Transitioning to independent living can be scary. You may worry that you’re taking your loved one away from a home they love. Your loved one may be anxious about an uncertain future. These anxieties are normal, but there’s good news. Most seniors are happier in senior living communities. Independent living offers a wide range of amenities your loved one just can’t get at home. The right community scaffolds seniors to greater independence, supporting their efforts to remain healthy and active and preventing the pain of loneliness and isolation. A Canton retirement can help your loved one achieve a fulfilling life and an active lifestyle. The right community can be part of that plan. If it’s time to make a move, here’s how to help your loved one transition to independent living.
Look for Signs That It’s Time to Move
Independent living caters to seniors who are in relatively good health. This means that any senior can benefit from such a community. Some signs that your otherwise healthy senior might thrive in independent living include:
- They are often bored or lonely.
- They no longer drive.
- They live alone. Living alone can be especially dangerous for seniors who do not drive, who live far away from loved ones, or who have recently suffered the loss of a spouse.
- They struggle to make the most of their retirement.
- They seem overwhelmed by the burdens of homeownership. A leaky roof, overgrown garden, or increasingly chaotic home might signal that it’s time to talk about moving.
Independent living is also a good fit for seniors whose needs and abilities are changing. Arbor contracts with home health support to ensure that your loved one can get a bit of extra assistance. Some other signs your loved one might be happier in an independent living community include:
- They are concerned about what might happen if they need help.
- They have a chronic or progressive medical condition.
- They might one day need assisted living and would prefer to transition to a community now.
- You are meeting more of your loved one’s daily needs and feel overwhelmed or stressed.
Emphasize the Benefits of Independent Living
Talking to your loved one about senior living can be tough, especially if they don’t want to move or refuse to visit communities. To make the most progress, you need to emphasize the positive. The good news is that this is easy to do with independent living, because independent living offers so much. Some points to highlight include:
- Your loved one will have the luxury of a beautiful, well-maintained home without the stress of cleaning, home maintenance, and homeownership.
- Your loved one may save money, and if they sell their home, they can set aside a tidy nest egg. To compare the costs of living at home to senior living, check out our cost comparison tool.
- Your loved one will have an endless variety of activities available just outside their door. They can enjoy live music, yoga, parties, classes, and much more. They can even suggest activities based on their interests.
- Your loved one will never have to feel alone. Help is there when they need it, and a ready-made community is a few steps away from their front door.
- The food is amazing. Senior living offers gourmet dining in posh settings. If your loved one has special dietary needs, the community’s nutritional team can help them address those needs with savory meals and delectable desserts. No more endless food prep and bland meals.
- Senior living can help your loved one become healthier by encouraging them to exercise, making it easy to eat healthy food and protecting them from the catastrophic health effects of loneliness and isolation.
- Your loved one will enjoy a lower-stress life. They don’t have to worry about what will happen if their needs change. They can enjoy a mutual relationship of equals with their family, rather than relying on their kids and grandkids for caregiving. Perhaps most importantly, they’ll rest easy knowing they’ve made a great decision for their health.
Help Your Loved One Make the Transition
The move to independent living is not a unilateral decision you make overnight, even if you’re certain that it’s what’s best for your loved one. Seniors should get to decide their own fates, especially when they are of sound mind. So work together to devise a solution that addresses everyone’s needs. If your loved one seems reluctant, ask them why. Listen to their concerns without dismissing them. Make yourself an ally, not an enemy. Then work together to devise a list of independent living must-haves. Compare and visit communities together.
Sometimes all you have to do is get your loved one to agree to visit one community. When they see things for themselves, they may be sold. When you have buy-in, don’t back away. Make the transition as easy as possible by planning ahead, helping your loved one pack, and visiting them as often as possible.
The Arbor Company has served seniors for more than 30 years, crafting meaningful retirements for people of all ability levels and all backgrounds. We’d love to work with you to help make your senior’s next chapter the most fulfilling act of their life.
