2 tips for elderly people who are about to move into a retirement village
Many people decide to move into retirement villages or other types of assisted living communities when they reach a certain age. If you're about to move into a retirement village, here are some tips that should help you to make the most out of your new living environment.
1. Embrace the social perks of living in a retirement community
One of the key benefits of retirement communities is that they can help elderly people to avoid becoming socially isolated and experiencing all of the negative effects associated with isolation (such as depression, loneliness, boredom and low self-esteem). If this is one of the reasons that you decided to move into your new assisted living village, then it's important to embrace the social elements of the retirement community you are joining, right from the outset.
Introduce yourself to your neighbours, and sign up for a few weekly or daily group activities that the retirement village hosts (such as bingo, aerobics classes, craft sessions, etc). This will provide you with events to look forward to each day and will enable you to bond with your peers over your shared interests. Additionally, rather than cooking your own meals every single day, you might want to consider eating at your retirement village's shared dining hall. This will give you the opportunity to chat with others whilst you eat and spare you the hassle of cooking.
2. Familiarise yourself with the amenities that you will need to use regularly
Another wonderful thing about living in a retirement village is that you have easy access to a wide range of amenities. However, due to the sheer number of them, you may find it hard to remember and locate each one. When you first arrive, it is best to simply jot down the names and locations of the most essential amenities that you will need to use on a regular basis, and familiarise yourself with the others gradually, over time.
It is important to find out about the most crucial amenities you need as soon as you move in, rather than waiting until you urgently need to access one of them. For example, if you have a prescription medication that you have to take every day, you should make sure that you know where the on-site pharmacy is or how to use the retirement community's medication delivery service (if such a thing exists in your village).
Likewise, if you have a condition that requires regular medical treatment, you should find out where the village's doctor's office is located and ensure that you get a copy of both their contact details and their opening hours.