Several residents at our independent living communities say they feel like they’ve hit the lottery. Not literally, but the freedom from household chores is almost as sweet.
Enjoying true maintenance-free living in independent living communities
As the weather turns colder, private homeowners are busy undertaking fall landscaping tasks, making outdoor home repairs and winterizing their properties in advance of cold weather, ice and snow. Residents of independent living communities are free from the worries of these chores and feel as though they have been given the gift of time. Rather than the normal homeowner worries such as raking leaves, residents are enjoying activities while taking advantage of the beautiful, crisp autumn weather.
Residents of independent living communities enjoy a robust calendar of retirement community activities every season and since home maintenance is no longer a worry, they are busy enjoying life, trading in those tasks for time spent with friends enjoying a beverage at happy hour or quietly painting a masterpiece while listening to favorite tunes.
Many independent living communities have outdoor areas for residents to continue favorite hobbies such as gardening, playing bocce ball and walking. Another perk of retirement community living is that these outdoor areas are tended by staff members, leaving the winter maintenance up to someone else. Residents enjoy planting, playing games and enjoying the scenery during a stroll without the worries of covering sports areas or shoveling snow.
“I enjoy watching the maintenance team clean the gazebo and benches, clean gutters, check the grass and wash the windows,” says Ron, a senior living community resident. “I’m kicking back watching them work so hard getting our buildings ready for winter.” He chuckles and adds, with a smile, “It’s exhausting!”
Outdoor chores residents of independent living communities no longer worry about include:
- Maintaining the home’s heating system
- Cleaning and storing patio furniture and outdoor decorations
- Removing snow and ice
- Caulking around windows and doors
- Inspecting doors and garage doors for air leaks
- Draining and storing garden hoses and installing covers on exterior spigots.
- Checking gutters and downspouts and clearing debris
Saving money by living in independent living communities
Utility bills to heat private homes can get rather costly during the winter months. Residents of independent living communities no longer have to worry about paying huge electricity or fuel bills to keep their homes cozy, nor do they worry about fluctuating electric, natural gas or heating oil rates. At Country Meadows, utilities are included in the monthly rent. Residents are pocketing even more savings by no longer purchasing annual furnace maintenance, shovels, ice melting products and other items to maintain private homes during cold winter months.
Instead, many residents at senior living facilities take those cash savings and use the funds to purchase tickets to movies and live theater, travel to see family members and places of interest and purchase gifts for their favorite people.
Worry less about seasonal deep cleaning when living in independent living communities
The best independent living communities provide amenities including weekly housekeeping. As private homeowners plan how and when to tackle fall deep cleaning chores, senior living community residents’ biggest worries are what to do while their apartment homes are thoroughly cleaned. Perhaps paying a visit to family members or taking in a movie—anything is better than scrubbing floors!
Indoor chores residents of independent living communities no longer worry about every fall and spring include:
- Set featured imageCleaning every room from top to bottom
- Vacuuming drapes and window treatments and cleaning blinds
- Moving furniture to vacuum under it and vacuum upholstery
- Washing windows inside and outside
- Preparing the kitchen for holiday cooking and baking by cleaning and organizing cabinets
- Taking down and cleaning lighting fixtures
Learn more about our independent living communities
Country Meadows has nine locations in Pennsylvania and one campus location in Frederick, Maryland. Often referred to as one of the best retirement communities in the area, we offer a wide range of services to serve a variety of resident needs. The services within our independent living communities include restorative care, rehabilitation, personal care and assisted living, memory support and independent living. If you or a loved one are beginning the retirement planning journey and would like more information about our independent living communities, please contact us today. Our co-workers can provide details on the services we offer, help you to schedule a tour of our independent living communities and answer any other questions you might have.
Country Meadows
Sounds lovely !