At first, making a comparison of the costs of senior living versus the cost of staying at home sounds easy. Surely senior living costs more? However, you may be overlooking a long list of amenities and services that you pay for out of pocket in your home, whereas in senior living, they are already included.
Take stock of just what it costs you to live in your home.
Over the years, paying monthly bills becomes routine, such as for mortgage or rent, property tax, insurance, and utilities. Often these expenses come straight from your bank account, so you don’t really “feel the pain” directly when they are paid. But for sure, you are paying them over and over again and the costs keep rising.
Even if your mortgage is paid off, there are some expenses that seem to crop up out of nowhere.
For instance, replacing the roof after a storm. Installing a security system. Paying a landscaping company to keep your yard or garden looking good. Servicing the air conditioning. Putting a new coat of paint on the walls. Hiring a handyman to rebuild the patio stairs, loose gutter or malfunctioning garage door. And there’s the issue of whether to make safety enhancements should mobility issues arise. It feels like it never ends.
Then there’s quality of life.
Living at home, it’s up to you to find opportunities for socializing. That might mean driving to more social functions at night, which you might prefer not to do. But feeling left out and isolated can harm your emotional, mental and physical health.
Living at home also can mean you don’t feel as secure as you would like; perhaps the neighborhood has changed, or familiar friends have left, and you are feeling vulnerable. Being on your own at home can also mean you are not enjoying nutritious or delicious meals, because it seems exhausting to always have to drive to the grocery for ingredients, prepare the food, and eat alone. Skipping meals is easier, but it can take a huge toll on your health. Same with not getting enough exercise.
Keep in mind as the years go by, it simply becomes harder to handle all the tasks involved in maintaining a home or apartment residence on your own. And what about future care needs—can you add those expenses to your budget?
Download our free guide: Determining the Right Time for Your Move. Should you stay or should you go?
Now consider what is already included in the costs of senior living:
- Monthly rent
- Home maintenance and repairs
- Grounds maintenance
- Utilities
- (No property tax or homeowners’ insurance!)
- Transportation
- Dining
- Housekeeping
- Social/entertainment
- Exercise and wellness
- Activities, events, outings, classes & more
- 24-hour emergency alert system
Don’t forget the peace of mind of onsite care if needed—included in the costs of senior living at St. Mark Village.
In addition to Independent Living, we offer a Continuum of Care in our Care Centers—Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, and Rehabilitation—so that should your needs change, assistance will be available right here, from people you know, where you already feel at home. It gives you seamless access to future care options.
Even more, With Life Care at St. Mark Village, your care is guaranteed for life—even if your financial situation changes. Choosing Life Care means financial security, value, and peace of mind. It can be a huge consideration when you are comparing being at home to the costs of senior living.
Look at the costs of staying at home. Then look at the costs of senior living. Which holds more value for you?
Staying at home can be lonely. It can be worrying what to do when a storm blows at midnight. Settling for unsatisfying meals and days that seem to never change.
Senior living at St. Mark Village can be more friends, more fun and more choices for dining, exercise, and resources that help you maintain your independence and more fully enjoy the next chapter in your story. Let us tell you more.
The care you need, for as long as you need it. Download our free guide: Determining the Right Time for Your Move. Should you stay or should you go? Or contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
