How to Live Your Happiest Life During Retirement

Sep 9, 2019

3 min read

As retirement age draws near, most of us develop a vision of what those years will look like. People invest time and money in retirement planning to ensure they have the funds they need to follow their dreams. Retirement living often means time to travel, reconnect with old hobbies, spoil the grandchildren, and maybe tackle items on your bucket list.

As you are finalizing your plans, remember that where you live matters during retirement. Active senior living communities give older adults the support they need to live their best life.

Retirement Living and Quality of Life

As you are working on retirement planning, where to live, and what to do, keep these factors in mind:

Geographic location: As the day gets closer, you’ll likely find yourself wondering where you should retire. Some seniors want to pack up and head for warmer climates. Others may want to move closer to their adult children and grandchildren. Then there are those retirees who choose to move to a retirement community in their own town. Think about what you plan to do in retirement and where you can live to allow you to accomplish your goals.
Safe housing: Falls continue to be the leading cause of disability for seniors. Most falls occur at home with the bathroom being the primary location. As you are creating your retirement plan, take an honest, objective look at your home. Is it safe? If not, is it financially feasible for you to make some modifications? Single story living with an accessible bathroom and wider doorways and halls are usually safest for older adults.
Social opportunities: From depression to diabetes, and heart disease, seniors who are isolated and lonely are at increased risk for a variety of health conditions and early mortality. As you are planning for retirement, think about how easy it will be to gather with friends and family members. For many seniors, a retirement community is an ideal solution.
Access to health care: While no one approaching retirement wants to think a health crisis will occur, the reality is seniors have more health care needs. Some impact an older adult’s ability to drive on a short-term or permanent basis. Living in an area with good public transportation or one that is near hospitals and physicians is usually important. Senior living communities often have both transportation and an on-site nurse or physician.

Finally, think about how you can structure your retirement days so you live with purpose. Research shows that older adults who have purpose often live longer, healthier lives.

Moving to an active senior living community will provide you with access to life-enrichment programs, volunteer opportunities, the companionship of peers, and a variety of activities and programs to participate in. Each of these can aid in finding purpose once you are no longer raising a family or pursuing a career.