Independent Senior Retirement Living in Metro Vancouver

You have likely heard the term “independent living” before, but do you know what it really means? Chances are, it’s a whole lot different than what you might be thinking.

Independent living is a type of living arrangement designed for seniors who are independent and active. There are many misconceptions about independent living, but the truth is that many seniors who move into independent living communities don’t actually need assistance with daily activities. They are simply looking to socialize, meet new people and enjoy their senior years in style.

There are many wonderful benefits to independent living communities. We’ve highlighted some of the top benefits of choosing an independent living community instead of staying in your home.

More fun, less work

One of the great things about independent living communities is that they give seniors the privacy and comfort of having their own space, without all the worries they might experience as homeowners.

With independent living, residents don’t have the responsibility of routine maintenance like they would if they were living in a house or condo building. Instead, maintenance and repairs are covered by regular rent or maintenance fees. This also means that residents no longer have to worry about mowing the lawn, fixing broken fixtures, shoveling snow, or any other of the many things that need tend to pop up when you own a home.

This gives people a newfound sense of freedom. It gives them back their time, so they can spend it doing the things they love instead of worrying about dealing with the less fun aspects of homeownership.

Built in entertainment and social activities

Living on your own can get a bit lonely, especially if you don’t have friends and family living close by. This is a challenge for many seniors, especially if they live in an area where it’s not easy to get around on foot or by transit.

At a retirement senior living community, residents don’t have to go very far to find some fun. Independent living communities typically have pretty packed social calendars, with something always happening. There’s something for everyone, from music and dancing to cocktail hours and craft time.

Even outside of the planned social events and resident-run clubs, there are plenty of opportunities to have fun and be social. At Bria Communities, meals are served in a group setting, which encourages residents to get to know each other. Our communities are also designed with large, open social spaces to make it easy to see what’s going on. The idea behind this is that if a resident sees something fun going on across the room, they’ll be more inclined to wander over and join in! We also encourage friends and family members to join in and get to know the other residents while they have fun and spend time with their loved ones.

Easy to manage finances

At many independent living communities, rent is all inclusive. This makes things much easier for residents, since they don’t have to keep track of several bills for things like utilities. Better yet, meals are included in their rent, which means not having to cook, wash a ton of dishes, or undertake a big grocery shopping expedition every week.

Many seniors like the simplicity of all inclusive rent, since it lets them relax without having to manage all their bills each month. It’s a nice break after years of having to balance household budgets and is comforting for many people to know that everything is included in one payment.

Endless opportunities to be active

While some people just have the drive to be active throughout their lives, for many it’s something that becomes less of a priority as they get older. However, it’s important for us to stay active at every age, especially for seniors. One of the added benefits of seniors communities is that they have tons of recreation programs available for residents. Group activities are especially good for seniors, since making exercise more of a social experience is often a great way to get people motivated to exercise.

At Bria Communities, we understand how important it is for residents to stay active. We offer a variety of exercise classes for all activity levels and encourage everyone to join in. Many residents choose to exercise on their own as well, taking advantage of the equipment in the fitness centres or just getting out for a walk in the neighbourhood.

Support is there when you need it

Independent living communities are not the same assisted living, as they do not over the same level of care. With independent living, seniors get the freedom of living on their own and taking care of themselves, while also having the comfort of knowing that additional support is there if they need it.

Children and other family members like the peace of mind they get from knowing that if something should happen to their loved one, they will be able to get assistance quickly. It’s nice knowing that there is always someone there at any time of the day.

At Bria Communities, we want residents to be happy, healthy, and have fun! If you’re curious about independent living, we invite you to join us on a tour of our remarkable communities. We can’t wait to show you around!