Aviva Directory » People & Daily Life » Lifestyles » Senior Citizens

As we grow older, our children have left, and we have retired from full-time work, it can be assumed that our lifestyles will, at some point, change.

Of course, some seniors will remain on the job longer than others, but age is still likely to change how we live our lives. While one senior's lifestyle might look vastly different from another's, the chances are good that none of us is living as we were when we were thirty years old.

This portion of our web guide focuses on the changing lifestyles of senior citizens, whatever that might look like.

The age at which someone becomes a senior varies, as there is no universally accepted standard. Membership in the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) begins at the age of 50, but Social Security benefits (in the United States) can begin as early as age 62 or as late as age 70, and the full retirement age usually begins at age 66 or 67. In most Western countries, the onset of old age is thought to be at age 60 or 65, which is when most Americans retire. On the other hand, one of my brothers took early retirement in his 40s, after which he began wintering in Florida.

Senior lifestyles can refer to various aspects of living well as a senior adult, including health concerns, exercise, nutrition, social connections, and housing options.

Some seniors, particularly those who own their own homes, might elect to age in place, remaining where they know their neighbors and are familiar with local businesses and medical facilities. Others might opt to downsize, selling homes that are larger than their needs require, in favor of smaller homes with lower utility costs. People who grew up in small towns that they moved away from during their working years might decide to return, living out their last years where they had lived their first.

Less often today than in the past, at least in the United States, some seniors will move in with one of their grown children.

Seniors who live in northern, cold-weather areas, might spend their retirement years wintering in warmer-weather areas. My brother has a home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but after retirement, he bought a small home in Florida, where he and his wife spend the winter months.

Others might buy a motor home and spend their retirement years traveling. It's not unusual for seniors to sell their homes and live in motorhomes year-round. Less common, but not unheard of, some seniors will elect to live in a van or even something smaller. Some of them supplement their Social Security payments through social media channels documenting their lifestyle.

After their children become adults and move away, some seniors will move to a dedicated senior community, most of which are restricted to residents 55 years old or older. Such communities tend to be governed by Home Owner Associations (HOAs), which are quite restrictive, but some people like that. 55+ communities do not allow children or younger people, except as visitors, so residents can enjoy a like-minded social network and a more peaceful neighborhood with features and amenities built for people their age.

Independent living communities might include retirement villages, active adult communities, or senior apartments.

Seniors with medical considerations might find that they are better off in an assisted living facility, many of which have individual apartments for residents along with communal spaces for meals and social activities. Staff may be available to assist with housekeeping, personal hygiene, and medication reminders. Many assisted living communities include a section dedicated to memory care.

Those with greater needs might choose a continuing care retirement community, also known as a life plan community, in which living arrangements are provided on a single campus, allowing seniors to move from independent living, to assisted living, to skilled nursing care, as needed.

There are several other housing choices that seniors might make in their later years, but there are other lifestyle changes that might also come about.

As seniors retire from fulltime work, they might adopt a sedentary lifestyle, or they might fill their lives with hobbies or sports, such as golfing, fishing, hunting, photography, or sightseeing. Some seniors even decide to go back to school, in-person or online.

Many cities have senior citizen centers offering activities, and these places can become a regular part of their daily lives. Seniors might use social media to keep in touch with family, friends, and former co-workers or neighbors, or they might make new friends on online discussion forums designed for seniors.

The lifestyle of a senior citizen can differ greatly from that of a young adult. While they generally have more time to spend on hobbies or other activities, this is often inhibited by limited funds, arthritis, or other medical difficulties.

 

 

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