Independent Living Community vs. Staying at Home: What to Consider

July 18, 2018
| Vitality Living

When it comes to healthy aging, quite honestly, there’s a lot to do. You’re supposed to make sure to keep your body active and your brain engaged all while maintaining your social connections as well. Sure, the benefits to your overall well-being are worth the effort, but retirement is supposed to be a time with less responsibility on your plate, right? Well, it turns out that in senior living you can have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. Here’s how programs like our Vivid Life make keeping active, engaged, and connected easy and fun!

Benefits of Healthy Aging

Good things happen when you focus on healthy aging. In addition to feeling better overall, which in and of itself is a win, other benefits of keeping active, engaged, and connected include:

Improved ability to do everyday things
Reduced impact of illness and chronic disease
Enhanced mobility, flexibility, and balance
Improved sleep
Increased energy level
Reduced feelings of depression and stress
Increased feelings of happiness and self-confidence
Reduced risk of cognitive decline
Increased mental adaptability and cognitive reserve
Improved memory recall and problem-solving skills
Improved concentration and attention to detail

How Senior Living Can Help

At home, particularly when living alone, it can be hard to stay as active, engaged, and connected as you’d like. From lack of opportunity to lack of motivation to lack of transportation to mobility challenges, and more, it’s tough, we get it! That’s why we created the Vivid Life program in our senior living communities. It’s composed of three parts: Vibrant Body, Vibrant Brain, and Vibrant Connections. Here’s what each entails:

Vibrant Body – We offer amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, a pool, walking trails, gardening opportunities, and even a dog park to help you stay active. A sample of activities includes:

Walking club – Daily walks at different outdoor locations using pedometers to measure steps.
Yoga – At least once per week for gentle yoga, and once per week for mindful breathing.
Fitness classes – At least two times per week using a variety of hand weights, resistance bands, and circuit-type exercises.
Tai Chi – At least once per week with a live instructor.
Non-traditional exercise – Dancing, gardening, etc. at least two times per week.
Physical games and sports – Golf, putting, bowling, croquet, bocce, and ping pong available daily with organized events one to two times per week.

Vibrant Brain – We offer monthly calendars filled with classes, events, creative arts, and enrichment opportunities to help keep you engaged. A sample of activities includes:

Visiting lecture series – Twice per month with topics such as cultural, historical, local interest, career-oriented, etc.
Creative art series – At least one per week with a theme that runs 3-6 weeks, such as poetry writing, storytelling, painting, digital photography, etc.
Learning series – At least three times per month with an emphasis on learning something new such as foreign language, sign language, technology, hobbies, etc.
Games – At least one time per week and may include poker, bridge, Scrabble, etc.
Mindfulness – A meditation class once per week and gratitude discussion group twice monthly.
Church service – At least once a week through visits by local churches.
Stress reduction – At least once per month class that offers deep breathing exercises, nature walks, music appreciation, spa-type treatments, etc.

Vibrant Connections – We offer resident-led clubs, social events, outings and volunteer opportunities for any interest to help you stay connected. A sample of activities includes:

Outings – At least twice per month and may include going to concerts, art shows, museum visits, theatre productions, etc.
Intergenerational programming – At least once per month and focuses on building relationships between young adults/children and residents.
New resident welcome party – At least once per month to formally introduce all new residents, and includes ice breakers, social games, etc. to encourage connection.
Philanthropic program – At least once per month provide residents the opportunity to give back to the community, such as volunteering for a local food bank or pet shelter.
Resident-led clubs – May include game clubs, professional clubs, common interests, etc. that meet at least monthly.

What’s more, it’s all right outside your door (or transportation is provided offsite) and all in a supportive environment with home maintenance, housekeeping, and restaurant-style dining freeing your time to make it even easier to stay active, engaged, and connected.

Learn more about Vitality Living’s Vivid Life programs. Or find a Vitality Living community near you today to schedule a tour.

What does an active retirement mean to you? To 75-year-old Jerry Quill, it means playing ice hockey. For 62-year-old Chuck Melin, the senior years are a fine time for steer-wrestling. A generation ago, the dominant image of seniors was a kindly, old grandmother knitting in her rocker as Grandpa watched TV or took a snooze. This isn’t your grandparents’ retirement. The independent living community of today recognizes that seniors are doing more, growing more, and living longer than ever before.

