[Updated: September 28, 2023 | Published: September 28, 2023]
Many older adults in the Columbus area initially resist the idea of moving to a senior living community, saying “I’m not ready!” Still, there are advantages to making the shift earlier. Here are eight compelling reasons why you should choose senior living sooner rather than wait until you think you’re ready.
1. Retire on Your Terms
Having a wide range of options is vital if you want to find the ideal senior living arrangement for you. Putting off the decision until it becomes a necessity might mean you have to settle for a community that does not meet all of your needs. Or, as we discuss below, you might not qualify for your preferred community.
If you choose to move while you are still active and in good health, you can take time to carefully research and select a retirement community that aligns with your goals. This puts you in the driver’s seat and allows you to set a timeline that suits your needs.
2. Make the Most of Amenities and Activities
Moving to a community like Friendship Village of Dublin early means you’ll have more time to enjoy services, amenities, programs, and activities designed to help you live your best life.
Consider the advantages of resort-style living on our scenic 29-acre campus in Dublin, Ohio, where you can:
- Choose an independent living option to suit your lifestyle, including roomy apartments, luxury flats or detached ranch-style villas. Through our Friendship At Home program, you can even begin enjoying our amenities while living in the home you love.
- Dine on chef-prepared meals in four restaurant-quality dining rooms.
- Stay fit using our landscaped walking trails, two fitness centers, fitness classes, large indoor swimming pool and other resources.
- Give your green thumb a workout in raised beds for Resident gardeners.
- Have fun while you pursue your hobbies and interests – or gain new ones – with over 100 scheduled activities on and off-campus each month.
- Sharpen your mind with our lifelong learning programs.
- Keep up on your reading by choosing a book from our large, on-site library.
“I moved here when I was 75,” said Resident Pat D. “I had a friend who lived here, and he said it’s already too late, you should have moved before this. And having moved in, I think he was right. Not because of my age, but just because of all the many things there are to do here. When I lived in my condo, I didn’t have that many opportunities.”
At Friendship Village of Dublin, every day brings a new adventure. You can take advantage of our vibrant programs and activities as soon as you move in!
3. Build Relationships That Last
Remember the thrill of meeting new friends during college or starting a new job? You can relive that excitement in a senior living community. You’ll have lots of opportunities to establish lasting, meaningful connections with people who share your interests.
By comparison, living alone often leads to isolation and increases risks of loneliness and depression. Besides its emotional impact, loneliness comes with serious health concerns. Research by the National Institute on Aging has linked loneliness to higher risks of cognitive decline, high blood pressure, weakened immune systems, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and early death.
Living in a senior living community like Friendship Village of Dublin combats loneliness by providing opportunities to socialize with people who share your interests. As you make friends in the community, your social calendar will fill up with chances to dine, exercise and participate in varied activities with others. You choose how much – or how little – you want to socialize, knowing the option is always just outside your door!
4. Boost Your Health and Wellness
Did you know that older adults who live in senior living communities tend to have better physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and vocational wellness compared to those who live on their own? It’s true! The five-year Age Well Study by The Mather Institute found that senior living communities tend to promote longevity, increase wellness and improve the quality of life for their residents.
At Friendship Village of Dublin, we help Residents thrive through nine dimensions of wellness. Together, they make up the vibrant senior lifestyle we call The Village Way.
To help maintain optimal health, Residents also have convenient access to experienced primary care physicians through our on-site medical practice operated by Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians.
5. Say Goodbye to Home Maintenance
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by household upkeep issues such as leaky roofs, broken pipes, housework, lawn maintenance and snow removal?
If so, it might be the perfect time to consider relocating to a senior living community, where you can live worry-free and savor life to its fullest. With all maintenance issues taken care of, you’ll have more leisure time to concentrate on your interests.
6. Protect Your Financial Future
Have you ever been caught off guard by an unforeseen expense for home repairs that exceeded your budget? That won’t happen in a senior community, where your monthly fees cover home maintenance, utilities, entertainment and much more.
Moreover, if you choose a LifeCare community like Friendship Village of Dublin, you’ll be protected from the skyrocketing cost of long-term care, if you ever need it.
All of our independent living options, including Friendship At Home, come with LifeCare. This all-in-one package of flexible services and amenities provides access to higher levels of care at a predictable cost, when and if you need it, for as long as you need it.
LifeCare includes guaranteed access to our Waterford Place Assisted Living, Rowan House Memory Care and Alderwood Health and Rehab communities. It also allows you to stay in the community if your financial circumstances change.
7. Increases the Likelihood You Will Qualify for Your Community
Moving to a continuing care retirement community while you are still healthy and active is the best way to ensure long-term care when you need it. But, if you or your partner needs assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing when you apply, you might not be able to move into your first-choice community.
Before moving to a LifeCare community like Friendship Village of Dublin, you must complete a health questionnaire and undergo a medical exam. The community may also request a copy of your medical records from the previous two years.
Determining if a new resident can live independently for a certain period without advanced care is important in managing the community for everyone’s benefit. If too many new residents need advanced care, it can lead to financial problems and space constraints for the community.
8. Downsizing and Moving Won’t Get Easier with Time
Downsizing and moving can be stressful for anyone, regardless of age. Selling your home, cleaning, sorting, packing and moving your possessions can seem overwhelming. Many people try to avoid the idea as long as possible.
However, this process becomes even more challenging when you’re 70 years old or older, according to Harvard Health. As you age, it becomes more difficult to manage change and organize everything. Moreover, the stress of moving can exacerbate any pre-existing health issues.
By tackling the process sooner, you can clear space to enjoy a worry-free retirement.
Explore Your Senior Living Options Today!
Even if you’re not quite ready to move, beginning your senior living search early can help you compare options and make the best decision for you and your family members.
If you can picture yourself enjoying a resort-style lifestyle with luxurious amenities, plenty of activities and like-minded companions, please call 614.426.0334 or use the link below to set up a tour. We can’t wait to welcome you to our premier senior living community!
