At every turning point in life, a person will stand at the crossroads and say, "Am I ready to take this step? Is it right for me?" It's no different when the choice before you is whether or not to enter an assisted living home.
More than likely, you've been in the same home for several years, and both the idea of packing up and leaving or continuing to pay rising taxes, mortgage payments, and maintenance costs seem impossible.
Here's an easy guide to determine if an assisted living home might be the choice you're looking for and the decision that's right for you.
Consider privacy and community.
Throughout our whole lives, there is an interplay between privacy and community; naturally we are impelled to be part of a community because human interaction gives us so much enjoyment, laughter, emotional stability, love, friendship and human warmth.
There is an element of surprise with other people where you never know what each new day will bring as your emotional connections deepen and grow, but contrasting that is the need for privacy.
Especially while we are raising our families, we want space, privacy and room of one's own.
An assisted living home gives you community in spades; you're embedded in a pre-established community that will welcome you in and is designed to inspire and delight you.
You will have privacy and independence, but it isn't, admittedly, quite the same as living on your own acre or two in the middle of nowhere.
That does, however, segue into a discussion on care and maintenance.
When you are raising a family or are a young person with your own home, it's no trouble to care for it on your own.
You don't need expensive services to do your work for you, from clearing trees to shoveling the driveway; you can do all that yourself.
As we grow older, however, these basic upkeep chores become more physically taxing and potentially dangerous.
Can you risk falling while you shovel snow? Are you able to rake leaves, chop a tree, and haul wood, leaves, or debris? Do you have the stamina to clean a whole house? Do you have the disposable income to replace the roof in the next few years? Home maintenance cannot only be physically dangerous but financially weighty as well, as you have to consider that you will need extra funds to maintain your home in the future.
In an assisted living home, this is all taken care of, and inside the house you can have all the space you want, without any additional space that is a burden to care for.
Another consideration is health and security.
If you are living on your own or have physical limitations, you should strongly consider the benefits of choosing an assisted living home.
There are medical staff members constantly on call, and in the event of a fall, heart attack, or stroke, the shortened response time can mean the difference between life and death.
It's a huge benefit having medical staff on hand to look after you whenever you need it without having to drive miles to the doctor.
Beyond that, you are in a secured, gated community with a security guard posted at all times to look after you and respond to any issues you may have.
Finally, consider whether or not you are feeling fulfilled in your present situation.
Often once the family leaves, we are left with fewer things to fill our days, which is not exactly the situation we envision for retirement.
In an assisted living home you have access to a huge variety of classes, courses, and creative pursuits, from painting to writing and crafts like woodworking and sculpture.
Learn Italian - and then maybe travel to Italy with your new friends to try it out! An assisted living home can be an incredibly fulfilling opportunity that looks after your comfort, health, and security so that you don't have to spend your time worrying about it.
If you think an assisted living home is for you, look in your area for local opportunities.