Today’s retirees are living longer and better lives than at any time in the history of mankind, and
retirement residences reflect this trend. However, this lifestyle often falls short of its promises.
Following are five reasons why moving into a retirement residence is better for the overall health
and happiness of most senior citizens.
Social Activities
Although the current trend toward aging in place has been embraced wholeheartedly by many
seniors and their families, this situation only works well if the retiree has access to social
activities and peers. This often isn’t the case, leaving many seniors living in isolation, and it’s
been proven that those who have access to social activities live longer lives.
Nutritious Meals
Retirees often neglect diet and nutrition, sometimes relying on convenience foods and snack
items. Senior communities have trained nutritionists on staff as well as talented kitchen
personnel to provide delicious and nutritious meal options.
Professional Housekeeping Services
No one wants to retire just to clean house all day, but not doing so can lead to environmental and
physical hazards. Mold and mildew colonies, for instance, can cause anything from contact
dermatitis to severe respiratory distress, and proper cleaning is essential to keep their populations
in check. Professional housekeepers also see that the home is always organized in such a way
that slip-and-fall risks and other physical hazards are minimal.
Transportation
Even retirees who are still able to drive often find navigating busy traffic stressful. Senior
communities provide transportation to medical appointments, social activities, and shopping,
decreasing the chances of seniors becoming involved in automobile accidents as well as making
certain that they get to their appointments with physicians and other health care professionals.
Better Family Connections
Because those who live in retirement communities are not dependent on family members to help
with everyday activities, relationships between seniors and their families involve less stress.
Adult children who provide full time caregiving often feel resentful of their elderly parents, and
in turn, seniors are likely to ignore or minimize symptoms of illness or injury because they don’t
want to be a burden on their loved ones. Better family relations also mean increased mental
health.
Modern senior communities are vibrant, diverse, and offer a range of living options, including
many opportunities for physical exercise. They are far from sleepy places where boredom reigns
supreme and the only activity is sitting in front of the television set.
AUTHOR BIO: This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for
business, health, and women鈥檚 interests. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful
daughters. Dixie got advice for this article from professionals at Sunshine Retirement Living.
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I’ll keep this article handy. My mom is 81 and perfectly happy living alone in her big and dilapidated house. Maybe I would be too. But I wonder what she will think later down the road. Hoping there IS a later down the road, of course. Didi
There are a lot of factors to consider: age, health, her ability to care for herself and her home. Yes, it’s great to be able to live alone… but the “being able to” is the tricky part. I hope you’ll keep an eye on her. 馃檪
Shelley
You have covered a lot of really positive reasons for senior citizens to move into a retirement home here. However, did you know that you can get the same level of support by engaging a home help service for your elderly loved one too? While retirement homes can be great options for some people, many older people want to maintain their independence by staying in their own homes. This gives them the flexibility to be in control of their own daily schedule, should they choose it, or look for assistance to establish a similar routine of what you might find in a retirement home with their homecare assistant (but personalised to their requirements as opposed to the general population of a retirement home).
Certainly home care options play a role in keeping seniors safe and able to stay in their homes for a longer period of time. What home care does not always offer is the ability for the senior to make new friends and to participate in activities. This isolation can sometimes cause depression… which can lead to a multitude of problems.
But yes, I agree that if a senior wishes to remain in their own home, home help is a good option.
I agree that the social activities are a great benefit to retirement homes. I used to volunteer at a great retirement home. Everyday there would be great activities to enjoy. This is definitely a great option for those who struggle with providing everyday needs. Thanks for the post.
These are all great reasons for a retired person to consider moving into a nursing home. Lately, I’ve had to start calling my mom around dinner time to remind her to eat. It seems like I wouldn’t have to worry about her nutrition if we moved her into a home. I’m sure she would enjoy the social activities and the help with the housekeeping as well.