It’s estimated that there are nearly 30,600 senior living communities in the United States. These communities can be fantastic environments for people to enjoy their retirement years.
It removes a lot of the worries, like home maintenance, cooking, and traveling, while providing tons of stimulating activities and company. However, it’s important to remember that not everyone adjusts to life in a senior living community at the same rate.
If following your senior move you’re still having trouble getting the hang of the neighborhood, don’t panic. This is completely normal.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to make yourself feel more at home, both in your immediate room and in the community at large. In this tips for senior living guide, we’ll go over some of these tips so you can make this adjustment period as quick and painless as possible.
Take Things Slowly
The most important advice we can give you as you transition to a senior community is to take things slowly. Many people feel an expectation to love their senior living community instantly.
The reality is that this is rarely the case. More often, it can take between three to six months for people to feel like they belong. Remember that there will be good days and bad days.
Try to remain flexible and patient with yourself during this time. One thing you can do to help is set goals. These can be short-term goals, like meeting one new person during the day, or long-term goals, like finding a new activity you like.
Make Your Room Feel Like a Home
Regardless of the floor plan you choose for your senior living community, you’re likely going to need to downsize. Many residents move from large family homes, which requires a lot of the stuff to be given away, donated, or stored. Sometimes these rooms can feel impersonal at first.
The key to a smooth move to senior housing is adding the familiar. First, don’t add too much new stuff too soon. Instead of investing in new furniture right away, bring some of your old, favorite pieces.
Bring some pictures and paintings to hang on the wall. Display some of your favorite possessions. These simple steps can go a long way toward making your new living suite feel like a home.
Explore the Area
You’ve likely done your research on the personal care community. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once you begin exploring the community, you’ll see that there’s a lot more than meets the eye.
Start with exploring the amenities to make sure you know everything your community offers. For example, here at Seaton Springwood, we offer things like cooking clubs, onsite movie theaters, and beauty salons.
In addition, don’t be afraid to explore the surrounding community. Visits with family or friends are a great excuse to get out and see what the city of York has to offer.
Consult the Activity Calendar
One of the best aspects of life in senior living is all the daily events and activities they offer. This can be a great way to discover new interests, meet new friends, and feel more connected to the community at large.
So consult your activity calendar and see what interests you. There’s no pressure to attend all of the events, especially if you feel like having a quiet day to yourself.
How to challenge yourself to attend a few ones each week that sound like they might interest you.
Meet Your Neighbors and Make Friends
When you first get to a community, it’s easy to feel like a bit of an outsider. It can appear that everyone has already made friends or seems to know each other.
However, it’s vital to remember that every other resident here has been in your shoes. No one loves being the new kid on the block. So, use it to your advantage.
Discuss what it was like being new to the community with the other residents. It can be refreshing to find other perspectives on this shared experience. Plus, they might give you tips on how to meet new people.
When introducing yourself, start with some of your immediate neighbors. Then use some of the weekly social events to find other residents with similar interests. We know that putting yourself out there socially can be scary.
But remember that it’s important, too. It’s estimated that roughly 37% of older adults report feeling a lack of companionship. And, unfortunately, this can have an impact on both your physical and mental health.
Making new friends will not only help you avoid this but also make you feel more at home in the community.
Try a New Hobby
Remember that these are your retirement years. So it’s time to think about how you want to spend your time. What’s a hobby that you’ve always wanted to try? Maybe you have a backlist of books you’ve been wanting to read.
Or maybe you want to rediscover the love of painting you had as a teen or young adult. You can always try a new sport or attend a class to learn about something new.
Hobbies and other activities, like volunteering, are a great way to not only meet new people but also discover things about yourself.
Not only that, but they help you lead an active lifestyle. And, as this resource notes, there are numerous benefits to having an active lifestyle, including:
- Longer lifespan
- Resistance to certain diseases
- Improved quality of life
- Better coping abilities
- Better thinking abilities
Senior living communities are great for discovering new hobbies because their programs often offer a wide range to choose from.
Ready for Your Senior Move? Contact Seaton Springwood
We hope this senior living advice guide helped you learn more about how to adjust to your community following a senior move. Here at Seaton Springwood, we know how hard it can be transitioning to a personal care community.
Not only do you likely not know anyone, but you’re also leaving behind a long-term home. That’s why we do everything in our power to make you feel at home, from exciting programs and amenities to kind staff and delicious food.
So if you want to learn more about our community, make sure to get in touch with us today.
