For decades this has been a challenge which has faced so many of those approaching or reaching retirement age, with some or all of these thoughts flooding into your heads:
? When is the right time or age to commit
? Why sell the family home and downsize when we’re
still fit and mobile
? Can we even afford to move
? Why even consider moving into a community of
“golden oldies”!
? When we give up our
independence surely we’ll start ageing overnight
? Won’t we be bored, boring
and end up just being grumpy
? What will I do, if I find
myself on my own
? Why not just carry on here
in our home, until we’re forced to make a final move
The truth is that no one knows what the future holds, even more so as we get older. Our health can quickly deteriorate, we can lose a spouse prematurely, our ability or desire to continue in the traditional family home can alter, close family emigrate and friends move away, we no longer have the desire or ability to do housekeeping or maintenance, or we just feel that the time is right to move into a safe, secure, user-friendly, supportive community of folk who are in some similar circumstances.
It is both wise and responsible to at least put into place plans for your “retirement” future, and not just financial planning; putting your name on a Waiting List is probably one of the wisest and cheapest “insurance policy” investments you can make. When you need or wish to make the move to a “retirement village” environment, you’re in the queue, or possibly at the front of it. Sadly, the need to move into a Frail Care facility is not only dictated by advanced age; mental or physical frailty can as easily visit in one’s 60’s as in one’s 80’s. We just don’t know.
It is said that the French generally subscribe to three stages of life’s journey:
1. The stage of Learning (childhood, adolescence, education)
2. The stage of Labour (stressful working years, building one’s life/family/career)
3. The stage of Living (retirement, reduced stress, focusing on self and others)
MHA is dedicated to providing products, services and environments aimed at enhancing the “Living” stage of life, surely God’s most precious gift to us.