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Signs You’re Ready to Move into Independent Living

Smiling seniors in independent living

After decades of owning a home, it can start to take more than it gives by requiring more and more of your time and money for home maintenance and upkeep. If keeping up with your day-to-day chores is becoming a bit of a burden, it could be a sign to explore senior living.

One of the main reasons seniors around the country are choosing Life Plan Communities — like Grace Ridge — is for their maintenance-free independent living (also called residential living).

But what they quickly discover is a senior living community in Morganton, NC also offers a variety of social activities and interesting neighbors. Plus there’s the peace of mind of knowing a full continuum of on-site care is available if their needs ever change.

This blog post will offer some questions to ask yourself, along with the pluses you’ll find at a retirement community, as you start to weigh moving to an independent living community.

Evaluating your current lifestyle


If you’re already an active and independent senior, it can be difficult to know if moving to a senior living community is right for you. But a community can increase your independence today and tomorrow. To help you make a more informed decision, here are some things to consider both now and in the next 5 to 10 years:

  • Your current home:

    Do you enjoy taking care of your lawn and doing projects around the house?

    How much of your current living space do you actually use?

    Do you have a lot of stairs that make it difficult to get into or  around your house?

    How has your neighborhood changed?

    You could manage some of these by hiring outside help, remodeling parts of your home, or getting help from family members. However, maintenance-free living at an independent living community will give you more freedom and future flexibility.

  • Your social life:

    How easy is it for you to get out of the house?

    What do you think of traffic, parking and finding your way around town?

    How easy is it for you to keep in contact with your friends and/or make new friends?

    As friends and neighbors move away, becoming socially isolated can impact your overall well-being. While phone calls, video chat, email and social media can help, nothing can take the place of in-person interactions. Living in a community offers you a chance to surround yourself with independent-minded neighbors and participate in clubs, committees, lifelong learning opportunities, Happy Hours,  field trips and more. And many communities have scheduled transportation for shopping and doctor appointments.

  • Your health and the health of your spouse:

    How is your health today and how do you think it will impact your future?

    How is the health of your spouse?

    (According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of seniors over 65 will need some form of long-term care.)

    If either of your conditions were to suddenly change, what would you do?

    Who would make the decisions about your future care?

A Life Plan Community like Grace Ridge offers higher levels of care like assisted living, skilled nursing and specialized memory care right on-site. Not only do you have a plan for the future but if you or your spouse need care, they would be close by.

Independent living benefits

It’s hard to think about moving from a familiar place that holds a lot of memories. Especially if you’re still active and healthy. Here are some reasons to consider senior independent living.

  • Simplicity and freedom: One check covers it all. You don’t have to deal with the expense and hassles of taking care of the house or yard anymore. And with plenty of dining options, you don’t have to cook or do the dishes, unless you want to. You’ll also have more time to do the things you love or to pursue new interests.
  • Being active: With so many health and wellness opportunities right at your fingertips, you can be as busy as you want to be. Of course, you determine your schedule, so if you feel like relaxing, communities offer plenty of ways to do that too.
  • Social opportunities: Meeting new people or talking and laughing with old friends naturally happens as a part of daily community life. Informal get-togethers with friends, resident clubs, outings and parties are part of every day.
  • Access to care: Making the choice to move early, while you’re healthy, means you don’t have to worry about where to find the care if you or your spouse ever need it.

    • Learn more about Grace Ridge

    Researching your options is an important step to finding a community that works for your lifestyle. If you’re ready to learn more about independent living at Grace Ridge, explore our website or contact us here.