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Question: I’ve recently become a widower and my daughter and son-in-law come over every few weeks. They always seem to end up doing chores or repairs around the house. I don’t want to be a burden to them. Should I look into senior living even though I’m in good health and don’t need a nursing home?
Answer: Many seniors continue to equate retirement living with nursing homes. Twenty-five years ago there were basically two choices for long-term care: you own home or a nursing home. But today there is an array of senior living options. You may not need the high levels of medical care offered at nursing homes or the kind of help with medications and activities of daily living provided at assisted living communities. But you and your family still might benefit from independent senior living that is designed to make life just a little easier.
Think of all the chores you and your family members can give up if you rent a private apartment in a senior community. First there’s household maintenance and repairs. You won’t have to fix a leaky roof, clean the rain gutters or replace broken windows or screens. If a hot water heater or air conditioner goes out, you’ll be spared the expense and hassle of purchasing and installing a new one.
Neither you nor your son-in-law would have to mow and water lawns, prune trees, trim bushes, rake away dead leaves or do other backbreaking yard work. (However because gardening is such a popular pastimes among seniors lots of communities have places where you can garden if you’d like.)
Many independent communities offer housekeeping services so neither you nor your daughter would have to change bed linen, do laundry, dust furniture, clean bathrooms or vacuum and mop floors. Many communities also offer from one to all three meals so you would have to grocery shop, cook or complete other meal preparation chores.
Perhaps transportation has become an issue because you no longer care to drive or just don’t want the hassle of trying to find parking places.  At many senior communities, you wouldn’t have to rely on friends and family, because they have buses for free, routine transportation to medical appointments, banking, shopping centers and outings to local attractions.
At the best senior communities you’d be encouraged to join in their program of planned activities and entertainment, socialize with friends, family and neighbors and pursue recreation or community service. When your family members visited you wouldn’t have to worrying about their taking care of your household chores. Instead you all would be able to relax and enjoy yourselves.