Retirees Have Many Choices When It Comes to Aging in Place

Even though you currently enjoy your working life, you may long for a future retirement where you can enjoy doing all the things you dream about while you are working. As you prepare for this certain time in your life, you will begin to consider where you will want to live when this event takes place. You might decide to stay in your existing home, change your home but stay in the same area or relocate to an entirely new area. If you decide to change your residence for current or future retirement purposes, you will be looking at areas and homes that will allow you to participate in the types of activities that you most enjoy. However, today the new retiree is healthier than ever and is living longer than ever. So, how do you reconcile the different housing needs for being still somewhat youthful and active at retirement, but also faced with the probability that you will live into your 80s and 90s?

One solution is to plan on "aging in place". This means that you plan on living in a home wherein you can stay as long as your health permits. As you age, your physical needs change as well. You might require more assistance for daily tasks, and your home needs to be able to accommodate these needs. However, if you retire in your 50s or 60s, you will probably not need assistance at that time and will want a home that accommodates your present needs without regard to physical restraints. The good news is, though, that you can retire in your existing home or a new location and still be able to stay there long-term with some planning for the future. With today's technology, smart assistance is at your beck and call (literally), and you can also add many adaptive features to your home.

If you elect to stay in your existing home, you can begin to add smart technology to your home that will activate and power almost anything in your home. Lights, TV, cameras, power, heating and cooling, phones, music, appliances and more can all be ran with voice and remote commands. Physical additions to your home can include bath rails, standing tubs, rails, ramps, door levers in place of knobs and other similar items. However, if you have a home with more than one story, that is one feature that is more difficult to change. The physical structure of your existing home can be one big reason to move in to a smaller and more accessible home when you retire. Fortunately, there are many choices when it comes to choosing a retirement home.

Del Mesa Carmel homes are located in Carmel by the Sea and are in a gated adult community that offers an independent living style. This community of 289 homes is nestled between the St Lucia Mountains and the Carmel River Valley and is close to Carmel Bay. Established as an adult community in 1968, these homes were carefully planned to accommodate aging in place, and most of them have been remodeled since to take advantage of today's technology and other new home additions and styles. Many people who live here are still actively working, but also enjoy the camaraderie of their neighbors at the many events and activities that Del Mesa offers its residents. Residents can have their own garden plot in the communal garden, practice their golf swing at the putting green, workout in the gym, take hikes, dine in the community restaurant and even have special guests stay in one of the guest houses. Shopping and service providers are all around, and beautiful Pebble Beach, the Monterey Aquarium and coastal trails and roads are all close by to enjoy.

Although many of these homes have been remodeled, you may still want to add your own features to make your home even more accessible and convenient. You can add all sorts of smart technology that is voice and remote controlled, thus allowing you to activate all your appliances and other items just by speaking. You can have things programmed on timers, as well. Physical assists like auto-closing drawers and cabinets, door handle levers, walk-in tubs and bath rails can all be added easily.

You may also want to consider living in one of the many adult communities that have manufactured homes. These smaller homes are ideal for accessibility purposes, and the communities offer all the same perks as other retirement communities. Senior 55+ communities such as Montevalle and Spring Lakes have many resort-like amenities like clubhouses, activities and services, and all are situated in beautiful established areas that are also close to stores and service providers. Many of these manufactured homes have been upgraded and remodeled. You can always add more features to your home for ease, comfort and safety, and you sometimes have the option of removing an existing home and replacing it with a new one.

These days, aging does not necessarily mean aged. The sky is your limit in lovely Santa Cruz, and you will always have choices.

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