Many seniors choose to downsize their homes as they get older. While this can make sense logically, some older adults may feel uncomfortable at the idea of actually leaving a home where they’ve lived for decades. Considering how many memories you’ve made in your home, it makes sense that the idea of downsizing can be a little daunting, says Barbara A. Keller, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Peter Becker Community.
“I tell seniors who are considering moving to our community to think of what they’re gaining instead of what they’re giving up,” she says. “Instead of giving up your large family home and a lot of your possessions, you’re gaining freedom, options and possibilities.”
Barb says that many residents at Peter Becker Community wish they’d moved here sooner. “Your priorities really shift in retirement, and the concept of time can change drastically,” she says. “Our residents really enjoy having more time to do the things they love, having an immediate community of friends and having a maintenance-free lifestyle that handles all the details.”
Here are just a few reasons why it makes sense to upsize your life by downsizing and moving to a senior living community like ours:
- Your monthly expenses may decrease.
Even if you own your home free and clear, there are a lot of costs associated with homeownership and living on your own. Instead of paying for utilities, lawn maintenance, home repairs, real estate taxes, upkeep and general expenses, think of what you could use that money for instead. Downsizing to Peter Becker Community means you only pay one monthly all-inclusive fee to enjoy everything we have to offer. No more surprise expenses like a broken water heater. No more paying for snow removal or leaf pick-up. Instead, you can spend that money on vacations, enjoying new restaurants, starting a new hobby or visiting family.
- You can say goodbye to home chores.
Even if you pay for everything to be done around your house (see #1 above), you still have to spend the time and energy thinking about and coordinating what needs to be done. Wouldn’t it be nicer to simply not have to think about it at all? Downsizing to a senior living community means that you don’t have to worry about any of that. We handle all the chores and maintenance. You don’t have to call a plumber and wait for hours or days until they can come out. We have an on-site maintenance crew who’s available anytime. We take care of every aspect of the community so all you have to do is enjoy it.
- You have time to enjoy the activities you want.
Freeing up your time and money means that you have so many more resources to spend on picking up a new hobby, going to events, making new friends and doing the things you want. Yes, you can stay in your private home or apartment if you wish, but there are so many events and activities happening literally outside your door. And you don’t have to worry about coordinating them yourself. It’s all been planned for you, so all you have to do is show up. Talk about easy and fun!
- You can finally get rid of all that clutter that isn’t sparking joy.
No matter how big or small your family home is, you probably have a lot of stuff sitting in the basement or garage or storage unit that you haven’t seen in years. You don’t necessarily want it, but you haven’t had the opportunity or reason to get rid of it yet. Well, here’s your opportunity. Downsizing and moving to senior living provides the perfect opportunity to get rid of extra dishes, clothes and knickknacks. Getting rid of clutter and “stuff” can be a very freeing experience, and also gives you an opportunity to gift those family pieces to your adult children or grandchildren. It also means that you can get rid of all the old stuff (like that bulky dining room table) and buy new pieces (like a new couch and loveseat) that will better suit your new lifestyle.
- You expand your social circle.
Through most of our lives, we find ourselves inserted into instant social groups: school, work, children’s’ friends and such. After retirement, many seniors find that their social circles start to shrink as others move away or pass away. It can start to get pretty lonely. But that’s not the case in a senior living community. As soon as you move in, you’ll find yourself surrounded with other active, independent adults who are looking forward to everything this new chapter of life has to offer. It’s easy to make new friends and form solid, strong relationships.
- You can make a clean break and start a new chapter.
Downsizing gives you the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to things in your life that you don’t necessarily enjoy anymore and start a fresh, new chapter. All at once, you have a new routine, a new group of friends and a new mindset. You’re no longer stuck doing the same old, same old that you were in your family home. You get a chance to reinvent yourself and find new ways to celebrate, connect and entertain. While this can seem scary at first, we promise that when you actually make the plunge, you’ll wish you’d have done it sooner.
You have peace of mind for the future.
No one really likes to think about the realities of getting older, but the truth is that we all age, and we all end up needing more and more assistance in order to live safely and happily. Most family homes are set up for families, not necessarily for aging adults. However, Peter Becker Community has been designed to help older adults remain active and independent for as long as possible. Not only does this mean emergency systems, accessible features like pull bars and railings, zero stairs to climb and easy-to-navigate pathways, but it also means on-site security and caring team members as well as services designed with the aging adult’s needs in mind. Our goal is to provide an enriching lifestyle and peace of mind – and that’s exactly what you’ll find here.
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.