The home your parents live in holds sentimental value. For them, this is the place where they raised their family and shared their life together. But, as your parents age, you may begin to notice they aren’t living life to the fullest. Maintaining the yard is becoming increasingly difficult. Spare bedrooms begin to gather dust from lack of use. While there is no perfect answer to, “when is the right time to downsize?” there are some signs that can help you guide the decision to talk to your parents about a move to a home that is more suited to their needs.
6 Signs it’s Time for Your Parents to Downsize
- Home maintenance is becoming a burden. It’s no secret that owning and maintaining a home brings about a significant amount of work. Cleaning the inside, making sure the yard looks nice and keeping up with dirty dishes and laundry can take a large amount of your time. If your parents are having a difficult time or have voiced their concerns to you about maintaining their home, they may be ready to downsize.
- Rooms in their home aren’t getting much use. While a four-bedroom house may have been practical at the time when your parents were raising your family, children do age and move out of their home, leaving behind an unused room. It may be beneficial to your parents to downsize to a smaller space to lessen the burden of having extra rooms that they don’t need anymore.
- Your parents are starting to consider a plan for the future. Where your parents are living now may certainly work at the moment, but what about the future? Ask yourself: is there a plan in place if their healthcare needs change? Is this the best place for them to age safely and comfortably? Many people choose to move to senior living communities to gain peace of mind that their future needs will be met.
- Retirement financing is a concern. Retirement brings about new considerations when it comes to finances. Older adults typically choose to downsize to ease some financial concern and budget for other needs and wants, like travel and hobbies.
- Recent health changes. Have you noticed your parents have started to slow down a bit? Are everyday tasks becoming an increasing challenge? Health changes are a completely natural part of aging and simply means that a different living situation may be better suited to fit their needs.
- Your parents are looking for freedom and fun. Worrying less about their home means more time to live out the retirement lifestyle your parents have dreamed of. Whether that means dedicating more time to a hobby, traveling or just taking some time out of the day to relax, downsizing means your parents are able to enjoy the things that they love most.
Discover the Benefits of Downsizing at Heritage Senior Living
At Heritage Senior Living, your loved one won’t dwell about the things they have “lost” through downsizing – instead, they’ll focus on the things they have gained. A comfortable living space, daily enrichment activities, peace of mind for the future, neighbors that become friends and more can be found at Heritage communities. To learn more, find a community near you or contact our expert team today.
