Home ownership comes with numerous benefits and also—responsibilities. As we get older, the time and labor necessary to maintain our homes can become a burden, especially when winter arrives with its snow, ice and freezing temperatures. This burden only grows when one lives in the home by themselves.
However, for many older adults, there is an alternative. Numerous seniors are exchanging their shovels and winterization checklists for the maintenance-free lifestyle offered by senior living communities like Newcastle Place. Here’s why.
The Challenges of Aging in Place During the Winter
Living alone at home as an older adult can be physically and mentally challenging. Winter conditions only compound these difficulties. Here are the four most common challenges seniors living at home face during the winter months.
Social Isolation
Older adults are especially vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and isolation during the winter. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, rivaling smoking, obesity and physical inactivity.
Transportation Limitations
When snow and ice are on the ground, transportation becomes more difficult. Even an act as simple as driving to the grocery store can be hazardous or impossible if the roads are impassable. Having limited transportation capabilities as an older adult living alone is a serious concern, especially if you don’t have adequate food or medication on hand.
Accident Risks
Our homes can also become more treacherous during the winter, as formally benign surfaces become covered in ice and snow. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death among adults 65 and older. An estimated 3 million older adults are treated in emergency rooms for a fall injury each year.
Difficult Chores
Clearing the snow from your driveway and de-icing your sidewalks is an arduous task for any homeowner, no matter their age. When you have to perform these chores as an older adult living alone, the effort involved can be especially grueling, and may lead to injury.
How Community Living Can Improve Your Well-being During the Winter
Independent living options offer seniors a maintenance-free lifestyle, releasing them from many of the obligations and responsibilities of home ownership without sacrificing the benefits. Here are some ways community living eliminates these burdens:
- Maintenance-free lifestyle. Whatever maintenance residents require, from a leaky roof to a finicky dishwasher, the team at the community will take care of it.
- Transportation. No need to give yourself extra time to warm up the car on a frigid winter morning. Retirement communities generally provide transportation for their residents when they need to venture out.
- Social interactions. Community living offers residents a wide range of social opportunities, allowing them to connect with other seniors who share their interests.
Live Comfortably Year-Round at Newcastle Place
If you’re ready to live maintenance-free in a community with vibrant, like-minded older adults, Newcastle Place is waiting for you. Nestled in a peaceful North Shore location near Milwaukee, WI, our community offers all the comforts and familiarity of small-town living while being in close proximity to restaurants, museums and performing arts venues. In addition to providing for your maintenance needs, our community also offers exceptional amenities.
Discover what maintenance-free living could be like at Newcastle Place. Contact us to learn more or schedule a tour.
