Most people imagine growing old comfortably in their own homes. This is certainly an understandable goal and should be encouraged and supported in every way possible. However, living alone isn’t for everybody.
The desire for independence can easily result in social isolation and loneliness. Experts all agree that socialization is extremely important for successful aging. For people, who are not lucky enough to have close family ties, a move into a retirement community is better than spending too much time alone. Jane Adler wrote an article about how living in a retirement community can provide the companionship that some older people need (Chicago Tribune: Chicago, Ill. February 6, 2011). She relates that one-third of people 65 and older and half of women over 75 live alone.
Socialization isn’t a problem for everyone. Some people have supportive families and some people like living alone. If you are able to take the initiative and are motivated enough to entertain yourself and get out and about, you will do just fine. On the other hand, it is important to recognize that loneliness is something to be guarded against if you are going to thrive. Isolation can occur gradually and the problems associated with it increase with age. Retirement from work, friends and families moving away, adult children living half way across the country, and fragile health that limits being able to drive, are all factors to be taken into consideration. If living alone is starting to get to you and your main social contact is talking to the mailman or chatting with people at the grocery store, it may be time for a change.
The trend today is to keep people in their own homes as long as possible because it is more cost effective, but moving into a retirement community is a viable alternative. If you are lonesome or if you have serious health problems it is not admitting defeat if you aren’t comfortable being alone. A retirement community is not a nursing home and you are not necessarily going to be surrounded by sick old people. If you opt for a community that offers supportive services such as meals plans and housekeeping, just think of all of the free time you will have for planned activities. Many retirement communities have activity programs as well as exercise and fitness classes. You are free but at the same time you feel safe. You may not like to be checked on all the time or to be badgered to “come out and play” but if you establish your boundaries early on they will be respected.
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