The art of change: making the move to senior living

By Ryan Keller

If there is one thing that life is full of, it’s change. Changes come along each day, and as we age, it is likely that we will encounter many in our lifetime. Some adjustments can be small, such as starting yoga classes to enhance personal wellness. Some, on the other hand, sit on a grander scale, like deciding to move to a senior living community.

The decision to leave your home and transition into senior living comes with a variety of considerations, including the level of independence you desire. Are you ready to give up chores and home maintenance? Maybe you desire amenities, like delicious meals prepared for you, group trips, adult education, or just being in a community environment. Do you need day-to-day personal care? Change is an important personal decision, and asking yourself these questions is an important part of the process.

A lifetime plan
Senior living offers a wide range of services and offerings, depending upon whether you are independent or needing some level of assistance with managing daily living activities. Independent living guarantees healthy seniors with independence, while also enriching their lives through structured activities and a community environment. It removes the burden of homeownership from older adults and provides them with a maintenance-free lifestyle. Assisted living provides seniors with daily assistance with care, such as medication management, bathing or dressing. Memory support is designed for seniors with cognitive conditions, such as dementia. Skilled nursing is best for seniors requiring extensive care due to chronic illnesses or short-term rehabilitation after a procedure or bout of illness.

If you or a loved one are considering making the move to senior living, consider Gulf Coast Village, Cape Coral’s only life plan community. With a rich array of services and amenities that put the focus on healthy living, Gulf Coast Village provides seniors with the space to enjoy active living in an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort and convenience.

Life plan communities offer a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, specialized memory support, skilled nursing, home health and rehabilitation services. Due to its unique structure, seniors can enter a life plan community at any stage, not just independent living. It’s not uncommon for many older adults to enter a life plan community as an assisted living resident if more daily care is needed. Regardless of when you move in, if your needs change in the future, you can rest assured knowing that you can stay within the same community. Life plan communities are a great option for seniors seeking security, an active lifestyle and high-quality care.

Understand the reason
There are countless reasons why seniors make the transition to senior living. Sometimes, they want to reassure their adult children, who may live far away, or they want to downsize into an independent living apartment, where all maintenance is taken care of for them. In other cases, seniors want the security of knowing where they will be for their own peace of mind. Some situations, like a sudden health decline, require seniors to move into a level of care, like skilled nursing or memory support.

Regardless of the reason, you are not alone in navigating the move to senior living and the emotions that come with it. Making the move is a significant life change, but seniors have many things to look forward to in senior living, like peace of mind, making lifelong friends, delectable meals and countless opportunities for fun. For some, it can take a few weeks to adjust to the new environment, which is understandable. Going from your traditional house, which you likely lived in for decades, to moving into a senior living community, surrounded by new faces, is a big change.

Many communities go above and beyond to welcome new residents. After seniors move into Gulf Coast Village, their first week is spent alongside Gulf Coast Village staff as they help them acclimate to the community by introducing them to other residents, all services available to them, all amenities, and the life enrichment and culinary team. Neighbors also go out of their way to greet new residents and welcome them in. By week two, residents are comfortable, participating in group activities and feel right at home.

Reap the benefits
When weighing the decision of moving into senior living, you may find yourself wondering what the benefits are. Senior living has many benefits, including a sense of community and opportunity for friendships, high-quality dining and optimal care from licensed professionals.

Most importantly, senior living encourages living well. Through organized activities that promote socialization, dining programs catered to the dietary and wellness needs of older adults and premier health care from licensed professionals who care deeply for each resident, senior living promotes wellness in all aspects of life, from mental to physical.

About the Author
Ryan Keller is the regional vice president of senior living for Volunteers of America National Services, the sponsoring organization for Gulf Coast Village, The Preserve and Senior Choice at Home.