Every stage of life has its unique living space needs.
As a kid, you shared a room with a sibling.
As a young adult, you had a private bedroom in a shared apartment.
Once you’re married with kids, you need a house with rooms for cribs and sectional furniture and family-size dining tables, basements for toys, yards for swing sets, and driveways for basketball hoops (and eventually, teenagers’ cars).
Now that you’re older and the kids have grown up and moved out, how much space do you really need? Maybe it’s time to consider a senior apartment that offers a more rightsized floor plan for this stage of your life.
If you’re moving from a large single-family home into an independent living community with senior apartments, your choices may include studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Picking the apartment size that works best for you will most likely require downsizing first, and that takes time. But once you find the senior apartment that’s the right fit for you, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make your move sooner.
Here’s a good guide with frequently asked questions to help you decide what size senior apartment to choose. We’re focusing here on one-bedrooms at independent living senior living communities — and you may be surprised to discover a one-bedroom apartment offers you everything you need and want.
How much space is enough space?
First things first: Look at the square footage. Once you know your one-bedroom apartment’s square footage, you’ll know what will fit and what won’t. You may no longer need large, bulky furniture like china cabinets, family-size dining tables and sectional sofas. Those are the items you’ll want to sell or give away right off the bat.
From there, consider what items you’ll really use: furniture for one small bedroom, a small kitchen table, a couch and chairs, and a coffee table. Some communities offer small storage units for items like holiday decorations or bicycles. But don’t hold on to lawn implements or a garage full of tools to repair things inside your apartment. Most senior living communities also provide all interior and exterior maintenance as part of your monthly service fee.
Do you need a large living room?
You’ll certainly want your own private bedroom and bathroom, and all independent living communities offer private apartments. Beyond that, think about what additional private living space you want in your one-bedroom apartment. If you plan to entertain often in your residence, look for an open floor plan where the dining and living room are one large space.
However, extra square footage at a retirement community also means a higher entrance fee and monthly service fee. So look for a senior living community’s common spaces, which you can typically use for free as part of your monthly service fee. Many retirement communities may offer dedicated card and game rooms, a bar or bistro where you can watch sporting events, and sitting areas with comfortable couches to visit with family.
Do you need a large kitchen?
Again consider how you may use your one-bedroom apartment. If you plan to do a lot of meal preparation and want to cook your own meals, you may want a large kitchen. If you plan to bring with you lots of cooking equipment, such as large mixers, blenders, toaster ovens and other countertop-hogging appliances, a small kitchen may not suit you.
Or, maybe you’d like to give up stocking the fridge with healthy foods, making meals and cleaning up the dishes. If so, having a small kitchen at an independent living community would be perfect for you. That’s because retirement communities usually offer amenities like complimentary continental breakfast, a flexible dining program, multiple dining venues, and gourmet menus prepared by award-winning chefs in partnership with a long-tenured dining staff. No cooking, no doing the dishes, no making grocery runs for extra pasta sauce. All you need to think about is what to order off the menu.
Do you need extra rooms?
You might have a hobby space in your home now — for woodworking, scrapbooking, or arts and crafts. Or you have a large garden area for flowers and vegetables.
You don’t need to set aside space in your one-bedroom apartment for your table saw, stacks of canvases and easel. Look for an independent living community that offers these dedicated common spaces. Most will have woodworking shops, creative arts studios, gardens, billiard rooms, libraries, and other similar spaces for your hobbies.
Maybe it’s time to look at Friendship Village.
If you’ve asked yourself these types of questions we’ve posed, and you’re interested in the possibility of a one-bedroom lifestyle, maybe it’s time to visit Friendship Village Sunset Hills, Friendship Village Chesterfield, or both.
Scheduling your personal tour is the best way to get a feel for what your life could be like when you become a resident. It’s easy to do — just contact us you set up your personal visit.