But we already felt that in our bones, didn’t we? Since having an active social life is so important as we age, we must consider our social lives as a factor when deciding where we will spend our retirement years — even if socializing doesn’t come easily.
Thus, it makes sense to think that your home is the best place to continue having an active social life. This is where you invited friends to see your garden at its peak, invited them over for board games and card games, attended holiday parties and birthday celebrations. You know people from your book club, your job, your church, or neighbors wherever you live now and have lived before.
What if I told you that residents at continuing care retirement communities spend more than 500 percent more time socializing than people age 65 and older who live in private homes?
What if I told you that residents at continuing care retirement communities spend more than 500 percent more time socializing than people age 65 and older who live in private homes?
According to a survey of older Americans done by Age Wave, a research and consulting company, there is a misconception that you’ll lose the friends you had before moving, and that it will be hard to make friends if you move to a continuing care retirement community.
I can tell you that it is not the case! Moving to a continuing care retirement community has allowed me to make new friends, get involved in new activities, and expand my horizons. But it’s also true, in many cases, that you’re still living near friends and family. Attending your same church. Lunching with your old friends both in our lovely dining room and at favorite restaurants. Never has living in a continuing care retirement community put a damper on my entertaining — I can invite both old friends and new to come visit me in my home whenever it suits me.
If my assurances aren’t enough, see what other residents of continuing care retirement communities around the country have to say:
“I discovered that I was sitting alone; trying to stay interested in books and with the television, radio. I was getting bored,” said Ken Smith, a resident of Lakeview Village in Lenexa, Kansas. “I had wonderful neighbors, but you can’t keep making a path to your neighbor’s door and asking if they had time to chat today. Part of the reason I moved here was to meet new people and socialize.”
Ed Coates, a resident of Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community in Raleigh, North Carolina, said, “After six or seven months here, we have more friends than we had before we moved away from 48 years of one residence. There are so many people with interesting backgrounds to socialize with, with a variety of interests. There is always something exciting to do with other people.”
Don’t be afraid of losing friendships if you move into a continuing care retirement community. There’s still the phone, letters, email and travel. Now, be excited about all the new friendships you’ll have the opportunity to make! Carry on!
Ann’s blog appears every Thursday. Comments and topic suggestions are welcome!
I can tell you that it is not the case! Moving to a continuing care retirement community has allowed me to make new friends, get involved in new activities, and expand my horizons. But it’s also true, in many cases, that you’re still living near friends and family. Attending your same church. Lunching with your old friends both in our lovely dining room and at favorite restaurants. Never has living in a continuing care retirement community put a damper on my entertaining — I can invite both old friends and new to come visit me in my home whenever it suits me.
If my assurances aren’t enough, see what other residents of continuing care retirement communities around the country have to say:
“I discovered that I was sitting alone; trying to stay interested in books and with the television, radio. I was getting bored,” said Ken Smith, a resident of Lakeview Village in Lenexa, Kansas. “I had wonderful neighbors, but you can’t keep making a path to your neighbor’s door and asking if they had time to chat today. Part of the reason I moved here was to meet new people and socialize.”
Ed Coates, a resident of Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community in Raleigh, North Carolina, said, “After six or seven months here, we have more friends than we had before we moved away from 48 years of one residence. There are so many people with interesting backgrounds to socialize with, with a variety of interests. There is always something exciting to do with other people.”
Don’t be afraid of losing friendships if you move into a continuing care retirement community. There’s still the phone, letters, email and travel. Now, be excited about all the new friendships you’ll have the opportunity to make! Carry on!
Ann’s blog appears every Thursday. Comments and topic suggestions are welcome!
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