Many myths surround independent living. But the truth is, moving into one can make you feel at home much faster than staying in your own house.
Independent living communities offer meaningful ways to connect with friendly neighbors through socializing opportunities like card games, morning devotionals, and group fitness classes.
Freedom From Home Maintenance
Independent living communities offer many benefits that aging in your home doesn’t provide. Bills are typically combined into one monthly payment, cleaning services, maintenance teams take care of indoor and outdoor chores, and on-site activities can keep you socialized and active throughout your days.
If you’re a homeowner, you may already have a maintenance team or hire someone regularly to clean out gutters, mow the lawn, and remove snow. With all these tasks taken care of, you have more time to enjoy your hobbies and interests.
Some retirement and independent living homes even have a coffee shop, library, games room, or other places to connect with peers and learn new things. Some have partnerships with universities to offer academic classes and cultural events. The more socialized and active you are, the less likely you are to suffer from depression or other mental health issues. This can help reduce the risk of isolation and loneliness, a significant health concern for many seniors.
Convenience
Independent living facilities like Westminster Winter Park are specifically designed to address the needs of older adults. With trained staff, 24-hour surveillance cameras, and emergency call systems offer a sense of security you may not get in your home.
Furthermore, they typically have safety features such as handrails in the bathroom and non-slip flooring. They also typically provide services and amenities like a pool, exercise classes, entertainment, meals, housekeeping, trash removal, a beauty/barber shop, and transportation.
This means you’ll have more time to spend on things you enjoy. Whether that’s spending time with friends or family, exploring new hobbies, or simply relaxing and enjoying the good life. Many seniors think of retirement as the ultimate vacation! And with all chores and responsibilities taken care of, it’s certainly easier to feel that way. Moreover, many communities combine all bills into one simple-to-pay monthly bill. This can help reduce stress and make it easy to track expenses.
Social Interaction
A healthy social life can support mental, emotional, and physical health. Studies show that seniors who maintain a social connection to peers and the community have a higher quality of life, feel less isolated, and experience lower rates of depression, cognitive decline, or other health issues.
When choosing a senior living facility, you must visit in person and ensure the environment suits your needs. Look for a community that offers a variety of amenities, including fireside living rooms, comfortable patios and gathering spaces, fitness centers, beauty salons, game and theater rooms, and more.
Visiting communities also allows you to see how staff interact with residents and ask any questions you might have. An excellent independent living community will be a vibrant, safe, and social environment that empowers you to live your best life.
Enhanced Health
Moreover, to provide a comfortable living environment free from late-night college parties and children’s cries, independent living facilities also offer a variety of health-related activities for their residents. These include swimming pools, fitness centers, group fitness classes, and social group games like cards or mahjong.
Depending on the community, some amenities and services may be included for an additional fee. Typically, residents are provided with housekeeping, trash removal, and beauty/barber salons. Some even provide on-site meals and transportation options for outings and social activities.
Independent living communities are often designed to meet the needs of aging adults. For example, many communities feature a transitional care program that allows residents to move between independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care at a later time without having to relocate. This helps reduce stress and provides a consistent life-enriching experience. It also prevents seniors from having to make multiple, expensive moves at a time when they are most vulnerable.