Have you recently joined a retirement community? Retirement home living can take some adjusting to, but once you settle in it can be incredibly rewarding. Enhanced safety, activities, and opportunities to socialize with your peers are just a few of the benefits of living in such communities. Here are some tips for getting the most of your experience:
- Get to know the staff. Getting to know the staff at your new retirement home will help you adjust to your new surroundings much more quickly. The staff is there to help you settle in and stay safe. Forging good relationships with them up front can improve your overall experience.
- Continue your favorite routines and hobbies. When you enter a retirement home, it’s important to keep doing all the things you love! Keep to your old routine as much as possible, and continue the pursuit of your favorite hobbies.
- Maintain family ties. It can be easy to lose touch with family once you enter a retirement home. Be sure to reach out to loved ones regularly and keep lines of communication open.
- Personalize your space. There’s no better way to make your new residence feel like home than to make the space uniquely your own. Put up your own photos, paint the walls, and fill the shelves with your favorite books.
- Be open to new friendships. The best part about a retirement community is being able to meet new friends! Research shows that those with strong social ties tend to be happier and live longer, so take this opportunity to participate in activities and meet new people.
- Make use of the community’s amenities. Now that you’ve moved into a retirement community, make use of all of its benefits! Fitness facilities, group outings, fitness classes, social clubs, and other benefits should be enjoyed. That’s what they’re there for!
- Enlist local advocates. How close is your family to your new residence? Have you designated a loved one, church member, or dear friend to act as your advocate? Local advocates can help you sort out day-to-day paperwork and provide guidance on handling personal situations that may arise in your new home.
