After you retire and free yourself from the responsibilities of a career and raising a family, life’s possibilities start to open up. So what should you do next? As you explore your options, you may have heard others talk about senior living and thought to yourself, “I’m too young for something like that.” But once people move in and begin enjoying all the services, amenities, freedom, and peace of mind, they end up saying, “I wish I’d done this sooner.” Let’s look at some of the benefits of moving sooner rather than later.
Benefits of Independent Living
The best age to move into independent living — like Santa Marta senior living in Johnson County — is when you can make the most of every social, wellness, and financial benefit a retirement community has to offer:
- Add life to your years. Studies show that longevity is 25% genetics and 75% lifestyle. Choosing a retirement lifestyle that promotes activity and vitality can help you enjoy a happier and healthier life. Independent living communities have a monthly calendar full of daily activities and events that promote lifelong learning, wellness, socializing, and more.
- All in pricing. At a community like Santa Marta, all the services and amenities are included in your monthly service fee making independent senior living costs remarkably comparable to staying in your current home. Find an option to fit your lifestyle and your budget here.
- Maintenance-free living. When you live at a Life Plan Community, you’ll be freed from the chores and hassles of home maintenance and never have to worry about being surprised by big bills for appliance repair or replacement. If you’re done with doing yard work, you’ll never have to mow the lawn, pick up a rake, or even lift a finger to change a light bulb. Or if concerns about driving or finding parking prevents you from going out, we have scheduled transportation to help you get around town. In fact, with independent living at Santa Marta, you’ll leave those responsibilities to someone else so you can enjoy a greater sense of independence and the freedom to do what you enjoy most.
- Leave the cooking (and cleaning up) to us. If you love to cook, you’ll have a well-appointed kitchen to follow your passion. But for those times when you don’t, we have multiple dining venues featuring a variety of chef-prepared meals.
- Activities, amenities, and services. Independent living communities make it easy to get everything you need to enjoy your hobbies and newfound friendships. At Santa Marta, we offer classes, outings, and get togethers. We also have a variety of helpful services and thoughtful amenities including a fitness center, heated indoor pool, arts and crafts studio, full-service salon and barbershop, regularly scheduled transportation, concierge services, and much more.
- A continuum of care. 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 health care in their lifetimes, with an average stay of three years. And that care can be extremely expensive. Life Care communities offer a continuum of care like independent living, assisted living, memory care, and long-term skilled nursing. When you move into independent living under a Life Care residency contract, you have the guarantee of priority access to higher levels of care if you ever need it — without a significant increase in your monthly fee. This benefit is even more valuable for couples who may have one partner in independent living, while the other needs memory care or skilled nursing.
- Expanded circle of friends. Imagine living by neighbors who share your interests and want to live life to the fullest and you’ll get an idea of the social opportunities available at an independent living community. You can get together for coffee, dinner, one of our scheduled activities, or just enjoy some good conversation in one of our seating areas. You won’t have to go far to find a friend.
Signs It’s Time to Consider a Move
If you’re wondering when the best time move into a senior living community is, most experts think between 62-70 is the optimal time. That way you’re able to fully enjoy all the services and amenities community life offers.
Here’s how to know if a move may be in your best interest:
- It’s hard to keep up with your home’s maintenance.
- You want more social opportunities.
- You have more home than you need.
- Your friends and neighbors have moved away.
- You’re ready to focus on some new passions.
- You want to maintain your independence.
- You want somewhere you can easily age in place.
To More Fully Enjoy Life, Timing is Everything
At our closeknit independent living community in Johnson County, KS, you’ll find friendly residents talking and laughing with each other over a meal or a competitive card game. You’ll also find people with a strong opinion on how to get more out of life. To ask them about our community for yourself, come for a visit or contact one of our helpful senior living counselors.
