We all spent a lot of time at home in 2020. If you’re an adult of a certain age, you may have looked around your home and thought, Wow! I’m ready to move on to something else. Whether it’s a move you want to make because you’re yearning for community and companionship or simply because you’re tired of keeping up your house – downsizing into a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is sounding better and better for a lot of America’s seniors.
“If this past year has taught us anything, it’s the importance of doing the things you want to do now instead of waiting,” says Barbara A. Keller, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Peter Becker Community. “Many of our residents choose to downsize to our community because living here gives them the opportunity to take work and worry off their plates, leaving as much time as possible to chase their dreams, enjoy their retirement and pursue their passions.”
And, Barb says, summer is the perfect season to downsize your home and upsize your lifestyle.
“Summer, especially this year, is a season of possibilities,” she says. “Thanks to the rise in vaccinations and reduction of mask mandates, more and more businesses and events are opening up – finally getting us back to a semblance of normalcy. For older adults who feel like they’ve been sitting around, waiting to really enjoy their retirement, this summer can be the beginning of a new, exciting and enjoyable chapter in their lives.”
5 Benefits of Downsizing to a CCRC in the Summer
- The days are longer (and warmer).
There’s a very good reason why winter isn’t the prime moving season: the weather. No one wants to move when it’s cold, snowing, and there are only a few good hours of daylight. However, in the summertime, the days are long, the weather conditions are more ideal and it’s simply a lot easier to get everything done that you need to do. Since downsizing requires a lot of work, having those longer days – and the boost of energy you get from the increased daylight and vitamin D – is a real boon.
- ‘Tis the season.
For yard sales, that is. Obviously, when you’re downsizing, you’ll need to get rid of stuff – sometimes a lot of stuff if you’ve been living in your current home for some time. Apartments and residences at CCRCs are usually a lot smaller than a private home, but that’s because residents gain the use and benefits of everything the community has to offer. For example, you no longer need a separate room for a home gym – you have a fitness center available for you to use. Campus residents at Peter Becker Community enjoy the amenities of an on-site YMCA. Once you’ve determined all the items that you’ll be keeping and taking with you to your new home, you’re left with a lot of stuff to sell, donate or trash. Luckily, summer is the season for yard and estate sales, making it a whole lot easier to offload your items.
- ‘Tis the season, part two.
Summer is also the prime season for something else: home sales. Late spring and early summer are the perfect times to put your home on the market and get a quick and beneficial sale. The nice weather and longer days, plus the fact that kids are out of school and schedules are looser, add up to a great time to get your home cleaned up and listed. These days, the housing market has never been hotter, so the chances are good that you can get your home sold quickly, meaning you can move into your new home that much faster.
- You won’t have to deal with fall and winter cleanup.
We admit that it can be quite fun to get your home and lawn all cleaned up for the spring and summer months. Planting flowers, mowing the lawn, pulling the patio furniture out of storage – all that signals friends, family and fun gatherings. Once summer is over, though, that cleanup work switches to getting the home ready for fall and winter. That can be a lot less fun, especially if you have a yard filled with trees whose leaves will need raked, or a long driveway that will need to be plowed. Downsizing during the summer months means that you can say goodbye to that maintenance work. Instead, you’ll be living in a CCRC where everything is handled for you. Imagine: you’ll never have to shovel the sidewalk again.
- You’ll be home for the holidays.
Moving into a senior living community during summer means that you’ll be able to settle in, get a feel for the community and make it feel a little more like home all in time for the fall and winter holidays. Plus, you’ll actually be able to enjoy the holidays instead of trying to deal with downsizing and moving during that time. If you’ve always hosted family gatherings, moving doesn’t have to change that. CCRCs have large spaces that are perfect for family gatherings. You can still cook your favorite dishes, if you like, or you can have the dining team cater a delicious meal on your behalf. The holidays are always a merry time at CCRCs like Peter Becker Community because the halls are decked, events are held and activities are around every corner.
Tips for Downsizing in the Summer
Give yourself plenty of time. Yes, if you want to move during the summer months, you do have a deadline of sorts. But you don’t want to cram all your downsizing events into one weekend – or even a week! Unless you’ve already been taking steps to downsize your possessions, you probably have a lot of stuff to go through. Don’t try to tackle it all at once.
Get help. Enlist the help of family and friends to help you get your home and life ready to move into a CCRC. Depending on how much time (and help) you have, you can organize an event and give everyone specific tasks: your son can take items to Peter Becker’s Thrift Shop, your daughter can help wrap and pack glassware, your brother can help fix up small things around the house, and so on and so forth.
Stay hydrated. It’s easy to get in a groove and go all-out when you’re trying to get something accomplished. Be sure that you’re listening to your body and drinking plenty of water. It’s easy to get dehydrated in the summer, especially if you’re working outside and sweating. Take regular breaks, and spend time inside in the air conditioning. You may want to consider working only indoors during the hottest hours of the day, doing most of your outdoor work first thing in the morning or later at night.
Consider hiring a company. There are many companies that specialize in helping individuals downsize – like from a private home to a CCRC. Often, they can coordinate everything from beginning to end, helping with decluttering and downsizing (and selling any extra items), selling your current home and helping you move into your new senior living apartment. Contact us at (215) 720-1087 for a list.
Summer is the perfect time to get out, get moving and start a new chapter of your life. If you choose to downsize to a CCRC in the summer months, you’re taking a great step towards making 2021 the happiest and most fulfilling year yet.
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. 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.