Why Living in a Senior Community May Be Better than Living Alone

Assisted living is not your grandma’s nursing home, despite what many people think. Many people don’t want to make the move into an independent or assisted living community and will fight to stay in their family homes as long as they can. This makes sense as people feel they lose their independence when they move to a community. But this simply isn’t true anymore, as baby boomers have reinvented assisted living. Many independent and assisted communities have expanded their market by providing convenience and retirement services, and may be actually better than living alone.

Here are four reasons why making the move to an independent or assisted living community may be the right choice for you or your loved one:

1. Compare the costs:  Keeping up a family home can be costly, especially on one fixed income. The cost of repairs and utilities — from temperamental appliances, to a leak in the roof or plumbing wear and tear — can all add up. Even if the family home is paid for, there are still taxes, utilities, home insurance, before you even add up food, laundry, housekeeping—all included at Sunnymere.  Currently, rent for one month for an independent person  at Sunnymere in one ‘room’ is $1545.

2. Living with other people encourages good manners: The old adage, “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” can even be used in a social sense. Manners and civilized behavior can start to deteriorate if you’re always alone, left in a funk or begin to feel depressed. In this way, community interaction is good. Involvement in the community makes people feel like they’re contributing to society, simply because, well — they are.

3. There’s more opportunity for physical activity in a community: Assisted living communities offer many programs to keep their seniors active, from endurance and strength-building workouts that are catered to senior citizens.  Sunnymere has ‘chair aerobics several times a week and a ‘walking club’.  Sunnymere will purposely have activities in the Activity Room, which is a ‘walk’ down the hall. Staying active in fun, organized group settings can help seniors with arthritis, keep their circulation flowing and keep their bodies engaged in healthy living.

4. A community offers socialization: Let’s face it. Being alone in your house is certainly less social than living in a community surrounded by many others your age with similar interests. As people age, they are less apt to socialize since they no longer need to go to work or even want to attend social events. Independent and assisted communities change all that. At Sunnymere, seniors cannot lay around in their pajamas all day. They have to get dressed, come down for meals and interact.

Today there are many services in communities, including meals, barber or beauty services, even gourmet dining and spas.  Sunnymere provides residents with three meals a day, housekeeping, laundry service, hair salon and activities. Through such services as well as social activities, many seniors are finding that Sunnymere and other independent/assisted living communities can provide convenience, happiness and improved quality of life.

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