Many people think of senior living as an option for when one spouse passes away and the other spouse doesn’t want to live alone. However, it turns out that senior living is actually an excellent choice for many older adults, says Marcos Gonzalez, Director of Sales of East Ridge at Cutler Bay, a Miami-Dade County Life Plan Community with one story living on 76 acres of green space.
“Can married couples live in senior housing? Most definitely yes,” he says. “Senior living for couples can be amazingly beneficial to a relationship, and I wish more people would realize the benefits by moving while they’re younger instead of waiting until one or the other spouse needs additional assistance.”
There are millions of Americans who are aged 65 and older who live with a spouse or significant other. These days, couples want to experience retirement and their senior years to the fullest, and moving to senior living can be an excellent way to accommodate those issues now and in the future.
Here are just some of the benefits that retirement living for couples provides – some of the reasons may surprise you (and some may have you looking for senior living options for couples yourself.).
1. More time to spend together.
If you own your own home, you know how much work it takes every day to keep up with everything that needs to be done. Laundry, cleaning, yard maintenance, home repairs … let’s face it, these tasks get boring and tedious no matter how young and active we are. As we get older, we enjoy doing these things less and less because they take away from our time with each other. At a senior living community, couples can say goodbye to maintenance and chores and instead live a carefree, worry-free lifestyle that gives them all the time in the world to have new adventures, spend time together and live life the way they want. In fact, many people find that retirement homes for couples are just as private and comfortable as owning your own home … with none of the downsides and so many positives.
2. Downsizing your space while rightsizing your life.
Many senior couples find they no longer need or want all the space they have in their home. Moving to senior living gives couples the opportunity to downsize their actual living space while actually upsizing their lifestyle thanks to the amenities and services senior living communities provide. With on-site fitness centers, dining options, libraries, beautifully maintained grounds and more, many couples find that a one or two-bedroom residence is perfect for their needs, giving them the privacy they desire, along with numerous benefits that they couldn’t get in a private home.
3. The ability to age in place.
While you and your spouse may be completely active and healthy right now, it’s possible that one or more of you will need more help in the future. In fact, it’s common for one spouse to require significantly more assistance than the other – living in a private home means that the care falls to the (also aging) healthier spouse. However, in a senior living community, each individual can receive the care they need, provided by skilled professionals. This allows the other spouse to relax, knowing their loved one is well taken care of and allows the couple to maintain their relationship without one or the other becoming a nursemaid.
4. So many opportunities for new adventures.
Moving to senior living can be an incredibly exciting thing for couples. You get to start a new chapter of life where adventures are just waiting to be written. In a senior living community, couples can instantly make new friends, start new hobbies, launch off on travels, enjoy a maintenance-free life … the opportunities are endless. For some spouses, moving to senior living is a little like a second honeymoon that they never have to leave.
About East Ridge at Cutler Bay
East Ridge at Cutler Bay is Miami-Dade County’s only true Life Plan Community. The nonprofit community draws from the neighborhood charm of suburban Cutler Bay and the vibrancy of Miami in a lush tropical setting of 76 acres, located at 19301 SW 87th Avenue. The community offers a continuum of care including independent living, assisted living and memory support residences in a neighborhood setting; respite care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation are available within Three Palms Health Center.
For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 305-290-2346.