A sense of community can be something hard to explain. That being said, many of us do innately know when we are in a thoughtful community environment, because we feel the warmth that accompanies a sense of belonging.
As we age, finding community spaces becomes even more important, as being part of a community is truly the optimal way to spend our golden years and facilitates a means for making connections in old age. If you are in the process of fine-tuning your retirement plans and want to know what living in a community setting would look like, here are just a few benefits of community living that you can expect to look forward to as you transition into your retirement.
Proximity to family and friends
The first and most important benefit of over 55 living communities is ensuring that you maintain proximity to your family and friends. Generally speaking, retirement communities are designed to connect you to other like-minded community members, so this lifestyle transition does not feel as significant. If you or your retiree loved one is part of a large community, either connected through nationality or even faith, then a community living style will keep retirees connected.
If you are not the first of your peers to enter a community living village, you can ask your peers where they are living and tour these locations yourself. If you are looking to establish a community, you can move to a retirement village that you know has a strong community focus. There are even some aged care locations that are run by and tailored to certain nationalities, so immigrants or expats should feel free to explore these options if they’re hoping to find a village that makes them feel like they’re right back at home.
Community amenities
Another great benefit to community living is that you have access to a greater number of amenities. A village-type accommodation will typically have a communal shopping village which includes things like grocery stores, medical centres, dentists, beauty salons, post offices, and all those other essential amenities.
Not sure what amenities you’ll need for yourself when you retire? Why not check out the surrounding options for the best community living centres in your area, or ask a friend who is already retired about what the best amenities are that they have close by? Although it is important to have help at home so that you don’t necessarily need to venture out too far in order to do your grocery shopping or run other errands, maintaining a residence that is within easy distance to all of your essential amenities can make your retirement years just that much more comfortable.
Greater security
As we age, home security and crime rates become factors that are more important to our lives. Thankfully, when you live in a retirement community, there is greater security in numbers. Alongside this, retirement village providers will typically also have dedicated security professionals and advanced security systems in place that utilise well-managed CCTV technology.
If you’re living alone, however, security becomes even more important. Investing in a home alarm and other security systems can help to keep you feeling safe and secure as a senior. There is also the security of knowing that your neighbours are close by and will come in to check on you if required.
If security is a key focus for your living arrangements in the future, be sure to let your shortlisted community living destinations know. They will be able to tailor a tour for you based on the security measures in place and can also show you the rooms and living quarters that are in the most well-lit and densely populated areas.
Different experiences and lifestyles
Your retirement years are for exploring the things that matter to you and finding a new zest for life. And where better to do so than in an inviting community? Community living will show you a different kind of lifestyle and give you access to experiences you may have not even encountered before.
For instance, you might find that managing the community garden and its produce is something you never knew you would love. Or you may find your passion as an organiser, coordinating a social club that has regular meals out to experience different cuisines. There is no limit to the kind of involvement you can have in a community living lifestyle – with more than ample opportunity to retreat and enjoy quiet time too.
In truth, there are so many more benefits to community living for retirees than what we’ve mentioned here. For this reason, we recommend that seniors take some time to pause and reflect on what kind of lifestyle you wish to pursue and how you can work towards that goal. Remember to include your friends and family in this decision-making process, so that you can be rest assured that your retirement plan is not only aligned with your own personal values, but also inclusive of all your friends and loved ones.
Interested in making the transition from independent living into retirement community life? You can find more information about planning your move into your selected retirement village either through your village provider or through government resources today.
