How to Decide If You’re Ready to Make a Retirement Plan

Still feel like you’re too young to make a real plan for retirement? Are you interested in a retirement home in Ann Arbor but think you’re jumping the gun? Retirement age still a couple years away and not sure if you need to start making a plan?

When retirement is just around the corner, you might feel like you don’t need a plan for your retirement beyond your saving. You feel fine to carry on just as you are, in the same house, doing the same things, just with a little extra free time to enjoy. But when is the right time to start planning for your retirement? To find out if you’re ready, ask yourself these simple questions about retirement today:

1. Can you picture yourself enjoying a community of retirees? You don’t have to be ready to move into a retirement community today, but if the idea of the community sounds appealing to you now, or like it could be appealing one day, it’s not too early to start planning!

2. Are you interested in an easier day? If you can imagine a day with less housework, a smaller space to maintain, and all around simpler care, downsizing or moving to a community could be in the cards for you. If you’re already thinking about the perks of less work, it’s time to start planning. 

3. Do you need ample time to adjust to a new environment? If you’re the type of person that takes time to warm up and feel comfortable with change, don’t delay planning a move to a community or downsizing. Just making plans, even if they’re for a fairly distant future, can really help with the adjustment period. 

4. If you’re married, will you feel more comfortable making a plan and moving with your spouse? People often end up waiting until the loss of a spouse to plan a move to a retirement community, which can increase the difficultly several times over. Instead of waiting, start making a plan to move while you’re still a couple. 

Asking yourself these questions and others like them can be a great tool to help you realize you’re ready to make a plan for your retirement and your future. Whatever your plan may look like, it will give you great peace of mind to talk about it with your family and know that your outlook is bright. Reach out to the experts at Hillside Terrace Senior Living today to talk about your options for retirement. Remember that at Hillside Terrace, our family shares life with yours.

3 Things Seniors Wish They Considered before Planning Retirement

Are you planning retirement but aren’t sure which options are best for you? Looking for advice to help you plan your post-retirement path? Are you interested in a retirement home in Ann Arbor or still unsure if it’s the best way to go?

In your 50s, your retirement planning probably consists of saving as much money as you can. But there’s a stage of life that can come later that too many of us avoid planning for. Seniors who have been retired for some time will tell you there are considerations you should account for now, even if it seems like you are planning for things that are very far away. 

1. Spouse

Professionals working in a retirement home in Ann Arbor see the scenario again and again: a senior will move to a retirement community or assisted living only after the loss of their spouse and struggle unnecessarily. After a loss, moving to a new community can feel incredibly sudden, and disorienting. People who move into a retirement community with their spouse have a much easier time adjusting. That’s why many seniors would advise younger retirees to move to a community while you’re still young and still a couple.

2. Family

As much as some of us want to delay planning for the later stages of retirement, we also don’t want to leave the burden of making tough decisions up to our children and family. To make things easier on yourself and your family, many seniors would advise younger retirees to create a long-term plan now and make sure to talk about it with your family in case a difficult situation arises. 

3. Health 

It can be hard to plan for or even think about a time when you might be much less vibrant, sharp, and physically capable. But the facts are that many of us will require extra medical care and attention at some point in our golden years. Seniors would advise younger retirees to plan for the possibility and start looking into Continuing Care Retirement Communities, home nurses, or living with relatives long before it’s a necessity. 

Planning with these considerations in mind might not be your idea of fun, but putting a plan in place will solidify your retirement path for your entire future and make transitions much easier on you and your family. Reach out to the experts at Hillside Terrace Senior Living today to talk about your options for retirement. Remember that at Hillside Terrace, our family shares life with yours.