As retirement begins to approach, people begin to think about which option is best for their housing during this period of life. We will agree that this decision is not at all simple, because it basically determines in which direction your life will go from that moment on. Nowadays, more and more retirees are considering and opting for retirement housing. This choice implies an independent life in the retirement community which, like everything else, has its advantages and disadvantages.
Depending on what lifestyle you like and what type of life you want for yourself, living in a retirement community can make more or less sense for you. That is why we decided to share some of its main pros and cons so you can make a decision for yourself.
Pros of living in a retirement community
1. Positive impact on social life
One of the main benefits of living in a retirement community is the ability to connect with people of the same age and similar interests. It is clear to all of us that social engagement is important at all stages of life, from early childhood to later years. But for the retirement period having friends to talk and play games with can be very beneficial for both mental and physical health. If you are unfamiliar with this, we suggest you read a few scientific studies on the subject. It has been shown that people who are socially active in their later years have a lower risk of developing dementia, their immune system is stronger, and live longer than people who do not have developed social life in retirement. A particularly good thing is that people in these communities find themselves in similar life situations and can connect more.
2. More independence for longer
Another thing that statistics show when it comes to living in the retirement community is that people who make this housing choice stay independent for longer. The fact is that older people, when they move to live with their children and grandchildren, often start to rely on them more and quickly lose their independence. However, the situation is completely different when they decide to live in retirement communities. It has been shown that older people in such conditions make decisions much longer autonomously and remain mentally and physically more independent.
3. No need for household maintenance
A big advantage for retirees who choose to live in retirement communities is that they do not have to worry about maintaining the household because all the work is done by someone instead of them. This can make life much easier for people at this age, as they often do not have enough strength and will to do household chores. With the retirement housing option, there is the staff who take care of hygiene, aesthetics, but also the safety of the space in which retirees spend their time. Everything is maximally optimized in order to make them easier to function but also to prevent injuries.
If you like the option of living in a retirement community and you are looking for senior apartments in Ottawa, we suggest you check out SiennaLiving and find out what flexible options they have in their offer.
Cons of living in a retirement community
1. It can be pricey
Living in a retirement community can sometimes be a much more expensive option than living in a family home. This is most often the case when a retired person has a certain health problem and needs a qualified nurse. It is often necessary to set aside a lot of money for such services, so if this is an obstacle for you, you may want to think twice before making a decision to move to a retirement community. In situations like this, you will need to find an option that does not put so much pressure on your wallet, and usually involves the help of a family member or a friend.
2. Everyone is similar in age
Although we have mentioned this as one of the advantages of living in a retirement community, the fact that everyone is in this place for similar years can sometimes be a disadvantage. The main problem here for most people is that there are no kids around, and we all know how much pleasure it is for retired people to play with children. Even if you don’t have grandchildren, you may have lived in a neighborhood that was full of young people and children until retirement, so you are used to this dynamic. In situations like this, it can be challenging to get used to living with people who are exclusively your age. Of course, this largely depends on individual preferences and previous habits, so some may see it as a disadvantage and others as an advantage.
3. It requires making a change
And lastly, another thing that for older people can be quite a challenge when it comes to living in a retirement village is that this requires a change of lifestyle. Many people, especially at this age, are not very open to change, and getting out of their comfort zone can cause them a lot of stress that they may not know how to deal with. If you were not a fan of making changes in your youth, we suggest that you take the time to think carefully about whether moving to the retirement community is the best choice and how it will affect you in this period of life. If change is not a problem for you, then there is no problem!
Conclusion
As retirement approaches, people begin to think about which housing option is best for them. The answer to this question is individual and varies from one person to another. Some of the main benefits of living in a retirement community are a developed social life, having more independence for longer and not needing to deal with household maintenance. However, the disadvantages are having to set aside a lot of money, not having kids around often, and dealing with change. Think about all these factors, conclude what is important to you, and then make the best decision for yourself.
