When it comes to individuals who are retired in Texas, if there is one thing true about their forays into senior living it is that they want to maintain as much independence as possible. In many instances they mistake independence with being able to continue living in the home that they have always occupied. However, as most homeowners can tell you, being tied to a home is not the most conducive to the independent lifestyle. More and more seniors are finding that they enjoy the levels of activity, community, and yes, even independence that they find when they move into a retirement community
For many elderly in Texas, senior living is enhanced by the idea that they are still able to make choices. When they say that they want to be independent, what they are really saying is that they want to be empowered to make choices about their lives. They want to be able to make the big choices: will I sell that stock this week or hold on to it and see what happens? And, they want to be able to make the small choices: will I cook in my apartment today or will I go down to the dining room for lunch? Texas seniors, like most seniors across the nation, simply want to make their own decisions when it comes to daily living and to the things that will impact their lives in the future.
And, because the future can be such an unknown variable for many in their senior years, most want the assurance that they will be well cared for as they advance in age. If they are given a choice about their living arrangements, most will say that they want to be able to care for themselves as long as they are able and to then have the help that is needed, but not more than what is needed, if a time comes when there are some things that they can no longer do on their own.
If you have a loved one in Texas who is considering making the transition to a senior living facility, it can be helpful for everyone involved to remember that none of us likes being told what to do. Children resist it, adults complain about it, and seniors do not like it either. As human beings, we are particular resistant to the idea of being told that we must do something when it comes to where we live, what freedoms we will be allowed to enjoy, or how much independence we might have. When everyone can remember that when it comes to decisions about senior living and when seniors feel as though they’ve had a choice in the matter, the transition will be easier for all involved.
