Many senior citizens are taking a new look at the concept of aging in place. One new trend that is occurring in the world of senior care is for seniors to move into retirement homes that are within walking distance of everything that they would need access to. This includes the grocery store, doctors’ appointments, and entertainment. In the past, many elderly individuals had dreams of moving out into isolated areas of the country, away from the hustle and noise of the cities. Today, senior communities are moving into more urban areas and some of the bigger suburban areas because there is better access to the things that they require.
This new senior trend says a lot about the things that elderly folks today believe is important to them. If we look closely at this trend, we can get a better feel for what is going on. One, we can see that the concept of community and togetherness is given a much bigger emphasis than it once had. Seniors like being with their peers. This is not the case for all, of course. Many individuals prefer to spend their senior years with their family, getting help from an in-home caregiver or another family member. However, the big dream that most have is no longer to spend their time out in the middle of nowhere. It’s to be around friends and family.
Another big takeaway that we can glean from this is the fact that independence is important. Independence has always been an important component of any type of senior care, but this type of community setting approaches independence from a different angle. It shows that seniors, rather than relying on the group atmosphere that is forced upon them by nursing homes, or the one that is chosen by assisted living, isn’t always the best for them. Many seniors do not yet need the more intensive care that is given in these homes. Many seniors do benefit from these, but that doesn’t mean that they are right for all. Instead, retirement communities give seniors more independence than either of these other locations do, and when they do need help, they have each other to rely upon.
A final takeaway that we can observe from this shift is that technology is making independence more of a reality than ever before. You can communicate with family through video chat services like Facetime. You can monitor simple health things like heart rate and blood pressure, and send them into a physician’s office with wearable tech items. If people can use these tools to help better their lives and live the way that they want to, why would they not do so?
Independence is a great goal when it comes to senior care, but unfortunately it isn’t the right choice for all those that want it. For others, less intrusive care methods, such as that provided by in-home care, finds a nice middle ground. If you have more questions about what the right kind of care for your family might be, get in touch with a care professional today to get the ball rolling.
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