If you have lived in your home for many years, thinking about a move can be challenging, even if this change offers numerous benefits. This is a scenario that many senior adults face, especially as aspects of homeownership become more difficult or a greater source of stress. Considering the pros and cons of maintaining a home versus independent living in a senior-centric community may help provide some clarity. To assist you in this comparison, explore the general list of factors below that often guide the choice to move into an award-winning community such as Arbors of Hop Brook instead of continuing homeownership.
5 Key Factors in Deciding Between Homeownership and Independent Living
In your current home, you likely have an abundance of stories and memories associated with every room and in each part of your outdoor space. However, enjoying the same independence in a maintenance-free senior apartment offers the opportunity to create many new ones and to take advantage of many other benefits. Below, learn more about the pros and cons of independent living versus homeownership.
- Home care: Home and yard maintenance, along with constant improvements, take substantial time and effort (not to mention money) at any age. While you may have taken pleasure over the years in updating a bathroom or adding an outdoor patio, other efforts like shoveling snow, dealing with unexpected leaks or weeding may not appear on your list of fond memories. Homeownership offers control over interior and exterior design and features, but it also comes with the burden of significant expense and ongoing management. In an independent living community, the designer may have selected the appliances for the full kitchen, but you don’t have to worry about their upkeep or replacement! However, in your new home in an independent living community, you can still contribute to the style of your space and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the maintenance of your residence is no longer your responsibility!
- Convenience: One of the things that people love about their homes is that they know where everything is and have it organized to their specifications. The same holds true for their weekly routine, perhaps going to the local grocery store on the same day and time each week or attending that Tuesday card game at a friend’s house. The good news is that the same experiences can be achieved in an independent living setting, often with even more convenience. For example, if caring for your wellness is a vital part of each day, then you can either drive to your favorite gym or just take a class on-site. Similarly, you can host this week’s card game or head to a friend’s house, knowing that you won’t have to miss it due to a repair person’s visit or cancel due to an emergency issue with the bathroom.
- Social Opportunities: As the years pass, people often have greater concerns about fall prevention. Sometimes, this worry results in reluctance to go out for social events. As highlighted by the National Council on Aging, participating in social activities is actually a strategy to help reduce the risk of falling and support the well-being of an elderly parent who seems unhappy. Both homeowners and residents in an independent living community have opportunities to be social, but the latter provides a potentially wider range of activities, which are easier to access, and takes care of hosting them! While you can still make that standing tee time or meet up with a friend for lunch, an independent living experience also provides the option to attend special events or activities as highlighted on Arbors of Hop Brook’s community calendar.
- Services: In addition to apartment maintenance and landscaping, independent living communities offer other services as well. From meal preparation to transportation, independent living residents often have access to a wide range of services designed for their convenience. Therefore, residents can easily prepare their own meals if they choose or let someone else handle the cooking and cleanup by making use of community dining options! In a continuing care retirement community like Arbors of Hop Brook, the range of available services aims to serve the current needs of individuals enjoying independent living as well as the medical considerations or support for daily care that may be helpful in the future.
- Security: Homeownership offers the comfort of familiarity, but as people age, other security concerns may arise. From daily health check-ins to 24-hour community security, the services and amenities available in an independent living community may offer both you and your loved ones better peace of mind with regard to where you live. Also, instead of potentially having to deal with any health issues or other needs on your own, a team may be available to assist you.
Enjoy the benefits of independent living with the confidence in accessing any future care that you may need in a CCRC like Arbors of Hop Brook. Here, residents embrace the degree of independence that best suits them now, while knowing that they can gain additional support in the event that their health conditions change. As the only community of its kind located east of the Connecticut River, come take a tour of Arbors of Hop Brook today!