There are many reasons seniors consider moving to a retirement residence or seniors’ apartment. Some of them may have to do with health and safety concerns, but most have to do with convenience and wanting more time to enjoy the things and the people they love.

Want information about your senior living options? Download our free Easy Guide to Retirement Living

Below, we’ve listed the eight most common reasons seniors consider retirement living:

• Recently widowed or they live alone

  Living alone can be both liberating and lonely. If you feel like you’re having too much alone time or it’s getting too hard to manage a home on your own, it may be time to consider retirement living. If you’re independent and just want to have like-minded peers nearby and a calendar of optional activities then seniors' independent living apartments may be what you’re looking for.
  
  If you’d like to continue to do the cooking and cleaning, then independent living could be for you. There are a range of options that can help you feel more connected and relieve some of the worry around the general upkeep of your home.
  
  

• Feeling isolated

  It can be hard to stay in touch with friends as we get older, especially if that involves going out. Seniors in a retirement residence have like-minded peers close by which makes chats over coffee or a game of cards easy. There is also a calendar of optional programs they can join if they’re interested, meaning they never have to feel bored.
  
  

• Feeling absent minded

  Maybe you’ve noticed that you’re forgetting to turn off the stove more often or forgetting special occasions. Right now it doesn’t seem like a big deal but it still makes you wonder. In this case, seniors often consider retirement living for peace of mind. They may move into a seniors’ apartment, independent living or assisted living suite where they can still come and go as they please, just with some fail safes in place in case they ever need them.
  
  

• Wishing they had more time for family, friends and passions

  If you find yourself bogged down with cooking, chores and home maintenance, you’re not alone. Many seniors move to a retirement home to free up time for the things and people they love. At a retirement home, you can choose to have all of the cooking and housekeeping done for you, leaving you free to pursue your hobbies, find a new passion and connect with those you love most.
  
  

• Tired of cooking and grocery shopping

  Cooking should be an enjoyable experience, not a chore. If it’s beginning to feel like the latter, it may be time to consider living somewhere where delicious, healthy meals are prepared for you. Many retirement residences have professional chefs in the kitchen and you can always ask to have a meal as part of your tour.
  
  If you’re interested in still cooking most nights, look for a seniors’ apartments with optional meal plans or independent living suites that have full kitchens. If cooking is more of an occasional thing, ask if they have a craft kitchen you can use from time-to-time.
  
  

• Harder to get out

  If you no longer drive, or just find walking around tiring, getting out may not be as much fun as it used to. At a retirement residence there is often a shuttle bus or town car that can take you to appointments or regular outings to local stores and nearby attractions.
  
  

• Concerns about personal safety or future health

  You’re healthy and able to manage your home but the uncertainty of the future sticks in your mind. Many seniors move to a retirement home because they want peace of mind for both themselves and their families. If they ever need support, someone is available 24/7 to help them. If they ever require more care they can receive it. They don’t have to worry about moving later or what will happen in an emergency. This is the peace of mind retirement living offers to both residents and their loved ones.
  
  

• Getting older

  There’s no set age for moving into a retirement home. Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean it’s time to switch. On the other hand, planning ahead is always a good idea and making a move while you’re still healthy and able is better than waiting for an unfortunate event to force it. Many people living at retirement residences wish they had moved sooner.
  
  Just as you’re never too old to move to a retirement residence, you’re never too young either. Seniors as young as 60 may move in, or someone as old as 107! There’s no harm in touring a few residences to see if any of them make an impression.

If you need more information about your senior living options, download our free Easy Guide to Retirement Living.