Finance & Planning | Miscellaneous
Psychologists have many theories on why people procrastinate. They range from a lack of confidence about their ability to make good decisions to anxiety, fear, and feeling just plain overwhelmed. Because they aren’t certain what the outcome will be, people put off taking action. And the more emotional the decision or change, the higher the odds of procrastinating.
When it comes to making a move to a senior living community, it’s easy to understand how each of these reasons can play a role. Transitioning to a retirement community often involves determining a budget, searching for a community, downsizing, and selling a home. It feels like a complicated process, especially when families aren’t aware of the resources available to support them.
Why People Delay Searching for a Senior Living Community
People often put off even thinking about when and where to live out their retirement because it seems like such a big undertaking. In honor of National Procrastination Week, we take a look at some of the more common reasons why people postpone the search, and how to overcome it:
- Uncertainty about how to get started: The sheer variety of senior housing options can be overwhelming. While having so much choice typically means an older adult can find a community that aligns with their hopes and needs, it can also make the search more complicated. The majority of families have never been through this before and don’t know when or how to get started. That makes it easy to put off doing anything.
- The need for potentially difficult talks: Adult children often have a lot of influence over a parent’s decision to move to senior living. But just starting a conversation with a loved one about the need for change can be tough. In fact, families often defer having these discussions until a crisis occurs. Then they are forced to find solutions during an already stressful time. A better approach is to at least have casual conversations about a parent’s hopes and desires for the future, and what that might look like. These Tips for Talking to Aging Parents About Senior Living Choices can help you prepare.
- Concerns about money: There are many misconceptions about the costs of senior living. Some people think it’s a retirement option they just can’t afford. In reality, housing options are available for every income level. At PSL, for example, we offer affordable senior housing across the state of Pennsylvania, as well as a variety of rental options in each of the states we serve. Don’t let myths about senior living keep you from exploring your choices.
- Overwhelm at the thought of downsizing: When a senior has lived in their house for many years, the prospect of cleaning it out and preparing it to sell can be daunting. This is especially true for adult children who are busy with their own family and career. Fortunately, there are a variety of resources you can turn to for help with the process. You might find this Designing for Downsizing Checklist But if you prefer to hire outside help, a group of professionals known as senior move managers can assist with all the details, ranging from cleaning and sorting belongings to hiring a moving company and setting up the new place. Use your zip code to search for a moving professional near you.
One final piece of advice to overcome your worries about moving is to contact a PSL community near you. One of our experienced team members will be happy to sit down with you to answer questions and help you create a plan for moving forward!