myths about retirement

Much of what you’ve heard about retirement is a myth, which is why we asked three active couples — Robert and Cynthia, Melissa and Laura, and Phil and Ruth — to share the real scoop on retirement life at Beatitudes Campus.

Think you’ll miss your things, you’re too young, or not ready to move, and senior living is too expensive? Think again! These amplified seniors will debunk the three biggest misconceptions about senior living communities and perhaps inspire you to become the superhero of your own retirement story.

Myth #1: I’ll miss my stuff if I move from my house to senior living.

“We put much of our stuff into storage. After five years of paying for storage and only going into that storage once to find a video cable, we donated most of it to the campus thrift store, where all the proceeds benefit residents and our community. We gave the rest to our new friends and placed some around campus.”

— Robert

“Most people move into senior living and find they have brought too much stuff. To me, it’s a relief to have fewer things to deal with. I don’t have as many responsibilities and headaches here.”

— Cynthia

“We had accumulated over 30 years of stuff, so we wanted a patio home with more space and a garage, which we wouldn’t get in an apartment. Downsizing was challenging, especially since we moved during COVID-19 when the community thrift store wasn’t accepting donations. We moved in on a Friday, and by Saturday, we were told there would be a lockdown at noon, which was unexpected since we still had two carloads at our house. Our patio home wasn’t ready, so we had to move into an apartment temporarily and put most of our belongings in storage.

Although it was stressful, moving during that time was the best decision — we would have been so isolated in our old home. We also realized later we should have brought more of our gardening tools since we got so involved in the community garden here. Luckily, there’s a full wood shop onsite, so we can borrow tools whenever we need them!”

— Melissa and Laura

“You can bring your most important ‘stuff’ with you. And you’ll be doing your children a big favor by letting them choose things meaningful to them and getting rid of the rest.”

— Phil and Ruth

Myth #2: I’m too young and not ready to move into a senior living community.

“I was 62 when we came to Beatitudes (Campus), making us some of the youngest residents. Now, five years later, I’m more active and involved than I ever was in my own house. Back then, I hardly knew my neighbors, but here, I know lots of people. I’ve also started playing music again after a 15-year break, and I even get to teach classes through the Beatitudes Center for Lifelong Learners. I have never regretted moving here for a moment.”

— Robert

“We moved in on the younger side for senior living, and I’m so glad we did. Moving is hard work, and getting involved in the community takes energy. But it’s the best way to feel integrated. I’m happier, healthier and more social here than ever.”

— Cynthia

“We first visited Beatitudes (Campus) about 10 years ago while searching for senior living options for my parents, and that’s when we saw the first patio homes being built. We don’t have kids, and we knew we needed to make a plan for ourselves. We ended up moving here sooner than expected because we saw a great opportunity to move into the second phase of patio homes and join a neighborhood of other new residents. When we visited, the welcoming vibe on campus and the friendliness of everyone made us think, ‘Yeah, this is where we want to be.’

Some people think moving to a retirement community means the end, but we’ve made so many new friends and are more social now than we’ve ever been. It’s so easy to meet people, and everyone truly cares for each other. We’re constantly in awe of the people here — lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, world travelers. You don’t realize how many interesting people there are until you’ve settled in.”

— Melissa and Laura

“It’s best to move while you’re still physically able. Moving is never easy, so it’s important to do it while you have the choice. By moving while you’re in good health, you can take part in the many activities offered and make the campus a place where you truly live and become part of the community. Here, you don’t have to worry about isolation, which can significantly impact the health of older adults.”

— Phil and Ruth

Myth #3: I can’t afford senior living.

“When you add up the costs of housekeeping, yard work, home maintenance, electric, gas, cable and phone, it costs us about $500 more per month to live here. But everything is included, and all the work is taken care of. The community provides most of our transportation for free, so we gave up our car and now use Uber and campus transportation.”

— Robert

“When you consider everything included in our fee, it really is a bargain. We don’t have to pay extra for anything — cable, phone, utilities, maintenance or transportation. Plus, I really appreciate the full-time security we have here.”

— Cynthia

“We took advantage of a rate lock special offered after we had moved in. By paying a little extra upfront, our monthly fee stays the same for as long as we live here. The monthly fees here are actually less than what we were paying to maintain our house, where things could always go wrong — from the roof to the AC. Plus, all those little expenses like the electric bill, water bill and pool maintenance really add up.”

— Melissa and Laura

“There are many residence options and price points for senior living at Beatitudes, whether you prefer to rent or buy in. Most include maintenance costs, food, transportation and other expenses in the overall cost, making it easier to manage your budget.”

— Phil and Ruth

Now that these amplified residents have busted myths about retirement and cracked the code on what life’s like at Beatitudes Campus, we hope you’re inspired to plan for retirement early and start living brightly and boldly — today! To learn more, contact us or join us at an event.

Featured image: pics five / Shutterstock