Is Your Home Appropriate for the Long-Term?
September 16, 2015
Moving out of a home that has been the hub of family life for many years can be a difficult, emotional process. The concept of downsizing is often associated with increased levels of personal freedom, yet I have often heard many of our residents describe how hard it was for them to break away from their home and part with some of their possessions, as the years of ownership had naturally resulted in a peculiar bond forming between them and their home, their furniture, their curios and knick-knacks.
Though happy in their decision to take part in the relaxing and carefree lifestyle provided by a senior living community, many of our residents have mentioned that the journey wasn’t easy. For many people the choice came down to whether or not their current home was suitable for them over the long-term.
A common topic of conversation has been the questions that homeowners asked themselves to aid in making the decision. I have compiled a few of the most important questions below:
- Am I able to navigate the stairs in my home? Would a single level residence be better for my future?
- Does my home have any safety hazards that need to be addressed?
- Am I still able to manage all of the household chores, such as fixing meals, cleaning, and yard work, or do I increasingly have to find someone to help?
- Is driving difficult for me? Do I have a way to get to the doctor, go to church, visit family and friends or go shopping? Will I have reliable transportation in the future?
- Are vision problems interfering with my life? What other health problems will impact my life moving forward?
- Am I always able to hear the phone or the doorbell? Is my home secure from intruders?
- If something went wrong, what would happen? Am I living somewhere that it would be fairly easy for a friend or relative to check on me occasionally?
Facing these types of questions isn’t easy, but dealing with uncertainty isn’t either. This is why so many of our residents tell me that their decision to come here was predicated on the fact that our monthly fee includes weekly housekeeping services, scheduled transportation, 24-hour security and chef-prepared meals. All of the buildings are easily accessible, and there are a variety of floor plans and finishes to fit any budget or preference.
Not only that but the residents at Brightmore of Wilmington and Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall can rest easy in the knowledge that assisted living, skilled care and memory care facilities are available if they should ever need it. Our goal here is to continually surpass the expectations and needs of our residents, so it is rarely surprising when people tell me they wish they had come here sooner—that the decision to downsize was one of the best moves they ever made.