Everyone knows that it’s best to plan ahead for your retirement to ensure a comfortable life in your later years. Unfortunately, doing so is definitely easier said than done. It can be a logistically and emotionally overwhelming process to turn your retirement dreams into reality, having to sort out your wants from your needs, and sticking to your plans. However, it’s an extremely necessary part of adulthood, because there’s nothing more terrifying than trekking on without any retirement plans and spending your precious resources with reckless abandon. Thankfully, by following this guide on planning your retirement in assisted living in Westchase, FL, you can enjoy a stress-free, well-organized retirement lifestyle!
Create a Retirement Budget
Budgeting, while not the most part of retirement, is a necessary part of preparing for retirement. Any savvy older adult understands the ins and outs of budgeting to ensure themselves an indulgent and more importantly, comfortable retirement lifestyle in their golden years. The amount of money you need to save for your retirement in an assisted living community is dependent on a variety of different factors, such as the cost of assisted living in your area, the age you plan to retire, and much more.
Experts usually suggest saving about twelve years of your annual income pre-retirement before retiring, which should give you an ample amount of money to safely retire with. You may need more or less depending on the lifestyle you envision for yourself as a retiree, for example, if you enjoy jet-setting and the finer things in life. Furthermore, you should also look into your other sources of income and how to handle them, such as any investments and retirement accounts you have.
Research, Research, Research!
No two assisted living communities are exactly alike. Hence, it’s always important to do your homework before throwing yourself into the first assisted living community you see. It’s best to start your search early before you’re forced to make a hasty decision due to a health crisis or another emergency. The assisted living neighborhood you choose to move in will become the environment you spend a large majority of your time in as a retiree, so you should make an informed decision.
Don’t hesitate to tour around! Most retirement communities provide opportunities for guided tours, which can be an insightful experience that tells you what life is like in that specific community. During these tours, you can ask the caregiver team members more about the community, and make sure that the place can fulfill your unique set of needs. We also suggest you bring a loved one for the experience and make them part of the process.
Enjoy Your New Retirement Life!
Congratulations, you’re now one step closer to becoming a savvy and successful retiree! Retirement life, when planned properly, can be the most exciting stage of your life. We recommend that assisted living residents be participative and active to get the most out of their experience living in a retirement community.
Interested in retirement living for either yourself or a loved one? We urge you to check out our retirement community’s Assisted Living program!
