It is no secret that people
are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. These statistics show us that the words
“retirement planning” have taken on a whole new meaning. Deciding where you want to live is one of the
issues facing people who are nearing retirement age. I don’t think people of our generation are as
attached to places as our parents were, but making decisions about where we
want to live is still a major consideration.
As you get older you realize
that time is getting away from us and putting decisions off is no longer an
option. This means, to me anyway, that housework and home maintenance are too
much work. So when do you reach the
point when you say enough is enough? Loss of independence can happen
overnight. A car accident, a stroke, a
fall, or even a new diagnosis and your life will never be the same. How much thought you have given to your
living arrangements will go a long way toward determining how well you will
cope.
Whether you want to stay in
your own home or explore other options is up to you. Economics as well as other practical
considerations are forcing people to re-examine their lifestyles. It is fortunate that home remodeling experts
and architects are recognizing this trend and are more than willing to help you
plan for your future. As you prepare to
simplify your lifestyle you have the options of staying in your present home,
building a new house, or moving into a smaller residence.
You don’t have to move
unless you want to but it would be to your advantage to elicit help to
determine whether your house is senior friendly or not. The reason that I suggest having someone else
do these evaluations for you is that we all live in a state of denial. This denial makes it difficult for us to
think or plan ahead, especially when it comes to physical capabilities. You can either make these decisions yourself
or you can wait until something awful happens and someone else will make them
for you. Seniors are or should be concerned
about aging. This isn’t something that
is going to go away.
Staying in your own home is
not exactly a new idea, but it is an idea that needs to be revisited if you
want to make a successful transition. If you do want to stay in your own home
you must recognize that the kitchen, bathrooms, hallways and bedrooms need to
be safer and easier to navigate.
Reworking the main level of your house so that it can be a self
contained living unit just makes good sense.
You can either remodel your
current home with universal design features or purchase a new home with these
accessibility features already in place. You might not be ready for a granny flat yet,
but don’t rule out the idea of moving back to your roots or at least to be near
your family. There is an architectural
trend toward smaller homes, which are appealing to new seniors and empty
nesters. Instead of moving in with your
kids you might want a small place all of your own? We aren’t talking about
tacky little sheds here but about quality construction where every inch is
designed with compact efficient in mind.
Another interim plan that might appeal to those who want to travel is
buying a recreational vehicle and taking to the road or sailing around the
world.
Retirement could very well
be the best time of your life, but decisive planning is everything. Whether you want to see the world, move in
with your kids, remain in your own home, or try a retirement community is all
within your grasp.
Comments