Many seniors want the benefit of living in a retirement community, with all the benefits of a “personal assistant,” but without paying for any of the expenses themselves. It would be a great deal if it were a real possibility. Unfortunately, it isn’t. So before you move into a retirement community, think twice about what will be expected of you as a resident.
1. It’s expensive
The cost of living in retirement communities is typically higher than living on your own or in an independent senior living apartment community such as this one here. For example, independent living communities are often priced at 50% less than communities for seniors. In addition, many locations offer amenities such as pools, spas, proximity to the ocean, and a community center.
Los Angeles-based Vivante, the independent living community,provides a user-friendly way to narrow down the choices in a complex decision. It allows users to search various independent living communities in Newport Beach and provides a list of all available senior living facilities in the city.
The website also contains a blog where to find information about Independent Living for seniors. The website is designed for busy people who need to research and compare communities before making an important choice.
2. You Won’t Get Enough Attention
If you’re like most seniors, you know the importance of regular medical checkups, dentists’ appointments, and other routine medical care. Moving into a retirement community doesn’t mean you won’t have access to doctors – but it does often mean that you’ll have to access them through the retirement community rather than scheduling your appointments.
Some retirement communities have doctors on staff, but many contracts with local health care professionals who may work at the facility five days a week. If your physician doesn’t have a relationship with your retirement community or is simply too busy to see you as often as you might want, this may be a problem.
As you approach an older age, you have an increased risk of developing healthcare-related financial problems. If you are thinking of moving into a retirement community soon, consider getting medical insurance through the facility.
3. Control
At home, your loved one can sleep in and eat whenever they want. In a senior community, you’ll be subject to the rules of the home and its owner. You may not be able to choose when or how long you want to eat. The truth is that retirement communities may offer flexibility in terms of when you eat and how you spend your time, but they can still be restrictive, especially when it comes to leaving the property.
Many retirement communities will not let residents leave the area or engage in activities that aren’t covered by their contract.
4. Privacy
The other residents in your community will likely have different schedules than you, making it hard for you to get your daily exercise or entertainment fix. It can also be hard to get away from other people who may ask too many personal questions or invade your own space.
5. You Won’t Get to Choose Your New BFFs
While it’s true that you can make new friends, you’re moving into an already existing community. The other residents there might already be friends with each other, but that doesn’t mean they’re looking for new friends. So, if you’re looking for connections, it might be harder than you think. If you’re moving into a senior community, hopefully, the staff will invite you to special events and introduce you to other residents to help you make friends. You can also ask for their help in introducing you to people you might like to know.
However, your new neighbors might already be friends and not necessarily want anyone else around, even with those efforts. And, if they do want friends, you might not be the ones they choose. It could be that they’ve met each other before and prefer to stay friends rather than make new friends. So, don’t be too disappointed if you aren’t invited to your neighbor’s Halloween party or other private gatherings.
6. The Social Scene Isn’t for You
When you live in your own home, you can avoid the social scene entirely if it makes you uncomfortable. There’s no obligation to show up at the clubhouse for cocktails every night. But living in a retirement community means you’re expected to be there, and missing your turn means you’ll be fined $25. Not paying the fine means someone will pay you a personal visit to collect it.
7. Your loved ones will worry
There’s no need to make your loved ones worry about you, especially if they live out of town or aren’t as close as you’d like them to be. It’s not their job to make sure you’re okay and based on their own lives, they should be able to focus on their stuff. They want to know that you’re alright and that you’re happy.
Moving into a retirement community means that you don’t have as much connection as someone who lived on their own, which can create issues for those who love you.
8. You have a history – A history that no one else can share
Everyone who lives in a retirement community has a history but it’s a history they share with many other people. You have a history – a history that no one else can share – and the thing is – the fact that no one else can share your stories doesn’t mean that they’re not worth being shared. Ensure that your loved ones have access to these stories if something ever happens to you – otherwise, it might be lost forever.
Final Thoughts
A retirement community can seem like a wonderful idea when you hear your friends or family members talking about it. As a result, most people believe that moving into a retirement community is the best thing for aging and needs help with everyday tasks, and is socially isolated.
However, most people don’t realize that most communities aren’t designed for seniors with dementia and other forms of senior memory loss. In fact, according to an article in Psychology Today, more than 75 percent of seniors in retirement communities have some form of memory loss, such as mild cognitive impairment, which doesn’t necessarily mean they have Alzheimer’s Disease.
But even if someone has Alzheimer’s Disease, there’s still no guarantee that a retirement community will be the best place for them to live. All of these are valid concerns. But don’t panic. Consider an independent senior living center such as Vivante Senior Living, a family-owned company that builds, acquires, and manages independent senior living communities that provide high-quality, affordable retirement living.
Vivante provides highly personalized, efficient, and cost-effective services to help residents maintain their independence. The Vivante approach helps communities achieve high consumer satisfaction, high staff satisfaction, and year after year of good profit.
Also read: Retirement and Healthcare Facilities – What are Your Options?
