spoke with friends and family.
How do you feel about going grocery shopping and cooking?
- I love the grocery store and create culinary masterpieces every day.
- I have no problem doing it, but I do get tired of cooking for myself.
- It can be hard to get to the grocery store and sometimes I don’t eat because it’s too much work to prepare food.
- It’s actually become hard to get to the grocery store and I’ve noticed I don’t often have healthy food available because it spoils.
How is your mobility? Are you able to get around your home?
- No problems whatsoever.
- I have my days.
- It’s getting pretty difficult and I should probably invest in a stair lift or something to help me get around.
- I’ve fallen a lot of times and it’s very hard for me to maneuver around the house.
Have any friends or family members expressed concern about you living alone?
- Never.
- Every once in a while, but mainly because I’ve talked about downsizing at some point.
- Now that you mention it, they have been bringing it up more often lately.
- It seems like they’re always talking about it.
Has your physician or health care provider talked to you about moving to senior living?
- No
- Once
- Several times
- Regularly
If you answered mostly A’s…
Congratulations! We’re guessing you’ve just retired and are excited about everything life has to offer. Although you’re perfectly able to do everything you want and need to do independently, this is actually a great time for you to consider moving to senior living. Downsizing to a senior living community can free up your time by taking things like chores, home maintenance and other piddly tasks off your plate. You’ll have the freedom to do everything you want to do, not have to do. Plus, you’ll really get to live the good life here – all while you’re still young and active.
If you answered mostly B’s…
Sounds like things are going well for you, but there are some things that you don’t necessarily like about living at home. Maybe you’re just tired of doing chores, or you’re not as social as you’d like, or noticing that things are starting to get a little more tiring or troublesome than they were a few years ago. It may be worth talking to your family and doing research about senior living communities in your area, because there are lots of benefits to living in one besides simply getting health care. Besides a maintenance- and chore-free lifestyle, senior living communities also have a bustling community life filled with like-minded peers and so many activities and opportunities to do things together. If you’ve been feeling lonely or bored, maybe a move should be in your future.
If you answered mostly C’s…
You really would benefit from moving into senior living at this point because it could significantly improve your quality of life. It sounds like things are becoming more difficult, and before things become overwhelming, it’s worth doing your research and finding a community that can provide the support and care you might require while also giving you the opportunities to do things you love. Best of all, moving to a community can help you live a healthier and safer life than what you’re living at home.
If you answered mostly D’s…
If you aren’t already actively looking into senior living communities, you should be. It sounds like you have reached the point where you’re feeling overwhelmed about living on your own, but you may not know where to begin. Take a deep breath – you have many resources available and we are here for you. Talk to your physician and family members as soon as possible and enlist their help in finding a community that suits your needs and your preferences. You will be amazed at how quickly your life will improve.
Your Moments Are at the Heart of What We Do
At Peter Becker Community, it’s our mission each day to celebrate your individuality, whether you reside here full-time or are here as a temporary resident of our Health Care Center. Our support and encouragement are always expressed one-on-one. As a Continuing Care Retirement Community, we provide an environment that empowers you to remain active and independent, while ensuring your future needs will always be met. As a not-for-profit community, we are focused exclusively on the well-being of our residents.
We offer a full range of services – from independent Residential Living, to Personal Care, to Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation services, to compassionate Memory Care in our secure Memory Care neighborhood. Life here is good – it’s enriched by the time, choices, connections and involvement you’ll discover at our Continuing Care Retirement Community.
With our spectrum of activities, amenities, dining options, maintenance-free living and so much more, you’ll discover you spend more time enjoying our lifestyle and less time worrying about the details of life. You’ll find choices to build a secure life, connections that build closeness, involvement in the world at large and time to explore it all.
For more information about the services provided at Peter Becker Community, or to schedule a personal visit to our Continuing Care Retirement Community in Montgomery county, please contact us at (215) 720-1087 to begin the conversation.