Considering Retirement Accommodation Options

Considering Retirement Accommodation Options

I recent months I’ve started to do a lot of future planning. I’ve looked at finances, insurances and even retirement. A lot of people tend to avoid the topic of retirement as much as they can. They think that it’s not going to happen any time soon and that they have plenty of time to save up money for the day they exit the workforce. In reality, you should be planning for retirement as early as possible to help you manage your financial responsibilities. Early retirement can sound like a good idea, but it’s actually more about reaching financial freedom so that you can safely retire with ample funds to live out your golden years. If the current situation has taught me anything it is that having your bases covered, from pensions to considering retirement accommodation options should be put off.

 In this post, I’ll be covering some of the most common retirement accommodation options and why you should consider them.

Considering Retirement Accommodation Options: House Sharing with Relatives

If your relatives or family members are inviting you to stay with them, then this can be the most economical option since you can simply sell your home and take all the capital into your retirement fund. This can be a great option for families with larger homes. 

Care Homes

For seniors with medical or mobility issues, care homes might be the most practical solution for retirement accommodation. You’ll be given a private room and shared communal areas to engage with other residents and staff members. While it can feel a little restrictive, it does provide the best care that you could ask for. Senior care ranges from full-on nursing support to much more independent choices. These are worth considering as you don’t know what your future holds and you want to be able to afford the best choice for you.

Retirement Villages

If you’d like to be surrounded by purpose-built developments and other seniors around your age then retirement villages can be a fantastic choice. These can provide a huge mix of accommodation styles and you’ll be able to downsize your existing property to something a lot smaller and affordable. Consider a set up such as ERL retirement villages that offer lots of additional services and local amenities that can enhance your experience. While there are some age restrictions, these self-contained villages can feel like holiday homes in some cases and will provide lots of extra comforts that will make your life a lot easier.

Considering Retirement Accommodation Options: Staying in Your Current Home

Of course, you could just stay with your current home if you’re content with it.  While many people prefer to just stay in their own home, there are arguments for downsizing that should be considered since it can save a lot of money and offer more comfort. Staying in a large and empty home isn’t for everyone but it really depends on your personal preferences.

Just like how you have lots of retirement options, there are also lots of different choices for retirement accommodation. Doing your research here is important because purchasing a retirement property can be a huge investment.

Have you started to look differently at your future because of what is going on in the world and your world right now? I certainly have. Next up is to take another look at my insurances to make sure everything is up to date and that my cover is adequate.

Don’t Forget To Care

Don’t Forget To Care

We all seem to spend our lives speeding around everywhere these days. We’ve forgotten to show that we care. Taking a moment or two out to show someone else a kindness takes little effort but can mean a lot. What about care in your own life? If there’s one aspect that we forget to prioritise it is self-care. Self-care is essential if you want to thrive and be happy. Make a brew, sit comfortably, read this blog post on caring and then think about what changes you might want to make in your own life.

Enjoy a Little Bit Of Self Care

Self-care is something that you definitely want to try and practice because a lack it can lead to so many different problems. From struggling with your mental health to feeling like you’re out of sync with your life, ignoring your own needs can be harmful. I’m not suggesting that you run out and buy blankets and candles and embrace the essence of hygge (although from what I understand a little bit of a hygge way of life could benefit all of us).  Try going to sleep early. Get up early to read or walk. Make an effort every day to take care of you. If this means removing apps from your phone, striving for a firmer work-life balance or something else, you should be making an effort daily to do something to improve your life experience. 

Care For Those Closest To You

Those closest to you can also suffer when you’re at your busiest. Those closest to you often used to be your safety net. When your life becomes so busy and you become so self-contained, it’s easy enough to not show you care. This is something I am very mindful of. At this time of the year work is crazy and so my social life and spare time, in general, is in short supply. These days I try to show people I care by just sending a text message, a quick call, a message to say “it’s daft busy right now but I haven’t forgotten you and if you need me I’m still here”. 

For other people, showing that you care means helping them get the care that they deserve. The Red House Retirement Community is just one of many ways you could help elderly relatives be cared for and be happy. Volunteering for your community is another. I run a free coworking group for all in my local area and while that isn’t exactly helping in a soup kitchen it’s my own way of showing others that I do care.

Opening Up To People 

Finally, you need to be able to learn to open up to people and be honest. Tell your family and friends if you need a little alone time and respect their right to the same thing. Make sure those who need your help know that you do it because you want to, not because you feel you have to. Open a positive dialogue within yourself and with others about what it means to be more caring.