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Home After Retirement
by Kyle Thomas Haley
For years you've lived in that sprawling house where you raised
your children . . . it's home. But now you don't need all the
space and the upkeep is becoming more difficult every year.
You now have to consider things that weren't issues before. When
you were younger, you never thought about how many times a day
you went up and down the stairs. You didn't mind having the
bedroom upstairs and the laundry facilities in the basement. Now,
all those steps are taking their toll.
Washing windows isn't as easy as it was before either, is it?
Climbing an extension ladder to reach the second story becomes a
bit scarier with each passing year. As you age, you become more
concerned about falling.
You may be thinking it's finally time to move into a home that's
a bit more senior-friendly, but what are your options?
* Smaller, single level houses
* Condominiums
* Apartments
* Retirement communities
* Assisted living facilities
Let's take a more detailed look at these options:
Smaller homes built on one level with convenient laundry
facilities may be what you need.
Look for a house that requires little outside maintenance. A
brick or vinyl-sided house won't require painting. An open floor
plan may be helpful if you're ever confined to a wheelchair. A
smaller yard allows you to garden but still keeps the yard work
to a minimum. An attached garage is a helpful feature, especially
in the winter when icy sidewalks can cause falls. Of course,
finding a location that's close to shopping, public
transportation and medical facilities is also important.
Condominiums provide privacy without a lot of maintenance.
Like individual houses, there are many different types of
condominiums from which to choose. The main advantage of a condo
is that outside maintenance of both the structure and the yard is
usually provided. Most condos include a small area where you can
plant flowers but the lawn and other common areas are maintained
by the association. There are additional fees for this mandatory
service so be sure to find out if they will fit into your budget.
Apartments require no maintenance.
One of the main advantages of apartment living is that you aren't
responsible for any maintenance. You don't have to worry about
painting, replacing major appliances or yard work. Apartments
also give you a certain degree of freedom because you don't have
to worry about them if you travel a lot. It's important for
laundry facilities to be easily accessible and that there is an
elevator if your apartment is to be on a higher floor. You won't
have as much privacy and your only personal outdoor space may be
limited to a small patio or balcony, if that. Rent is likely to
increase and is not tax deductible on your Federal returns.
Retirement communities or assisted living facilities give you the
highest level of security.
Both of these options are specifically designed for seniors and
offer many safety features not found in regular housing. The
amount of privacy you have depends on which community you choose.
Your medical condition will usually dictate whether a retirement
community or assisted living facility is your best choice. Some
retirement communities offer private living space, much like
individual homes, as long as you're healthy and then provides
assisted living if your health deteriorates.
Giving up the home where you've lived for many, many years may
seem a little scary. But, often a new home that brings less
responsibility and greater peace of mind will make you feel years
younger.
Kyle Thomas Haley has been helping people relocate on the
Internet since 1999 with Apartment and Relocation Websites: http://www.apartment-rental.net
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