klaus
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Apr 25, 2005, 9:22 AM
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Moving to a retirement residence: Choosing the right time; Making the right choice
Moving to a retirement residence is a decision that ideally should be made in consultation with one’s family. As we age, our needs and abilities change and it’s important that we make the right choices when it comes to something as momentous as moving to a retirement residence.
The Right Time
When is the right time to make a move? That’s not an easy answer, but there are some rules of thumb that may help in arriving at an answer. If you are living in a home that is too large for you to maintain, then it makes sense to consider a move to a retirement home. There are other reasons that might encourage you to make the move as well. These include being able to maintain an independent lifestyle without putting yourself at risk. Are you able to go out and buy groceries and other necessities? Are you able and motivated to cook and eat meals? Do you have enough social contact with friends, family and neighbors? Do you get enough exercise and are you able to perform all the little chores that one needs to do to keep functioning?
When going through this process it is very important that you involve your family in the decision making process and to be totally honest with yourself. A lot of people will not readily admit to infirmities that limit them from functioning at 100% capacity and as a result they put themselves at risk. Everyone wants to believe that they can maintain their independence indefinitely and sometimes a move to a retirement residence will enable you to continue being independent with a minimum of assistance. Family members can be helpful in reaching the right decision and in assisting you in making the transition smooth and pleasant.
The Right Place
What kind of retirement residence is right? There are as many correct answers as there are people asking. But again, some common sense applies. Many retirement residences offer a basic menu of services, which generally include meals and accommodations in a hotel-style setting. Many retirement homes have trained and qualified staff on duty to assist their residences in maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle. If you are taking medication, it’s comforting to know that many residences have nurses on staff to ensure that you take the medication you need in the dosage prescribed at the time indicated. Most retirement residences offer additional services to their residents, including podiatric care, massage and hydrotherapy, special diets, even access to a hairdresser, usually in the home itself.
You and your family may also want to check into whether or not the retirement residence that you are considering offers any specialty services, such as specialized medical care or assistance with mild dementia or Alzheimer’s.
When attempting to make up your mind about a retirement residence it makes sense to visit several different homes. Many homes will invite you for a free trail stay or at the very least lunch or dinner to see whether or not you will like it there.
Don’t be afraid to talk to some of the residents to find out how they are faring. You will get an honest answer.
An important aspect of living in retirement is having enough to keep you interested in life. Many residences offer life-enrichment programs from simple group activities such as a bingo games to organized trips to the theater or dinner excursions. The better retirement residences offer a variety of on-site leisure amenities such as a chapel where regular religious services are held, a games room, movie theater, workshop, exercise facilities, etc. Make it a point to visit each of these facilities when you are at the decision making stage. A helpful tool could be a comparison chart that lists everything each home you are considering offers along with what you monthly cost will be. This way you can visually determine which home is right for you.
How Much Will it Cost?
Retirement residences, like automobiles come in a wide variety and cost accordingly. Many retirement residences charge a by-the-day fee, which generally ranges from $60 to $100 per day. This will cover the basics of meals and accommodations, but may not include extras such as personal laundry, cable TV or telephone.
Of course, there are retirement residences that run into many thousands of dollars per month. However, these generally cater to a specialized demographic, which seeks out this type of residence.
While paying for a hotel-style retirement residence may seem like an expensive proposition, often a pension combined with an investment return from the proceeds of the sale of your oversized home, can provide a pleasant lifestyle indefinitely and will leave a little something for your heirs.
There are literally tens of thousands of retirement residences to choose from across North America. With a little research and some input from your family, you can be assured of a happy and fulfilling retirement.
Klaus Rohrich is President and Creative Director of Taylor/Rohrich Associates Inc., a marketing and advertising firm that specializes in niche marketing retirement real estate developments http://www.maturitymarketing.com.
(This post was edited by klaus on Apr 25, 2005, 9:27 AM)
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