Moving into a retirement community automatically means going into a new and different environment. It’s akin to moving to your newly furnished house. Retirement seems to be one of the highest transition points in one’s life.
Besides, the retirement period is meant to be a season of enjoyment and happiness. So, all you have to do is find the most suitable retirement community that is best for you.
There are several reasons why you may want to start choosing a retirement home as a retiree. It could be because you feel they are a less expensive option and have low taxes. No matter what your reason may be, you should know that there are lots of benefits to enjoy when you find the right retirement community.
For instance, at Seasons Retirement, the welfare of their residents is one of their utmost priorities. You can check out https://www.seasonsretirement.com/ for their services and locations within Ontario and Alberta.
Read through to see the major things that make a great retirement community.
9 Things That Make a Great Retirement Community
1. Sense of Togetherness
Research shows that some of the top retirement communities have a network of friends who live within the community and always connect at meals or participate in almost all events.
Some communities organize different events to keep their residents entertained, while others designate areas for certain hobbies such as glassworking, woodworking, modelling, and more.
These activities will also help those who have just moved in to engage and communicate with others. A great retirement community will always put things in place to achieve a good sense of togetherness.
2. Activities for relaxation
Once you settle in, you can go ahead and sign up for any activity you’re interested in. This is another way to meet different people while still having fun.
A great retirement community will have a variety of activities to select from. Some of the activities include yoga, singing teams, art classes, and many more. It is advisable not to spend all day in your room.
3. Instant Access to Medical Care
Immediate and easy access to medical attention at all times is one of the significant advantages of staying in the best retirement community.
It doesn’t matter if you need rehabilitation surgery or long-term healthcare; your community should give a prompt response by granting access to all the necessary resources that will aid your speedy recovery.
Take note that before choosing a retirement home, you must ensure that they have your best interest at heart, else you might be at risk if you require urgent medical attention.
4. It should feel like home
It doesn’t matter if it’s a retirement community; it just has to feel like home. So the location, decoration, and people (neighbours) should be arranged (and situated) so that the community looks like a regular home.
Therefore, when choosing a retirement community, watch out for the details and features that may make life more comfortable.
This does not imply that everything in the community should replicate your old house. In some cases, a good retirement community will go all out to give your residence a personal touch or allow you to customize and arrange your new home just the way you like it.
Everything doesn’t have to be the same as your old home, but the move may be more difficult if it’s completely different. Most times, a good retirement community will give residents the opportunity to add personal touches to their new home.
5. Safety
Another key thing that makes a retirement community great is its level of security. Most times, safety depends on the type of community you’re considering moving to.
For instance, independent living communities tend to have better security measures than memory care or assisted living communities.
However, if you are thinking of what to look for in a retirement community, then, security measures should be one of the major things.
Some of the important security measures you should look out for include smoke detectors, well-lit rooms, and hallways, well-secured entrances and exits, as well as handrails in the hallways.
Inquiring about these security features in the community will help you make the right decision as to whether or not you’ll feel comfortable living there.
6. Housing suitable for older persons
Choosing a retirement home perfectly and specially designed for older adults will help you maintain your independence. In addition, a couple of upgrades to your home, like incorporating handles or a seat in the shower, can help to prevent home accidents.
Furthermore, you could check out a retirement residence with a bedroom, washing room, laundry room, and toilet.
7. Reliable public transportation
You don’t have to drive every time. Therefore, you should look out for communities that provide transportation services. For instance, a great retirement residence will always provide taxi or bus services at an affordable cost.
8. Chores and maintenance assistance
It’s a fact that as you advance in age, you may not be able to carry out all house chores again. For example, shovelling the snow or mowing the lawn could be too laborious.
In the best retirement residences, provisions are made to assist residents with their daily household chores so that they can spend more time relaxing and partaking in their favourite activities.
9. Amenities
There are certain amenities that a great retirement community will always put in place for its residents. The amenities could be museums, golf resorts, or Mountain Views.
All these and more will heighten your fun experience as a retired person living in a retirement community.
Endnote
Retirement communities help you live a more relaxed and comfortable life after retirement. After you have worked for a greater part of your life, moving to a retirement home ensures that the rest of your life is void of stress and filled with enjoyment. Plus, you get to live in luxury.
Hopefully, this guide has enlightened you on all the things that make a great retirement community.