Retirement is something that people strive for most of their lives. Then, when they finally reach that stage of their life, they may realise that there are more physical limitations with senior living than they thought.
In Canada, the median age to retire is around 65 years old. If you or a loved one is around that age and are close to retiring, you may be wondering what your next step is in retirement living. If your or a loved one is already retired, you may be wondering if it is time to have some more assistance.
This guide will go over all of your living options after retirement.
Independent Living
Arguably the best option for seniors that are trying to enjoy their retirement is to go to an independent living facility. This is typically a community that has a minimum age requirement to live there. That age is typically not younger than 55 years old.
The benefits of this include having a real community to live in and making friends with other people their own age. On top of this, the homes in these communities tend to specifically cater to seniors.
This can mean having ranch houses that are only one floor, having no steps to walk up the front of your house, no big bathtubs to step over to take a shower, and more. The point is that the house is more likely to work around your physical needs.
Living in this type of area also allows you or your loved one to live on their own with minimal assistance. There would be employees in the area should any serious issues arise. On top of this, there may even be community trips organized to local destinations.
Assisted Living
For those that are a little deeper into their retirement or who have more physical limitations, assisted living may be good for you. In this living situation, someone still gets their own room and their own area to live in. However, this is more like an apartment in a bigger building where the staff oversees some needs.
In this living arrangement, the biggest needs for people that live there usually include getting dressed, taking a shower, keeping up with medication, and more.
A perk with this type of living arrangement is that meals for people that live there are usually included. On top of this, the staff is more openly available for residents if any physical or medical needs come up.
Assisted living is best for those that do not have the most serious medical conditions and those that do not suffer from anything that is affecting their mind, such as dementia. Essentially, the people that fit in may have a hard time physically doing things on their own. However, they are still present and aware of their surroundings.
Respite Care
One option that is more unique to Canada is respite care. This is healthcare that is offered to try to give primary caregivers a break from the role that they have to take on. You could be one of those people reading this article.
Essentially, this type of care plays two roles. It allows a primary caregiver, such as a son or daughter, to mentally recoup and step away from the active role temporarily. Also, it can potentially be the gateway for seniors to move to an assisted living facility.
The reason is that respite care tends to offer very similar amenities to those that are in assisted living. The main difference here is that this is not permanent.
Savings may come into play in this situation. The average Canadian over 65 has just over $272,000 in individual retirement savings. If someone falls well under that threshold, the family may question if they can afford an assisted living facility for the number of years that they think they need.
Those retired people and families that are financially strapped can use respite care to get those benefits in small doses. Eventually, the caregiver may get their retired loved one comfortable enough with this arrangement to move on to assisted living.
Nursing Home
This final type of living arrangement is intended for those that have the most serious health conditions. It can be a brain condition such as dementia. Someone could also become so physically limited that they need constant supervision and assistance to move around.
Also, people that have life-threatening illnesses may end up moving into one of these facilities. There may not be anything more that a hospital can do for these types of people. So, they may get moved to this type of living facility to live out their last days in more comfort.
Unfortunately, this tends to be the end of the road for most people that go to one of these facilities. However, considering the number of physical demands and the number of medical demands that may be needed for these people, it is likely the best and most comfortable option for people in this situation.
Think About Your Retirement Living
These are some of the most popular retirement living options that you have. Truthfully, it is going to come down to what type of physical and mental condition you or your loved one are in.
If you do not need any type of assistance, independent living is for you. Then, someone may try respite care to see if it is time for an assisted living facility. Eventually, people may have serious enough conditions to need a nursing home.
Do you want to go over your options? Message us here to discuss this further.