Choosing a community where you’ll spend your senior years can be very exciting. At the same time, it can be overwhelming, especially if you’re downsizing from a larger home to a much smaller apartment or cottage home in a senior living community. How much space are you actually going to need? What do you need to get rid of, and what can you keep? How do you know what will work best for your needs? These questions and more can often be dependent on what type of floor plan you select for your new living space.
“Choosing a floor plan in your senior living community is a bit like looking for a new home,” says Barbara A. Keller, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Peter Becker Community. “Just as you did when you purchased your most recent home, you weighed your wants and needs against different features, locations and layouts. The same goes with senior living floor plans, although you may discover you end up having different expectations for your new place. For example, you may decide that cooking every day isn’t something you necessarily want to do, since there are so many great dining options available. In that case, a large, state-of-the-art kitchen isn’t really necessary. Or, you may decide that a two-bedroom floor plan would actually be better for you – even if you’re living by yourself – because you’d like that space available as an office or craft space.”
Barb says that determining what you need out of your new senior living space is a great first step towards making your best retirement lifestyle happen. “A lot of seniors start to feel a little anxious when they look at how small, comparatively, senior living cottage homes and apartments are next to private homes. However, if you look at the fact that you’re gaining everything the community offers – dining options, a fitness center, a gorgeous campus and so much more – you realize that you actually now have much more space than you ever did before. And best of all, you don’t have to take care of it – we do that for you!”
If you’re thinking of moving into senior living, but aren’t sure what floor plan might be right for you and your new lifestyle, here are some things to think about.
How much space do you really need?
Or, conversely, what space can you do without? While this question seems simple on the surface, it can get pretty complex once you start breaking down what you want and need from your living space. While at first you may be tempted to get the biggest floor plan available, that may not actually be the best option.
Look at your current home and figure out how many of your rooms and spaces you actually spend time in. More than likely, there are only a handful of rooms that you use on a regular basis, including the kitchen and bathrooms. How often do you go in the formal dining room, or the den? Spend a few weeks looking at your usual routine and traffic pattern, and you may be surprised at how much space you do (or don’t) use.
You’ll also want to think about how much socialization or entertaining you’ll want to do in your home – that is, your private space. Do you plan on hosting overnight guests on a regular basis? Or you enjoy holding intimate get-togethers with groups of people for movie night, cocktails or anything else? If entertaining is something that’s important to you, you may want to look for a floor plan that has enough space for your various gatherings.
Finally, look at the things you own with a critical eye. What items do you absolutely need to bring to a home in order to make the space yours? And is that ultimately important for you and your enjoyment of a home? Ultimately, you’ll want to bring things with you that make your new house a home, but defining your new space based on how much “stuff” you can bring is probably not the best idea.
What sort of storage options do you require?
If you have a lot of possessions you’re bringing with you, you will need a place to put them. Everyone needs some space to store things, no matter where they live, because the “stuff” of life takes up space. We’re talking about things like closets, cupboards and under-counter storage – not necessarily a storage unit (which isn’t something that’s necessarily the best use of your time and money). Still, you’ll want enough space to comfortably store the things you want and need, whether that’s a spatula or a car. Analyze the various floor plans available and determine if there’s adequate storage or if there are ways to adjust the space by adding different organizational solutions.
Will someone else be living with you?
Couples may want a larger floor plan in senior living so that each person can have their own private space. Even though a senior living community means you have lots of space available, there is something comforting and relaxing about having a space that’s entirely yours. While you don’t want a house or apartment that’s too big and you have wasted space, you also want to make sure you aren’t choosing a floor plan that will leave you feeling uncomfortable and cramped.
Do you enjoy cooking?
One of the biggest perks of a senior living community is that there are a variety of dining options available, meaning you never have to cook or clean up again if you don’t want to. However, if cooking is a hobby of yours, you may want a kitchen and storage space that will allow you to pursue your passion without sacrificing on quality. Some floor plans in senior living offer full kitchens while others offer kitchenettes.
What service and amenities are available onsite?
Now that you’ve looked at the things you need in your senior living floor plan, let’s discuss the things you don’t need. For example, you won’t need a storage closet to hold lawn equipment, because your community is maintenance-free and things like landscaping and outdoor maintenance are included. You also won’t need space for a dedicated exercise room, because you’ll have a fully equipped fitness center available (for free) with a wide variety of classes and exercise options. You also won’t need a formal dining room, because if you’re having a party or large gathering, the community has plenty of entertaining spaces that you can reserve. While you’re looking at various floor plans, be sure you’re taking into account everything you’re gaining as a resident of the community.
Floor Plans at Peter Becker Community
We know that each individual has unique needs, especially when it comes to their perfect lifestyle. That’s why Peter Becker Community offers a wide variety of floor plans for both apartment and cottage home options. Whether you like the idea of a larger cottage or more intimate apartment, we have an array of floor plans to choose from. Depending on the option you choose, you can enjoy sunrooms, patios, dens, garages, and more.
Maplewood Estates, our amenities-rich community center, offers apartment homes in six different food plans:
- One-Bedroom
- One-Bedroom with Den
- Two-Bedroom Standard
- Two-Bedroom End
- Two-Bedroom Corner
- Two-Bedroom End Deluxe
Ridgeview Estates, which is located within our Campus Center, offers three types of floor plans in differing sizes:
- Studio
- One-Bedroom
- Two-Bedroom
Crescent Meadows Cottages are cottage homes located in the heart of our community. These cottages offer both single homes and twin homes (duplex style). We have two other cottage home neighborhoods:
- Woodsedge Cottages is located on a single cul-de-sac and offers one- and two-bedroom options.
- Maplewood Crossing is our luxury neighborhood offering duplex-style homes and a single cottage.
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, 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.