Are you or a loved one planning to retire and enjoy the golden years? The process of preparing to slow down at work or your normal schedule can feel overwhelming enough, let alone deciding on a move to a senior and assisted living facility. You may be wondering about the steps to retire or asking, “how do senior apartments work?”
Don’t worry. The team at Copeland Oaks has walked through this process with families for years, and we are ready to do the same for you. Join us as we discuss how to prepare for retirement, share moving tips for seniors, and more.
Deciding When Is the Right Time
The first step in the journey to senior living is determining to make the move. While there are no definitive answers, consider these questions to aid in the decision-making process:
- Can you pursue the activities you enjoy without much assistance?
- Are personal care tasks becoming challenging to manage independently?
- Are you able to keep track of your medications effectively?
- Are you staying socially active, or do you feel more isolated?
- Are you feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities of homeownership?
- Do you often feel lonely or bored?
- Have you experienced accidents at home, like falls or other concerns?
Senior living removes the daily burdens of caring for your own home while offering residents social outlets, medical support, and more amenities. Your responses to the above questions will help you know if it’s time to begin researching senior and assisted living facilities.
Steps for Transitioning Into Senior Living
If you’ve decided to transition into senior living in the near future, there are a few steps to take beforehand. From researching your options and scheduling tours to packing up your belongings and settling into your new home, there is a lot to do! Keep reading to get an idea of what this process will look like and to find some moving tips for seniors.
Research Senior and Assisted Living Facilities
You should begin by researching senior and assisted living facilities in the area you’d like to reside. During your research, decide what you’re specifically looking for – whether it’s assisted living, independent living, nursing care, or another type of support. Consider your necessities, such as the level of medical care required, social activities available, and the size of the living space.
Budget is another critical factor—understanding the costs involved can help narrow down options and ensure they align with your finances. Additionally, think about the distance from family and friends, and how often they’d be able to visit you. By addressing these questions, you can create a focused list of facilities to contact and potentially tour.
Tour Possible Retirement Communities
Next up, schedule tours at a few of the retirement communities you are most excited about. While a facility might seem perfect on paper, you will always learn more when you visit in person. When visiting, make note of the following things:
- Do you feel comfortable and welcomed in the space? Could it potentially feel like home?
- Is the facility clean and well-maintained?
- How do you notice the staff members interacting with residents? Do they seem caring and attentive?
- Do the residents seem happy and engaged? If possible, chat with them and ask about their daily lives in the facility.
- Do you feel safe in the environment? What safety measures do you see in place (e.g., emergency call systems, secure entrances)?
Your answers to these questions will help you decide whether a facility will realistically work for you, even if it checked all your boxes when you were in the research stage.
Select Your Choice
Once you’ve researched local facilities and gone on a few tours, you will be prepared to select a facility where you can enjoy your retirement. This process can be exhausting, but remember not to compromise on finding a place that feels safe, comfortable, and socially engaging. Use contact information on the facility’s website to kick off your moving process.
Prepare for Your Move
There is just one more thing to handle before you enjoy the bliss of senior living – preparing for your move. Ensure all your loose ends are tied up before you move so you won’t need to worry about it later. This might include packing up and selling your house and belongings you no longer need or preparing necessary documents for your will, end-of-life care, and more.
This process is too much to handle alone, so enlist the help of friends and family to help. You can also contact a lawyer to ensure your banking and official documents are set up correctly.
Settle Into Your New Home
Once you’ve moved, take your time to settle into your new home. It might take time for it to actually feel like “home,” but you can trust that you made the right, informed decision. Don’t wait to meet your neighbors, explore the campus, and get involved in activities. Making friends and forming close connections is the best way to get comfortable in your new home!
Senior Living at Copeland Oaks
Copeland Oaks is a senior community for adults 55 and older in every stage of living. Our beautiful facility boasts a blend of rustic living in a wooded, village-like setting with the conveniences of city life just a short drive away. We offer complete independent living with added options ranging from light housekeeping and meals, to all inclusive assistant living and convenient access to our 24/7 onsite medical center.
Senior Living Options
Copeland Oaks recognizes that the spectrum of senior living options must include everything from independent to assisted living to memory care – culminating in 24/7 skilled nursing care. The convenience of this care on one campus is what makes Copeland Oaks a unique retirement community. Learn more about all your living options at Copeland Oaks.
Amenities
At Copeland Oaks, we are proud of the all-inclusive services and amenities that we offer every resident. From wellness focused options and medical amenities, to on-campus dining, activity rooms, areas for private events, shopping and more, Copeland Oaks enables our residents to live comfortably! Below are just a few of the amenities seniors enjoy:
- Woodworking Shop
- Computer Lab
- Library
- Fitness Room
- Aquatic Center
- Walking Paths
- Bass Fishing Lake
- Chapel, Worship Services, and Bible Studies
- Beauty Shop
The list goes on! Check out more information about our amenities today.
Lifestyle & Activities
Whether it’s traveling and spending time with loved ones and friends, or staying active and involved with the community, we believe that seniors should make the most of their retirement years! At Copeland Oaks, we offer activities and events that promote wellness, provide opportunities for building community ties, enable creativity and expression, and even strengthen the mind. We truly have something for everyone. From field trips and crafting to golfing and woodworking – we know our culture will keep you busy!
Schedule a Tour
Don’t wait to plan for retirement. Copeland Oaks has a senior living option for everyone, while still offering a continuum of care so you will be set for whatever the future holds. Schedule a tour today to view our breathtaking facility for yourself!