We all want to worry less and enjoy life more. One way to do that is to weigh the pros and cons of living at home versus moving to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). If home maintenance is becoming a hassle, or if you’re feeling increasingly isolated and alone, or if you don’t want to wait for a health-related wake-up call to get your attention, moving to a CCRC (sometimes called a Life Plan Community) may be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
Many older adults who’ve made the move to a CCRC say they wish they’d done it sooner. With fewer worries, more friends, and endless opportunities to enjoy a healthier, happier lifestyle, it’s easy to see why.
To learn more about the benefits of moving to a continuing care retirement community, read on.
1. You don’t have to worry about home and yard maintenance. When you move to a CCRC, you can say goodbye to all the chores of maintaining a home.
A maintenance-free lifestyle gives you more time to do the things you want. Join a yoga class. Take your dog for a walk. Meet friends for lunch before getting together for bridge. Each day presents another opportunity to live life your way.
2. You can rely on the community for transportation if you’re unable to drive. Most older adults experience changes in vision. Others have mobility problems that limit their ability to drive safely and comfortably. At a CCRC, you don’t have to drive to get where you want to go. Most continuing care retirement communities provide scheduled transportation.
3. There’s always someone available to call for help. It’s reassuring to know that help is always there when you need it at a CCRC. Many communities will check on residents if they haven’t heard from them by 10 a.m. And at a community such as Holly Hall, there’s a gated entrance with 24/7 security and surveillance cameras for enhanced security and peace of mind.
4. You can travel anytime, anywhere without having to worry about your home. Another perk residents enjoy at a CCRC is the lock-and-leave lifestyle. Instead of having to think about home maintenance, security, postal service and other concerns, you’re free to zoom off to your next vacation or visit family members who live far away. Everything will be looked after while you’re away, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
5. You have friends and neighbors of similar age who understand and support you. Living at home, especially on your own, can be a lonely experience. If good friends and neighbors have moved away, your risk of social isolation increases, along with detrimental health effects including high blood pressure, heart disease, weakened immunity, and cognitive decline. At a CCRC, you’ll have endless opportunities to connect with other residents and expand your social circle. It makes for a happier, healthier life.
6. You don’t have to wonder who’ll take care of you as you age. At a CCRC, residents have access to the care they may need in the years ahead. In addition to independent living, most CCRCs offer assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation on-site. It’s not something people like to think about, but the reality is that adults over 65 have about a 70% chance of requiring long-term care services in their lifetime.
Proactively planning for care takes the burden off your family. For couples living together at a CCRC, having access to a continuum of on-site care means being able to see each other every day if one of you requires a move to a higher level of living. Imagine how difficult life would be if you had to move a loved one to a dedicated care facility in another part of town where you didn’t know the staff or residents.
Discover how Holly Hall can give you peace of mind.
Having a plan for life’s what-ifs can help you face the future with greater confidence. At Holly Hall, in addition to enjoying an active, independent lifestyle, residents have access to a full continuum of on-site care, including assisted living, cognitive support, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. They don’t worry about where they’ll get the care they may need or who will provide it. They know it’s available right on campus from people they know and trust.
To learn more about the benefits of life at Holly Hall, contact us. We’d love to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
