When Is It Time to Move to a Retirement Community?
July 25, 2023
How do you know when it’s time to start thinking about moving to a retirement community? The truth is, there’s no perfect age or magic number that signals it’s time to move. The right time to move into a retirement community depends on a number of factors that are unique to you, and it’s a personal choice that’s influenced by your health, lifestyle and housing preferences.
Although the average age to move to a retirement community is 80 to 83, you’ll find there’s a lot to gain from moving before age 75. And if you talk to those who’ve already made the move, you’ll probably hear them say they wish they’d moved sooner. When you experience the active lifestyle of an Independent Living community, you’ll see why it makes so much sense to move in sooner rather than later, while you’re still healthy and active.
Signs You’re Ready for Senior Living
Here are some signs you’re ready to enjoy all the benefits of a retirement community:
Sign #1: Your neighborhood is geared for young families. As the years go by, old friends move away and young families move in. Living in a family-friendly neighborhood may have been ideal when you were raising a family, but it doesn’t have the same appeal as an older adult. A retirement community is filled with fun and friendly neighbors of a similar age and stage of life as you.
Sign #2: You’re tired of cooking. When you add up all the time you spend meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning up the kitchen, it can feel like you hardly have time to do anything else! Moving to a retirement community with restaurant-style dining lets you enjoy gourmet meals without any of the work. With healthy and delicious menu options prepared by professional culinary teams, you’ll enjoy exceptional food and friendly service when dining in our Riverside Senior Life communities.
Sign #3: You’re bored with household chores. Home maintenance is a demanding job that takes a lot of your time. Even if you have no problem managing all the tasks involved in housekeeping and home upkeep, you could probably find better ways to spend your time. Just imagine the freedom of a maintenance-free lifestyle where you don’t have to worry about doing yard work, shoveling snow, washing windows, changing light bulbs, etc.
Sign #4: You have concerns about safety. Retirement communities are built for older adults with one-level living and other age-friendly features so you can maintain your independence even if you have changes with your health or mobility.
Sign #5: You worry about what could happen if your health declines. Even if you’re in perfect health now, you never know what the future may bring. If you choose a community with a continuum of senior care options, you can relax knowing you can stay in one place and never have to move again.
Sign #6: You’re feeling lonely. It’s important to maintain friendships and stay socially engaged as you age. Living in a community among others in a similar stage of life can provide a sense of belonging and improve your quality of life. At Westwood, we offer a full calendar of social activities, classes, events and clubs that make it easy to broaden your social circle.
Plan Your Future at Westwood
Whatever your reasons are for moving to a retirement community, it’s important to find a community with the right combination of health care services, campus amenities and residential options to fit your needs and budget. With unsurpassed access to healthcare services through Riverside Healthcare, as well as on-site Assisted Living and Memory Care, you have everything you need for a secure future.
Ready to take the next step? Independent Living at Westwood is an exciting journey of self-discovery. We invite you to come see what your future could look like at Westwood, where you can enjoy a vibrant lifestyle and focus on what matters most to you. Choose from a variety of well-appointed floor plans to fit your lifestyle, and meet friends who share your interests and zest for life. Contact us to learn more or schedule a visit to explore the Estates at Westwood and the Oaks at Westwood.