When we hear the words “senior living,” many of us jump to visions of multistory fully assisted living communities, with push-down dining room meal services and onsite medical care. But while dining rooms and medical conveniences can appear in senior living communities— and offer a great level of convenience in doing so—they’re hardly the summation of these options.
Truth be told, most senior living communities are open to any adult age 55 or older. Which means that many of the adults eligible to live in such communities are still living busy, active lives. So, what exactly does senior living look like for the younger crowd?
Embracing transition
Though it’s far from a solid rule, many adults around the age of 55 are reaching a point of transition in life. The kids are grown, many having graduated college, moved out, and started their own careers. Depending on career choice and retirement plans, people are closer to or reaching their final working years.
As one life stage comes to a close, there’s a natural opportunity to embrace change and transition now with a plan, rather than leaving certain decisions for a later date.
Simplified living
As any homeowner can attest, owning a home that was built for a family comes with no shortage of work and costs. Simply keeping up maintenance is a chore in itself, but add in the time and cost of repairs over the years, not to mention yardwork and cleaning, and it can just be…a lot. Not to mention the house can start to feel awfully big and empty once you have an empty nest.
Transitioning to a 55+ community is often a way to continue having your own residence—but with a lot less of the work that comes with owning a traditional home. You’ll likely still have to clean, but you may find you like having a smaller space to take care of. Many communities will handle things like landscaping and snow removal for you, further simplifying the demands on you.
One of the other big benefits to moving into a 55+ community on the earlier end of that age spectrum is the opportunity to extend your time to age in place. The earlier you move, the earlier that place can become home. Plus, with many communities offering scaled living solutions, should the need to bring on additional help appear over time, you’re already where you need to be.
All the activities and social opportunities
Maybe you already have an active adult pickleball league you play in or a weekly yoga class you love. You might already have a book club you look forward to each month. But maybe you don’t—or maybe, you’re just ready for something new.
One of the best parts of moving to a 55+ community is the constant opportunity to meet new friends in the same stage of life through the community’s professionally coordinated clubs, events, and activities. While you don’t have to go to any of it, if you want to get out, there is always something to do just around the corner.
