Is Athens, Georgia a Good Place to Retire?

At 65 years and older, it’s important to start thinking about the future and whether you will someday need one form of care assistance or another. As circumstances change, it can become more difficult for some people to care for themselves, maneuver around the home, and get around town for essential medical appointments.

There are many options when it comes to long-term care, and the care that works best for you will depend on your specific needs. From aging in place to joining an assisted living community, this article from Georgui Kassaev, My Athens Realtor will cover some of the most common options for long-term care so that you can make the best decision for you or a loved one.

Modifying Your Current home

Many people prefer to age in place, which typically refers to living in your existing residence rather than moving to a different home or facility. Your current home may work well for your golden years if you’re able to make the modifications necessary to accommodate your needs. For instance, you can help with mobility issues by making modifications like:

• Installing entranceway and threshold ramps
• Widening doorways or installing expandable hinges
• Installing grab bars in the bathroom
• Lowering countertops
• Removing any area rugs and replacing any high-piled carpet with low-piled carpet, hardwoods or vinyl flooring

Purchasing an Accessible Home

If your home will not accommodate these kinds of changes, you may need to look for a new home that is more accessible. You may not find a place that already has all the necessary accommodations, but you should be able to find one that allows for modifications. For instance, single-story layout homes are a good place to start, because they have fewer steps to deal with. Also, an open floor plan (or at least wider doorways and hallways) is ideal.

If you decide to sell your current home and buy a new home (be sure to contact Georgui Kassaev, My Athens Realtor to make the process less stressful), it’s important to research the housing market and home improvement trends. Real estate websites make it easy to find information such as:

• The median sale price of homes
• Sale activity and number of homes that are newly listed
• Most valuable or most popular home upgrades

Independent Living

Another option is to join an independent living community. This is often a great choice for seniors who want to maintain their independence while having fewer home maintenance responsibilities and enjoying various amenities and services. For instance, an independent living community will provide you with convenient access to medical assistance, dining, entertainment and other amenities. Moreover, many independent living communities even offer hospitality services (e.g., meals, housekeeping, etc.).

Assisted Living

Assisted living is similar to independent living, except it provides more assistance with daily activities. You can still enjoy an independent lifestyle in an assisted living community, but you would have access to services such as medication management, bathing assistance, housekeeping, transportation, laundry services, and meal preparation—all of which are typically included in the price of renting your apartment.

Senior home care is something most of us will have to consider at some point. The most important thing is that you are able to enjoy your golden years safely and comfortably—whether that means aging in place, buying a new home or joining a living community. There are also other options that provide varying levels of long-term care, so be sure to do further research, evaluate your current and potential needs, and go over your finances so that you can make an educated decision.

Planning to move? Georgui Kassaev, My Athens Realtor can make the process of selling your home and buying a new home easier and quicker. Call today at 706-426-1082.

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