Retirement Living – Making the Choice

Article submitted by Sheri Conway-Madison Meadows Retirement & Supported Living Community

Moving from a home to a Senior Living Community is not always an easy decision. The children are usually the first ones to see a need for change. Examples could be that mom or dad's friends have passed and they need companionship, not eating properly, or maybe they had a fall recently.

The transition of moving out of their home of more than 25 years or more can be the most difficult. Some of their first questions might be...How can I bring everything with me, or why do I have to move? A lot of seniors feel they have paid their house off, so why should they have to pay rent. They don't see the larger picture. The yard is overgrown with weeds, the pool has algae growing in it, and the house is much too large to take care of.

But the transition can be made easier by supporting and talking with them when they are still in good health. A lot of times we wait until our parent's health has deteriorated. Parents should always be included in all decisions if possible. After all, remember when you were a teenager and you got tired of your parents telling you what to do. Well, our parents feel the same way.

When seniors move to often, such as moving from an Independent Retirement Community, then to an AL or Care Center they sometimes backslide, as it's not easy to pack up our homes and move, so why should it be easy for them. Try to make good decisions based on the needs of your parents. Do they need 24 hour supervision; are they unable to care for themselves? If might cost a few pennies more but you more than likely won't have to move them later on.

Independent Retirement Living is a great place to start for seniors that might have some medical problems but are still independent. Most offer a Home Health Agency, and take seniors to events, shopping, and much more. And don't forget to call and visit with your parents as often as you can. Children involved in their parent's lives can make a big impact on their health and well being.

A lot of seniors still think of Retirement Communities as Nursing or Care Homes. Encourage them to go with you and tour several communities. Most Retirement Communities invite you to have lunch with your tour. It's a good idea to take advantage of this opportunity, this way you can talk with residents, and also see how the staff treats them, plus, enjoy a great lunch.