“Bigger is better” has long been de facto for all things in our society, from paychecks to homes to lifestyles. But in today’s world, more and more people are choosing a more minimalist lifestyle. As Elsa would say: “Let it go!”
“Downsizing, particularly downsizing to a senior living lifestyle, is very popular among seniors and has been for years,” says Vanessa DiPaolo, Director of Sales at The Terraces at Bonita Springs, the only Life Plan Community for senior living in the Bonita Springs area. “The biggest reason usually is convenience, since owning a large home – and all the upkeep associated with said large home – can become cumbersome and exhausting as we get older. Downsizing has a lot of benefits, but it also can be a scary thought for many seniors, who may find it hard to move away from a place that’s been ‘home’ for decades.”
Vanessa says that, although downsizing is a common occurrence in peoples’ golden years, there are many older adults who put off the decision or decide not to do it because they simply don’t want to leave “home.” “The problem with this is that many family homes are not set up to accommodate seniors’ needs, meaning that the individuals will have to pay a lot of money to update their home, or they end up trying to make it work until they simply can’t anymore,” she says. “Then, they end up downsizing anyway in order to live safely, but it’s a stressful and traumatic situation because it is a decision borne out of necessity and urgency.”
Instead, she says, seniors should consider downsizing to senior living early on in their retirement … or perhaps even before they retire. “Downsizing your space shouldn’t be viewed as a negative … in fact, it can be a huge positive to your life,” Vanessa says. “At The Terraces at Bonita Springs, we call moving to senior living ‘upsizing’ because what you’re doing is giving up something that’s holding you back and moving forward into a lifestyle you’ll love. In fact, once you’ve moved here, you may wonder what took you so long in the first place.”
The Surprising Benefits of Downsizing
Why, exactly, is “downsizing” a good thing for seniors? Lots of things – as long as you’re in the right frame of mind. If you think you are “giving” up your big home and homeownership and your possessions, sure … the idea of downsizing can be a bit of a downer.
However, if you adjust your thinking and reframe the “downsizing” process as something you’re doing so you can “add on” to the enjoyment of your life … well, that’s another thing entirely, isn’t it? Vanessa suggests thinking about all the things that you will be gaining by “letting go” of certain aspects of your current living situation. “By opening yourself up to the possibilities and looking at this as an opportunity to say goodbye to the things that aren’t bringing you joy – to coin a phrase from Marie Kondo – you’ll be more open and excited about the upside of downsizing to senior living,” she says.
Here are just some of the upsides of downsizing to a senior living lifestyle at a vibrant and exciting community like The Terraces at Bonita Springs.
No more DIY home maintenance. Ever!
Let’s face it: who really wants to be trimming trees and cleaning gutters when you’re in your golden years? Even if you don’t do your home maintenance yourself – in other words, you hire that work out – you’re still dealing with the coordination and payment of tasks. And don’t get us started on the really fun maintenance tasks like putting on a new roof or upgrading an ancient HVAC system.
Guess what? When you move to senior living, that all goes away. Mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, even doing laundry – all those things get taken off your plate. We do all that for you, and best of all, it’s all included in your monthly fee – no additional costs! You’ve spent many years taking care of other people and managing your home. Now, it’s time for you to kick back, relax and let someone else handle the chores – because this is your time to live life to the fullest.
You have a living space tailored to what you really need.
A big space is nice, but it’s a lot of work. Most of the time, you only end up using about three or four rooms anyway, while the other rooms become nice places to trap dust. Plus, there’s all the “stuff” that piles up in those empty rooms. Although you may love having a huge dining room that everyone can crowd around on big holidays, you’re left with a lot of space the other 364 days of the year. Moving to a smaller place means you have just the space you need. How nice is that?
You’re instantly surrounded by friends, activities and events.
Besides the “maintenance-free” aspect of senior living, many seniors choose to move to a retirement community because it’s a little bit like going back to college. As soon as you move in, you’re surrounded with so many like-minded people in the same stage of life who want to meet you and do things with you. Communities these days are like little cities, and there’s always something fun going on: whether it’ a day trip to a local attraction, going out to try a new restaurant, happy hour with friends, visiting a museum or a Zumba class, you’ll probably find that your biggest problem is narrowing down your options.
You have complete security and peace of mind.
We all worry when we live on our own. What happens if someone breaks in while I’m away on vacation? Or what happens if I fall down the stairs and can’t make it to the phone to call for help? Senior living means saying goodbye to those worries, too. The Terraces at Bonita Springs is a gated and secured community with security staff and care available 24/7, meaning that assistance is never far away. Since it’s a community designed with the senior in mind, you also can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that if you start having problems with mobility or need a little extra assistance getting up or down from a chair, you don’t have to worry – your living space is already equipped with grab bars and easy access so you don’t have to miss a beat.
Your time is yours to do with what you wish.
Add all those above benefits add up, and it paints a pretty rosy picture of a lifestyle where you can enjoy all the things you want to do … and none of the things you have to do. We take care of everything at The Terraces at Bonita Springs so you can spend your time visiting friends, going shopping, having adventures, seeing family or simply sitting in the sun with. It’s whatever you want to do … and what better upside is there?
About The Terraces at Bonita Springs
Recreation, special events, holiday celebrations, educational programs, guest speakers, and a variety of inspiring activities take place throughout the year at The Terraces at Bonita Springs (TheTerracesatBonitaSprings.com) as part of the community’s active lifestyle programs. The Terraces is the only Life Plan Community for senior living in the Bonita Springs area. Living choices include independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. All levels of care, including assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory support, are open for direct admittance, with no entrance fee.
For more information, visit TheTerracesatBonitaSprings.com or call 239-221-8907.
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