What To Do When Your Senior Apartment Doesn’t Feel Like Home

Posted on Mar 20, 2018 in Senior Living Apartment

In What’s Inside a Senior Living Apartment you read about many of the standard features and amenities included in retirement apartment homes. The expectation for a comfortable, quality space is high for everyone that transitions into a community living lifestyle. It’s not uncommon to unpack, look around, and think to yourself, “This does not feel like home!” Continue reading to learn about helpful strategies that will help you get settled into your new living space so that you can enjoy the many benefits of retirement community living.

Tip 1. Meet your neighbors.

Separate yourself from your new surroundings and meet some of the people who live in apartments nearby. Instead of being preoccupied with things that are different, or not as you hoped, ask your neighbors what their adjustment period was like. Do they still miss their homes, previous neighbors, and former lifestyles? How long did it take them to get adjusted to smaller living quarters and a new routine? By chatting with other older adults that have experienced the same concerns, you’ll grow to understand that your misgivings are relevant and will likely dissipate over time.

Tip 2. Let go of unrealistic expectations.
You built a lifetime of memories in your old house, and it’s going to take time to create new ones. You likely didn’t bring all of your accumulated keepsakes and material possessions from your last home, and perhaps the new setting feels bare, cold, or minimalist. Consider hanging some family pictures to create a warm and inviting space. Invite loved ones over for a “move-in party” and gather suggestions on how to make your apartment more comfortable, colorful, or decorated. With the help of your friends, you can gain a lot of insight into how to love your new space.

Tip 3. Experiences, not stuff.

Continue with advice 1 and 2, then repeat. You’ll meet more and more people and begin to realize that home is more about the people we love that the stuff we accumulate within senior living communities. Over time, you’ll know some of your neighbors on a first name basis. You’ll be meeting them for coffee, yoga class, and walking groups. Additionally, you’ll be experiencing life in your senior living apartment and will find joy, meaning, and purpose in your new environment. Suddenly, what once seemed like a confined living space now feels like ample room to maintain your most valuable possessions (minus the clutter)!

Next Steps

Are you looking for a premier retirement community to call home but worried you couldn’t afford it? Landmark Senior Living has seven convenient locations with comfortable, modern, and high-quality amenities that you want. With more than thirty years’ experience serving older adults, we understand that leaving your home might feel a bit daunting. See us during a no-hassle tour and see how Landmark Senior Living can make retirement an extraordinary time!