The challenges accompanying aging often emerge gradually, having a cumulative effect on mental and physical well-being over time. These challenges may go unnoticed until a significant impact is felt, but staying conscious of changes to your physical capabilities and quality of life is always worthwhile. Here are just a few challenges you may face during retirement and how residential assisted living could help you tackle them.
The Challenge: You feel unsafe in your home
Senior living communities are built with your mobility needs in mind. Carefully adapted with accessibility measures like curbless showers, ground floor bedrooms/elevators, and safety grab rails, residents can feel confident while navigating their home. Moreover, highly trained caregivers are on hand around the clock to assist and ensure any emergencies are dealt with promptly and professionally.
The Challenge: You’re struggling to perform activities of daily living
One of the most common and impactful challenges seniors face is a reduced ability to complete activities of daily living, or ADLs. Activities of daily living include vital tasks like transferring in and out of bed, preparing and serving meals, and moving from place to place (ambulation). If you have family caregivers who can no longer meet your needs safely, or if you live alone and require additional support, senior residential living could be the ideal solution.
The Challenge: You’re worried about finances
Choosing senior residential care can be a great financial option, with many communities accepting payment from various avenues. For example, some facilities accept long-term care insurance plans and Veteran’s aid to cover fees (or a portion of them). Of course, every senior living community is unique, so be sure to ask about possible payment options during your visit. Moving to residential assisted living can also lead to considerable savings in day-to-day spending. Your financial affairs can be significantly simplified, with home maintenance, food, and even activities often included in fees.
The Challenge: You don’t have the social life you would like
Many seniors need help to maintain a social life they enjoy during retirement. You may have mobility issues that make you less able or confident to leave the house, or your social circle may feel small now that you’re out of the working world. Bereavement can also be hugely impactful, contributing to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Residential assisted living offers much more than personal care – they’re also lively homes. Moving to senior residential care will allow you to form great new friendships with fellow residents, caregivers, and staff members. And with communal living spaces and on-site activities, you can enjoy a rich social life without leaving the security of home.
The Challenge: Home maintenance is starting to feel unmanageable
You’re not alone if you struggle to maintain your home during retirement. With issues like declining mobility and health conditions, many seniors face this challenge. You will no longer need to worry about home maintenance and repairs in residential assisted living. Your home will be maintained for you, and most senior living facilities have dedicated housekeeping and laundry teams to make household errands a thing of the past.
The Challenge: Grocery shopping and meal preparation is becoming harder
If you have reduced mobility or lack transportation, getting to the grocery store and buying ingredients may become much more difficult during retirement. Similarly, food preparation and cooking may be affected by health conditions and mobility issues. In senior care, residents are typically served three delicious and nutritionally dense meals (and snacks) each day. In many communities, menus are dietician approved and created with the specific nutritional needs of seniors in mind. Each day, you will have the opportunity to enjoy hearty meals in a social setting, free from the challenges food preparation can present at home.
The Challenge: You have little to no free time to enjoy hobbies
If things like meal preparation, personal care, and home maintenance are becoming more complex, they might be getting more time-consuming. With more time and effort spent simply getting by, it can feel like there’s no time left to enjoy your retirement. Whether you want to spend more quality time with family and friends, enjoy activities and groups your community offers, or settle down and relax with a good book or TV show, you will have the time to do so. With the support of professional caregivers, housekeepers, laundry teams, and visiting practitioners, you will be granted the time and freedom you deserve to enjoy the things you love.
To discover how we can address your unique concerns to improve your retirement experience, explore our website and organize a tour today.
