6 WAYS SENIORS CAN BE MORE INDEPENDENT IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
As seniors age, it’s easy to believe they will remain more independent if they stay in the home they’ve lived in for decades. It’s easy to understand why familiarity can be hard to part with. But the reality is that there are other options that can not only provide an opportunity for more independence but a sense of belonging and community, too.
Having helped seniors thrive in the Greater Houston area for nearly 50 years, Treemont has been home to hundreds of men and women who have gained more independence by joining a retirement community. And if there’s anything Treemont knows for sure, it’s that there are many benefits gained from living a life of less worry which can ultimately bring both seniors and their families peace of mind. The leading administrators at Treemont Retirement Community share some of the benefits they witness every day in their community.
1. Cost Savings
Homeownership can be endlessly expensive, even when the mortgage has long since been paid off. A retirement community means not having to deal with rising property taxes, insurance, utility bills, maintenance like lawn care and fixing whatever disaster is the latest to hit the house, from HVAC issues in the Texas summer heat to roof leaks after a bad storm and countless other headaches.
When living at the right retirement community, a single low all-inclusive cost includes a private one-bedroom apartment, chef-prepared meals every day, transportation, housekeeping, all utilities and entertainment.
“If you compare the value sheet, you’ll save thousands on average,” says Treemont Owner Lisa Witt. “After you add up everything that’s included, it’s usually more economical to live in a retirement community.”
2. Having People They Can Trust
No one should ever move somewhere where they don’t 100% trust the surrounding facilities and staff, and it’s hard to argue with longevity. When weighed against comparable properties, one thing that makes a retirement community stand out is its stellar reputation.
Another crucial tip is to pay attention to how long the staff members have been at that particular retirement community you’re considering. If they’ve been there a long time, it allows residents to see and interact with the same friendly faces regularly, allowing for more well-earned trust.
3. Social Engagement
Lisa Witt and her husband recently shared a viral TikTok video she is happy to paraphrase:
“If you want to live to be 100 years of age, make sure you spend lots of time interacting with other people on a day-to-day basis,” she says. “This message isn’t only for seniors though, it’s for everyone.”
First and foremost, a great retirement community should be a social setting, and that’s what will make it so easy for people to connect with new friends. It’s wise to limit your search to communities with a fantastic dining room with meals hand-prepared by an executive chef.
“Just the fact you have meals every day is a perfect opportunity to connect with new friends over breakfast, lunch, or dinner,” Lisa Witt says.
4. Activities to Keep You Busy
A key part of promoting social engagement is also making sure there are numerous activities available every day to keep life fun.
Stay on the lookout for retirement communities that provide planned activities which help promote physical exercise and mental stimulation.
“There needs to be a built-in social aspect to senior living and that starts with activities,” says Rachel Unverzagt, Treemont’s Executive Director. “Even if you’re a little bit shy, retirement communities should have everything from arts and crafts and happy hours to bingo and gatherings where people play games in the lobby.”
5. A Sense of Community
One of the main advantages of retirement living that always makes residents so happy is the sense of community. During her time at Treemont as Executive Director, Rachel Unverzagt points out how every night you can spot a group of 10 sisterly friends playing simultaneous games of Rummikub that are split into multiple tables.
Another resident was recently placed in skilled nursing on the Treemont campus, and he was missing his usual tablemates. The entire group of the resident’s friends regularly make their way over each day to hang out with him while he gets well. Whenever you check out a new retirement community, make sure it’s obvious that residents are openly socializing and their sense of community is strong like it is at Treemont.
6. Less Worry
As one ages, seniors often are ready to chuck the chores of mowing the lawn, doing home repairs, and weekly housekeeping. Seniors are free to travel and do not have to worry about a pipe bursting in their home or a leaky roof. This can give them more peace of mind when they are away.
Plus many of the parental visits from adult children come in the form of dutiful chores like grocery shopping, fixing things around the house, transporting mom or dad to places and so much more.
From changing a lightbulb to taking out the trash to cleaning the bathroom, all of this is done without you having to worry about it. There’s no stress about going to a doctor’s appointment either because Treemont has someone who can take you.
“You have your own personal chef, chauffeur, and housekeeper,” Rachel Unverzagt says of retirement community residents. “This restores that relationship between children and their mother or father.”