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Where do you want to grow old?

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Sep 7, 2023

People have many options for living arrangements as an older adult, like living in a house with a group of friends (think Golden Girls), going to a 55+ community, or staying in your own house.

What are your plans? Where do you want to grow old?
or
What choice did you make? What are the the pros and cons of your arrangement?

What advice do you have for others?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

walk4life | @walk4life | Jan 3 7:53am
In reply to @casey1329 "Maybe consider his idea to downsize and get a nice place with amenities like a pool..." + (show)
@casey1329

Maybe consider his idea to downsize and get a nice place with amenities like a pool or garden that he might consider taking the place of the summer house...good luck !

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He is now spending as much time in the vacation house as he is here. It has a yard for our dog and great neighbors. Not sure what we will do.

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1 reply
edsutton | @edsutton | Jan 3 11:48am
In reply to @walk4life "We currently live in the same town as one son and his family. We have a..." + (show)
@walk4life

We currently live in the same town as one son and his family. We have a vacation home about 2 hours from a daughter and her family. We bought the vacation home 12 years ago to be closer to our daughter who was expecting our first grandchild. The plan was to retire there. Well 2 years later my son who was living abroad moved to the town we are in with his wife and daughter. They mow have three children and it is the joy of my life to be a part of their lives as they grow. Fast forward, my husband is now retired, we got a dog during the pandemic and husband prefers to spend more time in the vacation home. It is a better climate. He wants to downsize and sell our house here and rent an apartment. The housing/apartment market here is not great. I am thinking we should just sell the vacation house, but he doesn’t want to give it up. We bought at a great time and now prices there are through the roof. Not sure what we will do, but i am realizing the importance of have a local support system as we age.

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Walk4Life, this is not a simple decision to be made based on one person's current preference. You might consider meeting with someone who specializes in counseling older folks in full-spectrum life planning so that together you can look at things from current and likely future angles, and make a decision based on a long term shared plan.

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1 reply
walk4life | @walk4life | Jan 4 1:44pm
In reply to @edsutton "Walk4Life, this is not a simple decision to be made based on one person's current preference...." + (show)
@edsutton

Walk4Life, this is not a simple decision to be made based on one person's current preference. You might consider meeting with someone who specializes in counseling older folks in full-spectrum life planning so that together you can look at things from current and likely future angles, and make a decision based on a long term shared plan.

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@edsutton Thank you

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1 reply
bonniethompson1234 | @bonniethompson1234 | Jan 5 8:50am
In reply to @walk4life "@edsutton Thank you" + (show)
@walk4life

@edsutton Thank you

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I would love to go for a walk. A simple thing. Right? No. Not if you have peripheral neuropathy and two bad knees. One knee has had a bad surgery. So what do people like myself do for a “walk?”

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2 replies
loll | @loll | Jan 6 8:19am
In reply to @bonniethompson1234 "I would love to go for a walk. A simple thing. Right? No. Not if you..." + (show)
@bonniethompson1234

I would love to go for a walk. A simple thing. Right? No. Not if you have peripheral neuropathy and two bad knees. One knee has had a bad surgery. So what do people like myself do for a “walk?”

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Perhaps you've tried this or are already doing this but I use a rolling walker when I want to go for more of a walk. I’m not able to go distances or hike like in the past but I can go around the block etc.

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mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | Jan 6 8:19pm
In reply to @bonniethompson1234 "I would love to go for a walk. A simple thing. Right? No. Not if you..." + (show)
@bonniethompson1234

I would love to go for a walk. A simple thing. Right? No. Not if you have peripheral neuropathy and two bad knees. One knee has had a bad surgery. So what do people like myself do for a “walk?”

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If you have access to a deck, porch or yard, invest in one of those small pedal exercisers. I have one, which I purchased when I was going to have knee replacement, just to strengthen my legs. Sad to say, I haven’t used it now in a long time, but I must get back to it!!! It gives you energy and stamina in your legs. If you can’t walk outside, but you have an area outside, purchase one of these and you will not only get outdoors but will get some exercise…..and you will feel better!

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mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | Jan 6 8:33pm
In reply to @thisismarilynb "I visited two facilities that provide independent living. The best thing I can say is that..." + (show)
@thisismarilynb

I visited two facilities that provide independent living. The best thing I can say is that I was not impressed. They are not at all like the pictures you see in their advertising. I am glad, though, that I was able to do this as it confirms my resolve to stay in my own home. If and when I need assisted living I will hire my own caregivers. Looking at the amount of rent these facilities charge, I would probably spend less money. And, by the way, the rents go up each year.

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Totally agree with you and with the replies that you received!

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1 reply
bonniethompson1234 | @bonniethompson1234 | Jan 6 9:02pm

I used to have a peddler that I used a few years ago. My knees can’t bend to do it anymore. I think that’s from the peripheral neuropathy.

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1 reply
thisismarilynb | @thisismarilynb | Jan 6 10:12pm
In reply to @mabfp3 "Totally agree with you and with the replies that you received!" + (show)
@mabfp3

Totally agree with you and with the replies that you received!

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Thank you. Here's to living independently for as long as possible.

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ilenemari | @ilenemari | Jan 7 8:57am

I chose an independent living community and love it!
True, I’m limited in what I can do physically, but my community offers many things I CAN do!

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