Beyond Retirement: Independent Living and Future Preparation for Seniors

Is independent living for seniors part of your long-term plan? By cutting homeownership ties and seeking independent senior living solutions while you’re vibrant and healthy, you can avoid a hectic and rushed move in the future. Let’s explore how to make independent living for seniors a part of your plans while learning  essential tips to ensure it’s a successful transition.

Cost of Independent Living for Seniors

One of the most common questions about independent living communities is cost, and understandably so—it’s one of the crucial aspects of planning for the future. This is where a senior living cost calculator comes in handy , so that you can compare your current monthly expenses to the cost of senior living.

When considering your senior living options, it’s important to remember that all the individual expenses you have now—rent or mortgage, taxes, home maintenance, utilities, repair costs, lawn care, groceries, and more—are all consolidated under one monthly cost at a senior living community. By compiling this information and comparing your current monthly costs to the monthly fee of a senior living community, you’ll find that senior living is quite affordable, and you get more for your money.

You also have access to priceless community offerings, such as easy access to stores and restaurants, the ability to make plenty of new friends, and a low-maintenance lifestyle. Say goodbye to arranging for snow removal, lawn care, or house repairs—this is all handled by your senior living community!

Transitioning to Independent Living

There are quite a few steps in the moving process, so to help it go as smoothly as possible, we recommend:

Create a Schedule

There’s a lot to do when preparing to move, and it can be all too easy to start on one task and then switch to another in the middle. To keep yourself on track, we recommend creating a schedule of what needs to be done before the move and when you expect to be working on each task. This will help keep you focused and ensure each task is fully completed before moving on to the next one.

Obtain a Floor Plan

If you can, obtain a floor plan of the independent living apartment you’re moving into. This will help you visualize what you have space for and where to put items. It will also keep you motivated and excited about decorating when the moving process is complete.

Downsize Unnecessary Items

Your apartment will likely be smaller than your current residence. How do you plan for that? Rightsize your possessions into what you want to bring with you. For example, a great place to start downsizing is with duplicate items that aren’t needed.

It may help to go room by room to determine which items you want to keep, donate, or sell. This is when having a floor plan of your new apartment will be especially helpful because you can see what you have room for in your new space.

Keep Important Documents Organized

Items can become misplaced or lost during the moving process. To ensure that important papers such as medical and military records, wills, passports, and other important documents don’t become lost, we recommend keeping all of these documents organized in one place.

Pack Efficiently

If you’re not hiring professional movers, here are some packing tips to keep in mind:

• Put heavier items on the bottom of the boxes.
• Fill in empty spaces in boxes with clothes or towels.
• Avoid putting items from different rooms into the same box.
• Label each box with its designated area and a description of what’s in the box.
• Pack a separate suitcase with immediate essentials such as medications, personal care items, towels, snacks, a change of clothes, and a book or puzzle so that you have some core essentials easily accessible.

Move with Ease

Bethesda offers our unique Moving with Ease Program to future residents. The program provides up to $3,000 of assistance to individuals who move into a Bethesda apartment. The program also includes specialists who will help you decorate your new apartment, select furniture, maximize your space, and arrange your belongings to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere.

Personalizing Your Apartment

Finding a community that respects and supports your individuality and unique needs is important, including the option to personalize your apartment. When you’re considering senior living communities, make sure you discuss how much you can personalize your apartment.

For example, can you paint and hang items on the walls? It’s important to understand which structural modifications you can and can’t make to your space.

How you decorate your apartment is just as important as the move itself. You want a comfortable space that boosts your energy, reduces stress, and provides a sense of familiarity. For example, digital photo frames and other sentimental items can go a long way toward making your apartment feel cozy and personal.

Plan for the Future

There’s a lot to think about regarding independent living for seniors, from navigating costs to making your new space feel as comfortable as possible. You may even be wondering if independent living for seniors is the right choice. To make an informed decision, take our interactive quiz to learn more about your options.