The Door to Senior Living

Working as a Senior Consultant has been an absolute joy! When asked what I enjoy most about my position I immediately think of discovery. Within the first few moments of meeting with new residents or prospective families, I begin to understand their past life, learning about what they appreciate, family, and personal interests. Additionally, I define how a team can assist by recognizing the current struggles residents might encounter and obtaining the proper resources to support them. Finally, a great consultant needs to determine the best way to build this personal relationship moving forward; to educate on the best solution for those researching senior living preferences. It’s a challenge to navigate this journey, but it is a truly exciting step to understand the amazing possibilities that are ahead when seniors decide to open the door to opportunity in retirement!

So, what does senior living community life provide that makes it different from “home life” and how does it benefit?

This is a great question as I am an advocate for my prospective residents staying at home ONLY if it’s safe and comfortable. I cannot wait to have a live-in housekeeper, chef, chauffer, and a supportive network at my fingertips and am looking forward to this change once I am at retirement age! Our team at Concordia of Bella Vista can create an environment where many of these things are provided. Don’t we all wish life could be a little easier?

The main obstacle for countless older adults is that they have cherished their home for decades, and often the entire family shares a strong emotional bond to the family home. The thought or action of making the big decision to move is incredibly overwhelming and emotional, making it difficult to navigate. However, there are incredible resources to help implement this next step, and it is important to have a supportive network throughout this process. Often weighing the daily challenges of home life verses the benefits of a community life will provide insight into what retirement living is all about!

Here are just a few benefits of a senior living community:

1 A Stress-Free Lifestyle: Imagine not having to climb a ladder to change a light bulb, call the plumber when you have a leaky faucet, or worry about electrical issues, all of which cause an even bigger problem for your pocketbook. Living in a senior living community is maintenance free, which greatly lessens worries for the rest of your days. For most communities services include a friendly, trustworthy housekeeper who will keep your home nice and clean. Scheduled transportation and chauffer will be provided to ensure that you arrive safely to your destination and allow you to enjoy social outings without the additional worry of traffic. Less stress equals more time to enjoy activities, friends, and time with family.

2 Nutritious Options: Healthy food options and lifestyle changes are major factors contributing to the positive changes for senior adults. A senior living community provides a variety of food options that are freshly prepared upon arrival. Instead of going out to restaurants where options can become pricey and wait times can get arduous, community life dining is simplified. It removes the fuss of shopping, preparing, and cleaning so you can move through your day without doing all those dirty dishes.

3 Activities & Increased Socialization: It is important to discuss “The Pillars of Health” and how this concept benefits senior adults. With increased engagement including physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and vocational activities and events, all individuals can discover purpose and connection within a community. No matter how outgoing or shy an individual is, there are opportunities to make connections, find ways to volunteer, and rediscover purpose.

4 Rebuilding Relationships: For many couples we find those that move into a retirement community have the time to reconnect and focus on their personal relationship with their partner. The additional amenities provided within a retirement community allow couples to move from the caregiver role, relieving much of the stress from the family.

If you are navigating care options for the future and feel you need more education on what community life can offer you—call a senior living community of your choice, discuss all the amenities that are provided with a consultant or the administrator, and discover if the community you are visiting is the right fit for you or your loved one. You are always welcome to join us at Concordia of Bella Vista or call us at 479-855-3714 to discuss options for retirement, no matter what stage of the process you’re entering. You will never know what’s on the other side of the door. It’s just up to you to open it up and check it out!

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell