You have lived in your home for years. You raised your family there. You renovated every single room in the house to meet you and your family?s needs. Now, the family is grown up, and you have made the decision to move into a retirement community. This is often a difficult decision that requires a lot of planning and finding the right retirement center. How can you choose the right center and turn it into a home? How can you make it feel as comfortable and as much like your home as the previous one?
Bring your furniture from home
Most retirement centers allow you to furnish your own room or home. Brining your favorite furniture and art pieces from home will make you feel more comfortable. You will also save money by not having to purchase new furniture for the entire place. If you are moving into a smaller retirement community house, only bring your favorite furniture items. Give the rest to family members or sell them for additional funds.
Sign up for numerous classes
One of the best parts of moving into independent senior living is the close community. You have on site access to a variety of activities and events. You no longer have to worry about transportation. Take advantage of the local community and everything it has to offer. Sign up for numerous classes to fill up your time. Eventually, you will move into a routine that will feel like home. In a recent survey of MONEY readers, 48% retirees reported being happier in retirement than expected. The majority of this 48% are people who engage in multiple activities and classes.
Arrange frequent visits
It is likely that your family is what made your house feel like a home. Moving into a retirement community does not mean that you have to give up your family visits. In fact, the assisted living for seniors communities might have better opportunities for family visits. Your family members can participate in the onsite activities and events with you. They can get to know your new friends and groups. You will also find that they have a better time when you can participate in activities together.
Understand your healthcare needs
Seniors often deal with an increase in medical concerns. This might even be the reason that you chose to move into a retirement community. If you are dealing with medical issues, you will want to choose a retirement community that is set up for handling them. Almost four in 10 assisted living residents received assistance with three or more activities of daily living, of which bathing and dressing were the most common. However, assistance with these activities can help you feel more comfortable in your home, as you know that you are safer and well taken care of. In a recent survey, 81% of retirees cited good health as the most important ingredient for a happy retirement. Although you cannot guarantee good health, you can guarantee the right medical care that is needed
Increase your social interactions
Another factor in making your previous home comfortable was the existence of your neighbors. Over the years, you probably got to know them quite well. You might have shared in daily activities or hobbies with them. Either way, you kept up with one another lives and daily events. You each helped one another out with home responsibilities and they were an important part of making your house a home. As you settle into your new retirement community, attempt to increase your social interactions. Get to know your community neighbors, so you can have the same neighborly benefits.
Many seniors make the decision to move to a retirement community. This decision is often for medical or safety reasons, but can be overwhelming. You are required to give up your home filled with memories. You can increase your retirement time and experience by turning your new residence into a home. Schedule frequent visits with your family members, join numerous clubs and activities, ensure proper healthcare, become social with your neighbors, and bring parts of home with you.
