Joseph L. Roche on Retirement Living Vs. Staying In Your Home ...

A?Critical Choice For Your Healthiest Future: Retirement Living Vs. Staying In Your Home

By Joseph L. Roche, Collin County LIVING WELL Magazine

Over a million people nationwide now live in life-fulfilling independent living retirement communities, according to Anthony J. Mullen, director of research for the National Investment Center for the Senior Housing and Care Industry.

What motivates people to move from their own homes into a senior living community?

The Roche Associates, Inc., a nationally recognized market research firm specializing in the senior housing industry, recently surveyed hundreds of area seniors about their thoughts on independent living retirement communities, and asked them their top reasons for considering a move.

Here?s what they found out.

Moving to A Retirement Community Can Increase Your Independence!

The typical myth when considering a move to an independent retirement community is that you could lose your independence. Interestingly enough, the area seniors surveyed by The Roche Associates indicated just the opposite.

Eighty-three?percent (83%) of the seniors surveyed said that they would move to a senior?living community in order to stay independent for as long as possible. This was?in fact the top reason why seniors indicated that they would make a move.

Research?backs this up. People who stay in their homes for too long can become dependent?on family members or outside care. The risk of a fall, and suffering more?severe consequences if medical care is not received immediately, are far?greater when living alone in your home. The risk of not eating well, or being?undernourished, is greater when cooking meals alone.

Social?Connections Matter

For?those who are living alone or widowed especially, there is great health risk in?being too isolated. Research clearly shows that the number and quality of?social connections are the best determinant of how long you will live and how?healthy you will stay during your senior years. Those who are isolated are at?far higher risk of suffering from depression, which can have all kinds of?negative health consequences.

Those?who live in senior living communities can effortlessly form new friends and?connections with neighbors in the community, sharing meals and activities,?while also maintaining the connections with local family and friends that they?already have.

Other?top reasons for a move included:

• The?carefree lifestyle (52%)
• The?upscale atmosphere and ambience offered (47%)
• The?convenience of services like meals, transportation and housekeeping (46%)

Making Your Life?Easier

Owning?your own home means being responsible for all interior and exterior?maintenance, including lawn care, roof repair, plumbing, heating, air?conditioning and more. Many seniors indicated that one of the main reasons to?move to a senior living community would be to let go of the burdens of?maintaining a home, to free up time to do what they really want to do most.

Those?surveyed indicated that the following services were most important to them in a?senior living community:

• Sixty-two?percent (62%) picked housekeeping services
• Fifty-two?percent (52%) indicated that interior and exterior maintenance were important?to them
• Forty-nine?percent (49%) said that the 24-hour security matters
• Forty-four?percent (44%) said landscaping, lawn care and other outside maintenance?services

Living a Fun?Carefree Lifestyle!

Without?needing to worry about maintaining the interior or exterior of your home, more?time is freed up to simply enjoy life, and to partake in activities you love.

Many?seniors find that they can take up hobbies that they?ve wanted to pursue for?years, once they are relieved of the worries and time required to maintain a?large home and property. A top notch senior living community will offer all?kinds of fun and interesting educational, recreational, arts and cultural?activities, as well as exercise programs and outings, all designed to keep life?interesting and fun.

Living A Resort?Lifestyle

And,?today?s senior living communities like The Tradition-Prestonwood are a far cry?from the nursing homes that were predominant in earlier generations. With?elegant interiors, spacious apartments, and amenities like a state-of-the-art?fitness center, indoor pool, spa services, beauty salon/barber shop, movie?theatre, business/computer center, library, card and game rooms, and arts and
craft center, a retirement community can offer lots of options for health,?entertainment, socializing and fun all under one roof.

No?need to go anywhere in inclement weather; just stroll down to the fitness?center or pool; join other friends for a meal, game, or round of cards; or?catch a movie!

Where?you spend your senior years may determine the quality of your life and health. Choose?carefully to be sure you are making the most of your precious retirement years!

Author Joseph L. Roche is a nationally known consumer advocate recognized for?his work by The National Consumer Health Federation and The Wall Street?Journal.

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Source: http://www.livingwellmag.com/joseph-roche-retirement-living-staying-homeliving-magazine/

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