Why You Should Move into Senior Living When You’re Active and Healthy
If you’re wondering when to move into senior living, the answer is … sooner than you may think! You can secure senior health care, make more time to do as you please, and improve your overall quality of life by making the move now. And don’t let seemingly intimidating independent senior living costs keep you from starting your search. Read on to learn about seven ways you can improve your quality of life now and start saving thousands by making the move to senior independent living sooner rather than later.
Find Freedom in Independent Living
Many people wait to explore their interests until they’ve crossed everything off their to-do lists, so they have nothing to distract them from pursuing their true passions. The time to do what you’ve always wanted to do is now, and senior independent living gives you the freedom to do that by taking care of pesky everyday tasks like scheduling home maintenance and planning meals. When you don’t have to worry about those things, you’re free to learn a new skill, focus on your health, make friends with your neighbors, or whatever it is you’ve been meaning to do for far too long.
Be a Part of a Community
Humans have an innate and powerful need to belong to a group. As you age, it’s important to maintain friendships with people other than your family, because you need to be able to relate to people like you. Living in a senior living community can be considered preventive care in that your quality of life will improve and your stress level will reduce when you’re among others in a similar stage of life and mindset, whom you can relate to. The Heritage at Brentwood cultivates a well-rounded lifestyle, so you can find your people and your place, and ultimately live a fulfilling life.
Start Saving on Everyday Expenses with All-Inclusive Pricing
At a senior living community, you pay a monthly service fee, which covers home maintenance, several utilities, property taxes, a certain number of meals depending on your contract, and a lot of social engagement and entertainment opportunities. You can save thousands of dollars and hours spent budgeting when all that is wrapped into a predictable monthly fee. Use our MoneyGauge tool to calculate your cost of living and see how your lifestyle measures up.
Maintain Your Health with Ease
Senior independent living communities make it easy for you to attain senior health care by having a continuum of care services, including assisted living, long-term care, and skilled nursing, all on one campus. Depending on your contract, you may not even have to leave your residence at the community to receive these care services. And if your partner is here with you, they can be by your side as you grow older and you each have health needs. The Heritage at Brentwood offers Preferred Choice Dining®, which provides healthy options, so you can choose to practice healthy habits daily. And the HealthyLife® Services program offers plenty of ways you can maintain your fitness and well-being, including group exercise classes and an indoor heated pool for water aerobics. Keep yourself sharp in the library, and let your creativity flourish in the art room and woodworking shop. With so many enriching activities to fill your days, you’re sure to improve your quality of life at a senior independent living community.
Save on Future Health Costs by Preparing for Them Now
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that approximately 70% of seniors 65 and older will need some type of long-term senior care, with an average stay of about three years. When you move into a senior living community, you’ll pay an entrance payment, which pre-pays the long-term care you may need later in life, so you don’t have to worry about bills when you need to focus on your health.
Get a Tax Break
Several IRS rulings have established that a portion of the senior independent living community entrance payment and monthly fees are deductible as a prepaid medical expense. There are many tax breaks available for seniors, but this particular perk is only available to those who move into a retirement community, and taking advantage of it could save you a lot of money. Consult with your tax advisor for details.
Pass the Health Test Now
Some Life Plan Communities (aka CCRCs, or continuing care retirement communities) require a senior health evaluation before signing a contract, so it’s better to move in now when you’re healthy, rather than later. Communities offering a Type A contract, which guarantees priority access to unlimited long-term care at costs significantly lower than market rates, are most likely to require you to meet certain senior health standards to be eligible to sign a continuing care contract. The evaluation usually consists of a health questionnaire, medical exam, and possibly a request for medical records from recent years.
So, when is the best age to move into senior independent living? If it’s crossed your mind, it’s time to act.