When previous generations retired, they generally prepared for another decade of life. These retirees also knew that they might need a nursing home at some point, and tried to financially prepare for that eventuality. Nursing homes were seen as a necessity in the event of an accident or serious illness, but rarely as an option for regular living.
Nowadays, the current generation of retirees are offered a plethora of senior living opportunities. Most of us will live twenty or thirty years after we retire – sometimes even longer! You already know that this trend means we all need to prepare for a long-term stable form of income. But it also means we should closely examine all of our living opportunities before we retire.
Typical nursing homes are quickly becoming a thing of the past, and are only being used for the most dire health situations. You probably don’t want to retire to a bed in a shared room, surrounded by nursing staff and enjoying occasional visits from family. You might need some medical support, but would prefer to live more independently. And now those options have become available through a variety of residential options for seniors.
In the event that you need medical support, you might consider an assisted living center. When touring these facilities, you will be thrilled to find that some include swimming pools, recreational opportunities, exercise classes, and other impressive amenities. Many of these centers help you to stay involved in the community, or even encourage senior participation in local college classes. You might be able to live in your own home, safely ensconced in a small village, where you are visited daily by a nurse or personal care assistant. If you need help with transportation, grocery shopping, lawn care, and other daily tasks, you can often get everything you need rolled into a convenient package.
We’re excited to see greater options and a higher standard of living for our senior population. But of course, everything has a price tag. New senior living centers are designed with quality in mind, but you will be responsible for funding the lifestyle of your choice. As you plan for retirement, keep in mind that you will enjoy greater options than your parents and grandparents did, but you will also need the funds to pay for your choices. Let us help you plan for the long-term living situation that suits you, so that you can enjoy a better quality of life as you grow older.