As we get older our parents do as well, this is when the roles that we’ve known our entire lives begin to reverse. Instead of our parents being the ones to care and nurture us, we begin to care and nurture them. What comes along with that is the worry about our parents being unhappy and feeling as if they no longer belong within the confines of their neighborhood. Considering that 90% of Americans over the age of 65 say that they would like to remain in their homes for as long as possible, senior living is beginning to make independent living for our older parents a possibility for longer and longer.
What Are These Independent Housing Communities?
These senior living communities are not the nursing homes that so many individuals think of when senior living is mentioned. Instead, these are 55+ neighborhoods where family members have their full capabilities and abilities to live their lives just the same as they always have. The only difference with a senior living community is that no one under the age of 55 is allowed to buy the homes within their gates. Instead of being an area with nurses and jello, these communities are simply housing areas that are for the older age groups.
With the life expectancy on the rise (more than 50,000 people within the United States are over 100) an area that caters to those who are older could be just the independent living neighborhoods that your parents, grandparents, and loved ones need. You might be wondering what is so special about these independent living communities and why are they so important to our older generations. You see, with gated communities and senior housing, the older members of the community can be more comfortable knowing that they are safe within their neighborhoods. That any joy riding done by younger people won’t disturbed their beauty sleep or anything of the sort.
They will also have others who are right around their own ages to interact with and socialize. Growing older is a difficult thing for everyone, having someone to understand and knowing that you’re in a community where everyone else is going through the same types of things can make all of the difference. Not only does this benefit them but it will benefit you as well, giving you peace of mind by knowing that your loved ones are surrounded by like-minded individuals.
Quite often these independent living communities are also filled with projects and other extra activities that your loved ones can enjoy. From evening game nights with cards and bingo to nights where they can sit out and reminisce about the good old days with music from their childhoods and adolescents. The benefits of these types of places to your loved ones are vast and rising.
Before you find yourself worrying about your parents living by themselves and being lonely, talk to them about Dallas senior living communities and how the benefits for them outweigh any negatives that they could possibly come up with. This isn’t the type of place where they’re being taken care of all the time, instead, it is simply the senior housing that gives your loved ones another chance at being happy and independent, as well as you a chance to breathe and not worry all the time about how your parents are doing in their big houses without anyone around who can share their stories and their thoughts.
Don’t over worry about your capable loved ones, instead, express to them how much you do in fact care by talking with them about independent living areas in your community.