Senior Living vs. Aging in Place: How to Decide

Entering your golden years can bring many life changes. That’s why, when faced with the decision of where to spend these precious years, many older adults express a desire to stay in their homes rather than move into a retirement community. 

Understandably, many older folks want to stay at home where it’s familiar, as moving to a senior living facility can mean a significant lifestyle change. However, this change could bring many benefits to your life if it’s right for you. That’s why it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of both options before making your decision. 

Benefits of Aging in Place

Many seniors want to remain in their homes and live their lives as normally as possible as they age. Aging in place means you don’t have to worry about selling your home or finding the best senior living facility, which could also mean relocating to a new city.

When seniors age in place, they can continue participating in their communities as they have in earlier stages of life. If retirees need part-time or full-time healthcare support to safely age in place, they can hire a caregiver to provide this support or even lean on a family member to care for them.

Benefits of Senior Living

While moving to a senior living facility can feel like a big change at first, it offers a long list of mental and physical benefits.When you move into a retirement community, you gain access to a team of trained healthcare workers who can help you maintain good health during your golden years. When you require assistance from a nurse or need to see a doctor, you can conveniently access on-site care or built-in travel options to nearby healthcare facilities. 

Retirement communities also have many wellness-boosting features built into them that help residents stay happy and healthy. Many retirees enjoy the social benefits of the events and activities that take place within their retirement communities, which make it easy to feel connected to others and create meaningful friendships.

Senior living communities offer many other amenities and perks to keep residents active, healthy, and enriched, including classes, clubs, fitness centers, and more. When you move into a senior living facility, you can rest assured that your community is designed to help you and your neighbors feel your best. 

The Bottom Line: Make the Choice That’s Right for You

The choice between aging in place and moving into senior living isn’t an easy one. Don’t hesitate to speak with your medical professionals, family members, friends, and representatives at nearby senior living facilities to collect a wide range of opinions. Doing so will help you to determine which path is best for you and your needs.