What are the benefits of moving to a senior living community?

Consider how a senior living community can be your smart, helpful next-chapter move. The benefits are many — as you’ll see when we describe them here. The choices are many, too, and you can find out more about them in “What types of communities are there?” Above all, what matters is finding a community that matches your lifestyle, taste, and budget so you can take advantage of all the remarkable benefits of life in a senior living community.

Access to care gives you peace of mind.

There’s an appealing advantage in securing access to long-term care. While other benefits of community life may be more amusing, entertaining, or gratifying, access to care levels — such as assisted living and memory care — brings certainty to life planning, relieves families of making a stressful choice for you, and avoids rushed, emotional decision-making in times of crisis. With a plan in place, an independent living resident can take control of variables, and according to studies, improve their overall well-being and safety.

And what are the odds that levels of care will be needed? According to research reported by Morningstar, for people who are 65 or older:

• 70% will develop a severe long-term care need in their lifetimes.
• 48% will need some type of paid long-term-care services in their lifetimes.
• 24% will require paid long-term care for more than two years.
• 15% will spend more than two years in a skilled nursing setting.

As you might expect, an independent living community that includes access to onsite healthcare is a genuinely supportive community, where staff members are gifted at delivering the highest level of hospitality and uniquely knowledgeable about older adults.

And while independent living stands alone on the campus, the levels of care are nearby. It’s simply a short walk down a corridor or across a courtyard to reach a spouse’s or friend’s residence. This design is intentional: Friendships developed in independent living — with other residents and staff members — can be more easily sustained after a move to a level of care when access is easy. And when everyone keeps in touch, it’s a better community.

Maintenance-free living frees your time.

Maintaining a home can become increasingly difficult as you get older, whether you manage the chores yourself or, determined to get the best work at a fair price, you wrangle an assortment of lawn care professionals, painters, plumbers, electricians, and fix-it services. Wouldn’t you rather spend time with family, friends, hobbies, travel, and other adventures?

A senior living community’s fees cover the costs of maintaining both the community and your residence. You can count on housekeeping services, linen services (for an additional fee), landscaping, appliance maintenance, and even help with hanging pictures or changing a light bulb. You should know that response times for maintenance requests can be surprisingly short and the services provided pleasantly unfussy.

You can also expect exceptional dining. Even if cooking is one of your favorite hobbies, you might like the option of mixing it up and dining with friends regularly. You can free yourself from prep and clean-up duties, relish the hospitality of the chef and serving staff, and dine memorably well — with everything just the way you like it!

Most communities offer several restaurants in different styles — from casual to formal — preparing and serving three meals daily. Menus may change seasonally; local growers often help supply the kitchens; and culinary staff are invariably respectful of special diets, making sure plates are healthful, nutritious, and delicious.

Independent living residents may have flexible dining plans included with their monthly fees, allowing them to continue making some meals in their own residences while also enjoying the convenience and socialization of the on-site, full-service restaurants. In assisted living or memory care, three meals per day are included in the monthly service fees.

Enlarge your world; expand your vistas.

It’s not hard to see why your world seems smaller as you age. Post-retirement, you’ve lost the natural connections with coworkers. You may begin to feel less comfortable driving just as your similar-aged friends don’t want to drive either. Family members have their own lives to lead. Sadly, friends pass. And increasingly, TV and social media are what keep you feeling like you’re in touch with what’s out there. Isolation and loneliness advance and your world shrinks.

And that’s not good for you. As reported in “Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions”:

• “Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
• “Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.
• “Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) were associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
• “Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
• “Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.”

The antidote? With programs that integrate well-being activities into daily living and a deep roster of friendly staff and neighbors to interact with, a senior living community can be a delightful socialization cure.

You’ll keep your world big. Spending time with others raises spirits and improves mental functions. By preserving connections with your circle of friends, you can hold loneliness at bay — and gain health advantages, too. A Senior Housing News article cites a study that found that seniors who live in a community have a longer life expectancy than those who live alone. Living longer is especially appealing when you have so many friends to engage with — and so much to do!

High-quality senior living communities excel at providing residents with a superb assortment of opportunities to help them remain healthy and active. To sort out the high-quality communities from the others, you might read “What do the best senior living communities have that others don’t?”

Activities and amenities to indulge in.

When you visit the communities you’re interested in, check out the floor plans, try the dining, talk to staff and residents, and find out about all the activities offered. You’re wise to make a list of your interests before you get there — so you can be sure the community will serve your interests.

It’s common for communities to provide:

• Art, music, woodworking, or ceramic studios
• Auditorium or theater
• Book, card, and hobby clubs
• Entertainment, including outings
• Fitness center, pool, and fitness classes
• Happy hours and special celebrations
• Hobbyist areas
• Lectures, presentations, and classes
• Library
• Outdoor walking trails and recreation
• Raised-bed gardens
• Transportation services
• Salon and spa

Ask to see the community’s calendar of activities (see a calendar now), which will show you the variety of their special events and all their regular daily, weekly, and monthly events, too. Being a resident means you can choose to participate in whatever you want. You can also ask about starting up activities the community doesn’t yet offer. Ordinarily, a community will adapt to residents’ interests and provide what they’re looking for — and all you need to do is ask.

What’s extraordinary about activities and amenities in a senior living community is the convenience factor. In your homelife now, you can surely pursue many of your interests; in the community, you’ll have access to even more — and with everything handily nearby.

Is it right for you? You may already know, or you might wonder “What type of person thrives living in a senior living community more than staying in their own home?”

We know this: Finding it convenient to indulge is one of the many benefits of life in a senior living community.