Consider this:

• In America in 1900, there were about 3 million people age 65 and older.
• By 2008, that number was 39 million, or about 13% of the population.
• By 2030, it is expected the number of people age 65 and over will mushroom to more than 72 million, or about 20% of the total U.S. population.

What does that mean to all those people and their families? It means that everyone needs to start planning! Just like all the thought that is put into choosing a career or marrying and starting a family and home, planning can help families to successfully transition seniors into this new phase of life.

Not only are there going to be more of them, seniors are living longer and don’t consider themselves elderly or aged. They are active. They are pursuing personal interests and hobbies. They are working longer. They are volunteering. They are enjoying life!

We all know that the longer we live, the more help we may need as the years pass. It can be traumatic to have to move into a new home because living alone is not a good idea any more. Seniors can find a quality of life that is all they want it to be from early retirement days to later periods without having to move.

For instance, at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, Indiana, there are different housing options available depending on the needs of the resident:

• Independent Living – Ranch-style homes with two or three bedrooms and two baths or one- or two-bedroom apartments. Services vary depending on the residence, but may include utilities, housekeeping, yard and building maintenance, even laundry services!
• Assisted Living – A Licensed Residential Setting. It’s not just like home, it is home in a one- or two-bedroom apartment with all the safety features. Also available is Memory Care Support (Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care) and Rehabilitative Care – Inpatient and Outpatient Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy.

Besides being able to remain in a community filled with friends and neighbors even as needs change, living in a community like Westminster Village comes with perks!

• Fitness room exercise and weight training equipment, exercise and fitness classes
• Wellness Center with full-time wellness nurse
• Mature landscaping with walking paths and garden plots
• Library
• Woodworking shop
• Beauty salon and a barbershop
• Banking

Make sure you are prepared for all the years of your retirement. Consider where and how you want to live your life and make plans for that to happen.

Posted by Elaine W., WV Blog Team