Curious if now is the right time for you or your loved one to transition into senior living? Harmony Senior Services marketing account manager Allison Waters sheds light on signs to look out for, as well as ways that Harmony Senior Services can help alleviate stressors and provide life-enhancing services.

1. Your home feels too big or burdensome to keep up with

For many people transitioning into senior adulthood, their once beloved home becomes a burden rather than a luxury. Climbing stairs is a challenge, cleaning multiple rooms is exhausting, and lawn work is near impossible. At Harmony Senior Services, residents enjoy all of the perks of being a homeowner without the fuss of home maintenance.

“You get all of the room without having to maintain the entire structure,” Waters said. “It’s the freedom and levity of renting and the comfort of still having somewhere that’s like a large home.”

Living spaces at Harmony Senior Services come in all shapes and sizes—the largest two bedroom apartment is around 1,700 square feet. Each location also features a garden, which is already tilled and ready for residents to test their green-thumb without the preparation work. Additionally, a maintenance staff is on-site everyday to fill a variety of needs, and laundry services are available to reduce the stress of daily chores.

2. Cooking is more stressful than relaxing

Cooking meals for oneself requires grocery shopping, meal planning and dish cleanup, which can make the task more tiresome than enjoyable. At Harmony Senior Services, chefs prepare unique menus daily with nutritious ingredients and flavorful combinations. Dining rooms are restaurant-style, allowing residents to eat together and be taken care of by a service staff. In addition to regular meals, there are ample dining events for residents to attend as well.

“We have a big themed dinner every month, along with weekly happy hours or tea time in the afternoon,” Waters said. “In the summertime, we have fresh lemonade on the patio.”

3. Family and friends must consistently check in on you

One of Harmony Senior Services’ most valuable offerings is peace of mind for its residents’ family and friends. Older adults who require assistance for daily tasks often rely on their children or family members to help them, which can sometimes strain relationships and void them of amicable connection.

“Once senior living is incorporated, you can maintain those relationships the way they’ve always been, so the family dynamic is more familiar,” Waters said. “... How wonderful it is to be able to maintain [the role] that is more natural.”

Residents at every Harmony Senior Services facility have access to 24 hour medical care, a medication management program, and routine health evaluations—thus allowing them to solely focus on spending quality time with their loved ones.

4. You are feeling isolated, lonely and bored

Loneliness can be just as detrimental to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Thus, older adults who live alone and are subject to social isolation and boredom daily, are more at risk for declines in mental and physical well-being.

“Social interaction in a senior community, I think, is the most valuable thing,” Waters said. “Having social interaction that is easily accessible—all you have to do is go downstairs, go down the hall, or go onto the patio—it’s everywhere, all the time, whenever you want it.”

Aside from a wide variety of calendar events planned with the residents’ interests in mind, Waters said many of them arrange their own regular meet-ups to play cards, play piano, take walks, and more. As the weather gets warmer, outdoor activities are ramping up as well as live music performances at Harmony Senior Services’ pubs, lawns and gardens.

5. You have recently fallen or caused a fender bender

Falling or causing an automobile accident can both be tell-tale signs that you or your loved one are ready to transition to senior living. Upon move-in, each Harmony Senior Services resident goes through an assessment that allows staff to best care for each individual’s needs. Then, routine scheduled assessments help caregivers adjust each residents’ level of care.

“Our goal is to give the maximum quality of life with as little or as much care as someone needs,” Waters said. “It’s like you’re still steering the ship, but without the responsibility of actually doing the steering.”

Every Harmony Senior Services community offers a continuum of care so residents have the ability to age in place from independent living to assisted living to our secured memory care community, Harmony Square.

If you or your loved one identify with any of these five indicators of readiness for senior living, visit https://www.harmonyseniorservices.com/ to view locations, amenities and programs—and set up an appointment for a specialized tour.

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