A good Retirement Village is like a resort. Move into one while you are still young enough, and enjoy what they have to offer: meals, golf, bowls, swimming pool, outings, events, etc. Then, as your needs grow, you are already in the right place to receive further support and services, and you won’t have to go through the trauma of having to relocate when you are least able to deal with it.
If you stay at home though, and things are starting to become difficult, don’t stick your head in the sand and hope you will be there forever. If at some point you simply have no choice but to move into an Aged Care facility, and you leave it to the last minute, you will likely be very unhappy with where you end up - waiting lists are long, most Australian facilities are full! So PLAN NOW. While you are still able, do the research and find the facilities that might suit you, visit them, and have a list ready if ever needed. Then you will know where you are going, should the need arise.
So when do you decide it’s time? This is a very difficult question, nobody wants to answer it, we all want to stay in our homes. We want to keep things as they have always been, cook our own food, go about our day on our own timetable, remain in control of our own destiny.
Look for the triggers that hint you are in trouble. Different for everyone, of course, but typical examples are:
- You have a nasty fall or two
- You leave the stove on once too often and nearly burn the place down
- You take the wrong pills, perhaps due to poor eyesight or memory
- Your are spending more time in hospital than at home
- You can hardly leave the house on your own steam
- Your spouse or carer is clearly stressed and unhappy
But most importantly, the daily routine, or parts of it, have become a nightmare.
When some of those triggers are occurring, and when you are waking up each day feeling horribly stressed about how you are going to cope, it is time to ask yourself: Why do you keep doing that to yourself? Move into the (terrific, local wonderful) place you chose when you did your research, and let them look after you. Would you enjoy...
a) having a bunch of friends to talk to every day?
b) help on hand to assist with the daily routine and medical care?
At some point, your need for the help will outweigh the attraction of home. Move in, and let them take care of you.