Living life to its fullest potential, and to the best of your ability, is important at any age. But when you reach retirement age, your abilities change, your needs grow, and living an active lifestyle becomes much more challenging. 

When this happens, people start to think about the prospect of senior living communities. And though there are many benefits to this type of lifestyle, there are also many misconceptions about senior living that may hold people back from realizing its amazing rewards.

Let’s discuss 5 common myths about senior living communities and how life at Sweetwater debunks each one of them.

Understanding & Debunking Common Senior Living Myths

Myth #1 – Senior Living Communities Are Like Nursing Homes

Do any of us want to picture ourselves in a nursing home? As we age, a common fear we have is losing our independence. A driver of such worries may be due to a false perception of what senior living communities actually are. 

Some may believe they’re for old, frail people, but the majority of retirement communities, like Sweetwater, are for people 55 and older. That means you don’t even need to be “retired” to live here. 

Today, senior living landscapes provide a wealth of options for many different lifestyles. Whether you like to hike, golf, garden, play cards, or cheer on your favorite sports teams, you don’t need to give this up when you move to a retirement community. At least at Sweetwater, you don’t!

Truth – Sweetwater Offers More Independence & Freedom

Sweetwater is a unique destination, where residents can enjoy their own private, spacious apartments or villas, and set their own schedule. We want our residents to enjoy life on their terms. That means having more amenities to take part in, with the freedom to pick and choose, based on their own interests and likes. 

Our senior living community offers an abundance of entertainment and excitement. From onsite movie theaters, pubs, bistros, and billiard rooms to fitness centers and beauty shops––you name it; we have it. And it’s all yours for the taking!

Myth #2 – My Home Is the Best Place for My Retirement Years

In a recent article, we asked an important question: “does your home love you back.” Yes, you love your home, along with the special memories it holds. But is your home equipped to accommodate you and keep you safe as you age? 

Stairs, rugs, sharp corners, or icy driveways may not sound like a big deal now, but what about when you get older and you’re at greater risk of falling or injuring yourself?

Truth – Sweetwater Offers a Safe, Active, & Maintenance-Free Lifestyle

At Sweetwater, you get to discover what carefree retirement living feels like. That means no cleaning and maintenance tasks to fill up your day. Instead, you decide what’s on your “to-do” list. 

You also get to enjoy peace of mind. What we mean is, if for whatever reason you do fall or sustain an injury, help is nearby. Villa residents have access to emergency response systems, and residents of our apartments have access to our 24/7 onsite staff. We pride ourselves on giving residents their independence and privacy, but we always want them to feel reassurance, knowing that help is just around the corner.

Myth #3 – I’ll Feel Depressed If I Move Away from My Home

Your home is a familiar place, and perhaps you have roots in your community. So, the thought of relocating to a new one, surrounded by different people, places, and things sounds daunting. You may also worry that moving away will equal isolation from your friends and family, causing you to feel anxious or depressed.

But staying in your current home may actually create this same scenario. If you’re relying on your own transportation to meet with close friends or visit family, for example, there will come a time when you may no longer have that option. In addition, the winter can be a particularly difficult time of year for older adults, creating feelings of sadness or isolation, as it is much harder to go out and socialize.

Speaking of socialization, if 2020 has taught us anything it’s that without notice, our lives can completely get turned upside down, limiting our ability to socialize and connect with others.

Truth – Sweetwater Offers Vibrant Senior Living Communities

At Sweetwater, you’ll be surrounded by an active, supportive community of residents, as well as our dedicated team. Rather than driving across town to meet with a friend, you can simply walk to our onsite bistro or play a game in our billiard room. And if you do want to travel around town, we offer convenient transportation options.

If you’re worried about making new friends, we can’t wait for you to see just how easy it is to build new relationships in our retirement communities. To help you get started, we offer weekly activities and fun programs to help you socialize, learn a new skill and meet interesting people just like you.

Myth #4 – Retirement Communities Are Too Expensive

If you’ve already paid off your mortgage, you might assume that living at your current residence is a more affordable option than moving to a senior living community. 

But 55+ communities, like Sweetwater, are actually a great investment! Monthly maintenance costs, electricity, internet, and those unexpected home repairs add up. And let’s not forget that if you end up needing to renovate your home to accommodate your physical needs, you could pay a lot more by staying in your current home than moving to a retirement community. 

Truth – Sweetwater Offers an Affordable Senior Living

Sweetwater offers a variety of 1–2-bedroom apartments, as well as townhome villas, for different budgets. And everything is included in a monthly fee, except telephone service.

You can also choose to live month-to-month or more, without committing to a long-term lease agreement. 

Myth #5 – I’ll Move to a Senior Living Community When I Need Care

This is actually true. You can move to a retirement community, like Sweetwater, if you’re in need of assisted living or memory care. But this type of thinking is more reactive vs. proactive. 

What we mean is if you’re waiting until “after” you’re unable to provide care for yourself, you’re preventing yourself from taking part in this important decision. Choosing the right retirement community takes careful planning and consideration. You’ll want to be part of this decision and have the freedom to choose the type of community that best matches your goals and needs.

Truth – Sweetwater Offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care Programs

Whether you are in need of assisted living care, or you’re able to perform daily tasks independently, there is always a special place to call home at Sweetwater. Our independent living apartments and townhome villas (in select areas) are perfect for seniors looking to maintain their own schedules and lifestyles. In fact, our villas feature an attached garage, front porch area and sunroom to make you feel like you’re truly at home!

And as your health needs change, our services and support change right along with them. So, if you do require assisted living care later, we’ll help you make this transition, so you don’t need to worry about leaving your community of friends and loved ones. We also offer memory care programs in select communities. To learn more about this option, please contact us.

Find Senior Living Communities Near You

We hope this article helped shed light on these common myths about senior living communities.

If you’d like to set up a tour of our community, please connect with us to schedule a time for a visit. We look forward to answering all your questions and helping debunk any other myths that may be keeping you from living life to its fullest potential at Sweetwater.