“I’m not THAT old yet!”
“I like living independently!”
“I want to wait until I need the help!’
Any of these phrases sound like something you or a loved one have said about moving to senior living? Trust us – we’ve heard all of them and then some here at Melrose. And we get it! Moving into a “home” has some bad connotations, and a lot of seniors may feel like they’re giving up by leaving their family home.
As it turns out, though, moving to senior living early on is actually a great idea. We’ve heard time and time again from our residents that “they wish they’d moved here sooner.” Here are some of the reasons why they wish they’d become residents sooner.
You make fast friends. Living in your own home gives you your independence, yes, but as we age, it can become more difficult to get out and do things. In a senior living community like Melrose, you get the best of both worlds: your own private home and an instant group of potential friends living right outside your door. Between dining together, attending activities and events or simply walking down the hall, it’s easy to make friends – and it makes the place feel like “home” that much more quickly.
You get to say sayonara to chores. Be honest – do you really like cleaning the house and doing home maintenance? Even if you don’t mind it, it can be pretty tiring…and wouldn’t you rather do something, well, fun with your time instead? Senior living gives you a maintenance free lifestyle with housekeeping, maintenance, laundry and even dining if you wish. That means you have even more time to spend doing the things you love with new friends (see the above point).
You and your family get peace of mind. Even though you’re an active and independent senior, accidents can happen. What if you fall down the stairs? What if you have complications due to an illness? What if you go on vacation and your home gets broken into? Senior living can put your mind at ease, because you know that help is always available whenever you need it. Plus, with 24-hour a day security, you can go on vacation without missing a beat. You even have instant pet sitters if have a four-legged friend!
You can make this stage of life your own. While some seniors may think of moving to senior living as an “ending,” we prefer to look at it as a “beginning.” A chance to explore a new hobby or passion, or pick up an old one. An opportunity to spend your time volunteering for a worthy cause. It’s even a chance for you to share your knowledge by starting a club or class for others interested in what you have to offer. In short, it’s a chance to find new purpose and to really make this stage of life a new chapter.
At Melrose, we love when people move to our community while they’re active and independent. Not only does it give you the chance to enjoy everything we have to offer, but it also means that when it’s time for you to need a little extra assistance, you’re already “home”…no need to move away.