There Is A Better Retirement Option Than In An Old Folks Home

Roger Daltry, the lead singer of The Who, famously sang the words “I hope I die when I get old”.  Not me.  I want to live forever.  We all know that’s impossible, so at the very least when I do get old, I want to be as independent as possible.  My friends and I joke.  We should all invest in a large home to house all of us in our golden years.  I think someone actually researched the cost of living in a Holiday Inn versus a retirement home.  Think about it.  Your senior discount reduces your night or weekly cost for the room.  Housekeeping cleans your linens.  Some include free breakfast each morning, and if you’re lucky offer daily happy hours. Compare that with the going costs of the alternative. Here’s what I found on Forbes.

Listen to Rich DeSisto weekdays from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. on 105.7 The Hawk and download our free 105.7 The Hawk app.

I can tell you from first hand, when we moved our mom into an assisted living, it was the social atmosphere that made the difference for her well-being.  After dad passed, our mom could not handle the everyday responsibilities of their home on her own.  Her ailing health prevented her from getting around.  Not just to run errands but to move about the house.  That immobility hampered her social life.

A decision was made to find her a new place to live with easy access to all her needs.  It was important for mom to be part of the process of finding her new home.  We visited a handful of assisted living facilities before mom made her decision.  The campus she chose allowed mom to be as independent as possible.  They also offered a social life that she immediately embraced.  Those of her friends that supported her also visited routinely.

That experience taught me a lot about our senior community and the challenges that go along with aging.  I always thought, when you get older you go to an “old folks” home, in the form of a retirement home, or nursing home.  I was ignorant of the option of an assisted living facility or something totally different called Independent senior living.

I read about a facility in Toms River called Silver Woods Independent Living by Complete Care.  This is the type of place you and I could really look forward to.  They offer an indoor heated pool, a fitness facility, and a game room that includes a pool table, not to mention arts and crafts.  You got to keep your creative juices flowing.  From reading the testimonials, it looks like they offer an impressive health and wellness program.

Bottom line, we all plan for our retirement with a 401k, IRA, or Pension plan.  Rarely do we focus on a healthy retirement.  My mom used to say, “if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything”

Love you, Mom and Dad!  Miss you both.