Ageism is alive and real. Most seniors can share at least one story of condescending young people or doctors who underestimate their abilities. It’s no wonder so many worry about feeling “old” or sacrificing their independence.

But don’t look past independent living communities just yet. With modern options, the move to a senior community is just another step toward growth and evolution.

A Lifetime of Experiences, Adventures & Wisdom

Every stage of your life has brought new opportunities for growth and learning. You didn’t stop living when you got married or give up your hobbies when you retired, so why should your golden years mean you have to slow down, retire to your rocker, and leave the fun to someone else?

Some seniors want to continue living at home because they don’t want to feel old or dependent. The reality is that an independent living community it may be the perfect option for older adults looking for the independence and familiar routines of living at home combined with enhanced lifestyles and amenities offered in a community setting. You won’t have to worry about being injured with no one to help. You’ll also have access to a range of activities just outside your own door. Forget about driving at night to the local community center or waiting to garden until your kids can be there “just in case.”

Independent living communities integrate respectful care that empowers your independence with a veritable cornucopia of activities. That makes it easier to keep growing, living, and learning—even if you have health issues.

Reducing Responsibilities, Increasing Joy

Do you really want to spend your retirement tending to your house, driving to and from doctor’s appointments, searching for community activities, and worrying about a fall in your home? You’ve spent your life working. You deserve a break.

The right independent living community provides a safe space to continue growing into old age. Spend your time reading, learning, and taking advantage of the many activities that an independent living community offers.

Remaining Connected to Your Community

Older adults often find their world getting smaller—fewer friends, a smaller radius for driving, fewer favorite hobbies that are feasible, and even the loss of a spouse. Women live an average of five to 10 years longer than men and often marry slightly older partners. That means senior women may face many years of living alone.

The right independent living community connects you with a network of peers and encourages residents to remain active members of the community—they actually help older adults expand their world again. Involvement can increase mobility while preserving your mental and physical health.

Enjoying Your Relationship With Your Children

You’ve dedicated yourself to your children from the moment you first held them. The tasks of parenting don’t end with raising a productive adult. It’s also up to you to protect your child from unnecessary stress.

Many children devote years to caring for ailing parents. Some expend massive resources on home health aids and other services for parents who insist on staying in their home. No parent wants his or her child to turn into a caregiver. An independent living community gives your children peace of mind that you’re safe, allowing you both to continue enjoying a close and stress-free relationship.

Maximizing Financial Resources

Your home houses a lifetime of memories. But the truth is that it can also become a money pit. The realities of homeownership include leaky roofs, continual home improvements, endless landscaping, and a bevy of unexpected expenses. If you’re living on a fixed income and have health issues, retirement can easily become the most expensive phase of your life.

The right independent living community can keep your expenses under control. You’ll have access to a comfortable place to make home, without all the upkeep expenses of a house. This alleviates stress by freeing up cash. Wouldn’t you rather spend your money on something other than another home improvement project?

Is Your Home a Blessing or Burden?

If you’ve spent decades in your home, it’s probably a source of comfort. Maybe it’s even linked to your identity and self-esteem. So the decision to leave your home can be painful. But pain often accompanies growth. If remaining in your home impedes your ability to live the life you deserve, it’s time to turn the page to the next chapter.

No one can make the decision for you, but a few simple questions can clarify your options. If you can answer “yes” to several of the following, it’s time to consider an independent living community:

Do you live in a house with steps and have osteoporosis?
Has your physician expressed concerns that you or your partner may suffer a fall?
Does your home need repairs you cannot afford?
Are your children doing more around your house or stopping by to check on you more than they once did?
Do health problems make it difficult for you to leave your home or safely enjoy once-pleasurable hobbies?
Do you feel isolated?
Have you considered hiring a home health nurse?
Do you have early signs of dementia?
Are you committed to remaining active but are struggling to make that commitment a reality?
Do you struggle to keep up with cleaning and other daily house maintenance tasks?

At every other stage of life, you’ve embraced change and growth. Don’t let life stagnate now. It’s time for your next adventure. Download our free guide, How to Choose Between Senior Living Options, to discover just what that next step should be.

Healthy Living, Just Thinking

Vitality Living

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