Busted: 8 Common Myths About Senior Living

Ask around about life plan communities, and you’ll hear plenty of strong opinions. Unfortunately, there are a lot of senior living myths. We’re going to explode eight of the most common myths once and for all:

1. Life plan communities are for the elderly and frail.

2. You’ll lose your freedom to travel and see family.

3. Since the pandemic, there’s nothing to do.

4. Life plan communities are only for the wealthy.

5. The social scene is cliquey and exclusive.

6. You’ll lose your privacy.

7. You don’t need to move into one until you need care.

8. They’re only for old people.

Each one of them is wrong. Here’s why.

Myth: Life plan communities are for the elderly and frail.

Truth: Life plan communities are designed with independent and active older adults in mind. In fact, there are advantages to moving in sooner rather than when you’re elderly or frail. As an active adult, you’ll enjoy having more time with friends and an active social life. Choosing a life plan community means you’ll be  well taken care of when you need more care. Which means you won’t have to move again when you’re at your most vulnerable.

Myth: You’ll lose your freedom to travel and see family.

Truth: When you choose an independent living apartment or home, your daily routine can remain the same. The only difference is that we’ll take care of the chores. You still have your car and your passport. Invite your family and friends for a home-cooked meal, or book a cruise to Aruba if you choose. It’s all up to you!

Myth: Since the pandemic, there’s nothing to do.

Truth: Like the rest of the world, life plan communities have put the best practices in place so everyone can stay safe. You’ll find a wealth of activities are available, whether you want to take an art class, enjoy fresh, seasonal cuisine, or hit the gym for your daily reps. With this list of amenities, you’ll have to work hard to be bored!

Myth: Life plan communities are only for the wealthy.

Truth: Depending on your situation, a life plan community can actually save money in the long term. Factors to consider include the high cost of home maintenance, New Jersey property taxes and the skyrocketing price of long-term care. Locking into a life plan now could protect your family from an annual nursing care bill of more than $135,000 in the future.

Myth: The social scene is too cliquey and exclusive.

Truth: We can’t speak for every life plan community out there, but at Pines Village, your neighbors are your community. With a full calendar of events, you can easily find people who share your values and interests. Prefer some alone time for walks in the woods? No problem! Participate in as many or as few group activities as you like. At Pines Village, active living is all about life on your terms.

Myth: You’ll lose your privacy.

Truth: Pines Village offers a range of well-designed homes for independent living, from studios to two-bedroom apartments. It’s no different than living in your current home. You can choose to close the doors, draw the blinds and turn off your phone whenever you like.

Myth: You don’t need to move until you need care.

Truth: One of the biggest retirement myths is that only people who need skilled nursing care need to move into a senior community. Why would a younger, vibrant person bother? Because life is so much easier! Instead of spending precious time caring for the yard, doing home maintenance or even just cooking dinner every night, we’ve got it covered. You can spend your time meeting friends for lunch, pursuing your hobbies or learning a new language. But when you do need care, you’ll have it close to hand.

Myth: They’re only for old people.

Truth: We believe old is a state of mind. But in practical terms, you can become an independent living resident as young as 62 years of age. And when you take advantage of the wide range of amenities and active community life, you’ll add decades of freedom from chores.

Don’t wait to move to a life plan community. Schedule a tour of Pines Village today and you’ll see why today’s retirement living is so much more. See what active living is really all about!