Where Are You Going to Live When You Get Older?
Where Are You Going to Live When You Get Older?
Future Plans for Aging
As an SRES® Designated REALTOR® and a person who has aging parents, I want to share some information with you on how to plan for the future. The SRES® designation means that I am certified to meet the special needs of maturing Americans when it comes to matters of real estate. This designation means that I can approach my mature clients with the best options for them to make life-changing decisions. I hope this Senior Series helps you learn something new and plan for the future! If you have questions about how to start planning for your future living arrangements and how to transition into that new phase, please reach out to me. I’d love to help!
Let’s jump right in! Today we’re going to be talking about the different options seniors have for living arrangements as they age. The first option I’d like to talk about is “living in place.”
Living in Place or LIP
Living in place means you stay in your own home and build a community around you to support your needs as you get older. As a result, this community will help you stay in your home longer. Your unique community or team might include family members, home healthcare or caregiver staff, and other service providers. The community that surrounds you should be unique to your needs.
It’s also important to think about the current setup you have in your home and if it is living in place friendly. For example, are your floors carpet or tile? Do you have easy and safe access to a shower? If you might need a wheelchair or walker one day, would you be able to move around the house easily? Is the home one story?
There are also local resources for folks who choose to live in place, depending on your location. You may find that there are options for dementia and Alzheimer’s care that can come to your home. There may also be transportation services for seniors to help with getting around town for errands and appointments.
Like most things in real estate, what matters the most for LIP is location, location, location! You’re going to want to be as close as you can to your support community and local resources.
55+ Communities
Single living houses, condominiums, or townhomes that are neighborhood focused. They may include different amenities like a clubhouse, golf courses, swimming pools, recreational sports teams, retail stores, and restaurants. With an active lifestyle community, you will most likely have yearly or monthly dues.
Retirement Facilities
A retirement facility or an assisted living facility is usually set up like a large apartment building. The apartment types may vary from small studios to one – two bedroom apartment homes with full kitchens and living rooms. What sets a retirement or assisted living facility apart is that they usually have varying levels of care, which can be a good thing for those looking to plan longterm. They are great for those who want to be social within a community and offer lots of opportunities to make friends and get involved.
All of these options are great – what you choose is going to be completely up to you and unique to your aging journey! The most important thing is that you have this discussion with the people you love and that love you so that you can have a plan in place. I hope this Senior Series encourages you to connect with your friends and family and that you will communicate what your wants and needs are as you get older. With that, I’d like to invite you to follow along in this series over on my YouTube channel, Kim Reding, REALTOR®. Thanks for stopping by and as always, You Belong Here!