If you're considering moving into a retirement community, here are some advantages you might consider:
1) Living Outside of the Square
Living in a retirement community does not mean having to conform to a restrictive living space. Many retirement communities will offer a variety of dwelling options. Outside of the condominium or apartment set-up, there are many communities that offer you stand-alone dwellings such as cottages or villas. These give you the opportunity to be a part of a community and enjoy all of the benefits while also enabling you to find a residence that fits your needs, rather than trying to fit your lifestyle into a residence.
Many communities will offer you the chance to choose your floor-plan and can include garages, patios and balconies. Many floor-plans can also provide you with options for how many rooms you have and also on the size of the rooms. Retirement living in a community that offers different types of dwellings and a variety of floor-plans means that you can still retain a sense of your own identity and privacy while also taking advantage of the numerous benefits of community life.
2) Our Town
Many retirement communities are almost like individual townships. Many offer residents all of the amenities and services that you would expect from a small town all contained within the property. This can include convenience stores for grocery necessities, banking services, restaurants and dining facilities, beauty salons, hair salons, and even a library. Having such essential services quite literally at your doorstep eliminates any concerns about having to walk long distances, driving or taking public transportation. Community centers and planned activities also increase the opportunities for you to meet other people and for a sense of community to truly develop.
3) Grounds & Upkeep
One of the key benefits of living in a retirement community is the maintenance services that are offered. Lawn upkeep, gardening and landscaping will be taken care of for you, leaving you to enjoy the pleasures of these without breaking your back. Of course should you enjoy gardening, there are also opportunities for you to continue to get your hands dirty and take pleasure from these tasks, but it can be extremely reassuring to know that if anything should go wrong with your property, there are staff on hand to fix it. There are also many opportunities for chores inside the home to be taken care of by outside help. Many retirement communities will also offer dining options that will save you from having to shop and cook. Everybody is different and so not everybody will want to take advantage of every service that is offered. However, knowing that these services are available to you gives you a lot of flexibility about how you structure your daily living experience within the community.
4) Help at Hand
Healthcare amenities and services can be a key concern for older people. Although you may not require a lot of assistance when you first move into a retirement community, it is worth keeping in mind that situations do change and having access to care and medical facilities may be something that becomes more important to you, and even essential, as time goes by. Many retirement communities will have onsite healthcare facilities and offer assistance and care services.
Assisted living facilities may include specially appointed apartments that can help you to maintain your independence but enable you to have the assistance that you need. Retirement communities will have trained staff available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing you and also your family with assurance that help is at hand. If you are in need of ongoing rehabilitative services, nursing home services or even memory support care, these services can be found within retirement communities, meaning that you are not separated from the wider community and can still enjoy the recreational activities that are part of community life while receiving the care you need.
Lake James has all of these advantages and more!
Source: seniorhealthmemos.com