Getting together with loved ones over the holidays is a good time to start talking about your future.
Where will you live during your retirement? If you plan to stay in your current home, is it equipped to help you as you age in place? What support do you have to help you handle the unexpected?
None of us know what lies ahead for our personal future, but we do know what’s trending in our nation’s statistics regarding aging. The population of those who are 65 and better increased steadily from about 1900-2010 and then it began to escalate significantly. By 2030 there will be 72.1 million older Americans. It’s being called the Silver Tsunami. (Chart will be included in article.)
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, about 70% of individuals over age 65 will require at least some type of long-term care services during their lifetime. With the increase in the number of older Americans and the demand for aging services, it may be harder to receive the care you need when you need it.
The key is to plan ahead. If you move to a Life Plan community when you are a young, active senior, you are setting yourself up to live a full vibrant life while you can enjoy all the amenities, and you’ll have access to health services if or when the need presents. There is only one Life Plan Community in East Central Illinois, ClarkLindsey.
People living at Life Plan Communities come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in common: they are planners seeking to make a proactive decision that creates peace of mind for them and their families while continuing to live the independent lifestyle they enjoy.
Nothing about a Life Plan Community will hold you back from being as active as you like. Just as is the case in your current life, you choose how you want to spend each day. A Life Plan Community allows you to live life to its fullest while having a sense of security for yourself and your family. It broadens your choices for now and for down the road. Simply put, a Life Plan Community offers independent living residences and access to higher levels of care (therapy, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing) should you need them, right on one campus. But it’s more than that. Life Plan Communities aren’t just “places.” They are lifestyle-infused environments that offer ready access to culture; the arts; fresh, healthy foods; fitness programs; and a holistic approach to wellness— wrapped in a bow of security and peace of mind.
Making a move is never an easy decision but moving to a Life Plan Community is a change in address, not a change in your preferences. Life Plan Communities offer an opportunity for you to stay engaged, actively and socially, without sacrificing your independence, privacy or time to yourself. In fact, research tells us that living in a community offers lifelong benefits—emotionally, socially, physically, intellectually and vocationally—and can help combat social isolation.
Did you know …
- People who are a part of a local, face-to-face community are healthier and happier, and they tend to live longer.
- Having close relationships and frequent social interactions are two of the strongest predictors of a longer life.
- Knowing friends, neighbors and professionals are close by provides a significant sense of security.
This article, written by ClarkLindsey’s Director of Marketing, Karen Blatzer, was featured in the December 2022 issue of Neighbors of Southwest Champaign magazine.
Sources:
Susan Pinker, The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier and Happier.
2019 Age Well Study by Mather Institute and Northwestern University