Everything You Need to Know about Moving into an Adult Community (Part 1)

Congratulations! Moving into an active adult community is an exciting step into what will hopefully be a relaxing, enjoyable and fulfilling chapter in your life. Although you may be leaving behind a home where many memories were made, you are about to embark on a new adventure that is free from the traditional burdens of home ownership.

In addition to offering a variety of easily accessible amenities, adult communities provide an unparalleled opportunity to be part of a community of people who are at the same stage of life and can enjoy all of the same benefits. If you’re considering making a move like this, you’ll quickly be able to see all of the benefits and challenges that come with moving into an active adult community.

All Jersey Moving and Storage has earned a reputation as one of New Jersey’s first choice movers with expertise in residential moving to adult communities. Our team is dedicated to helping make this process as seamless and stress-free as possible so that you can begin enjoying this new and exciting chapter.

Because we’ve helped so many retirees move into adult communities, we’ve learned a lot about all the considerations that go into making the decision to move. Below are some of the benefits you can look forward to when you make an adult community your new home. We have also outlined some of the challenges you may face so that you can prepare yourself and reduce their impact on your exciting new transition.

BENEFITS OF MOVING INTO AN ADULT COMMUNITY

It truly is active living.

One of the most attractive benefits of moving into an adult community is that they are designed to empower you to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle as you approach retirement or once you have already retired. Most adult communities offer the use of fitness centers, recreation rooms, exercise classes and other planned activities that enable you to stay active and healthy for as long as possible. Adult communities often offer:

• Picnics and barbecues
• Holiday events
• Cooking, yoga and Pilates classes
• Shuffleboard and other outdoor games
• Trips
• Handicap-accessible and walkable landscapes

Staying “active” means that you’ll have the option to immerse yourself in activities that will engage you both physically and mentally. One of the most enjoyable benefits of moving into an adult community is the opportunities for social interaction. Members of adult communities appreciate the built-in opportunities to make new friends and enjoy activities with other people.

Some of the of activities offered in adult communities include:

• Bible studies
• On-site library
• Card games
• Game clubs
• Bingo
• Writing classes
• Special interest programs
• Family gatherings
• Charity work and service projects
• Movie nights
• Coffee meet and greets
• Walking clubs

Just because a community promotes “staying active” doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be doing strenuous physical exercise every day. All it means is that there will be plenty of opportunities to engage in enjoyable physical activities that allow you to maintain a healthy body and mind. 

In addition to being incredibly physically strenuous and exhausting, moving to a new home without the support of experienced movers can result in debilitating injuries. Hiring reputable, professional movers like All Jersey Moving and Storage to help you execute your move will help minimize the risk of moving-related back, knee, and neck injuries so you will be able to enjoy all the activities that your adult community has to offer.

There are health benefits.

When you make the decision to move to an adult community with a focus on staying active and social, you can expect to enjoy a variety of health benefits. These may include:

• Reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems
• Reducing the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis
• Increasing mental and physical longevity
• Boosting one’s immune system
• Promoting healthy eating and exercising habits
• Reducing the risk of stroke
• Reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
• Lowering blood pressure
• Reducing the likelihood of mental health issues such as loneliness and depression

There’s a warm sense of community.

One tier of Maslow’s Hierarchy of human needs, a diagram that assesses the most basic needs and desires of human existence, is “love and belonging.” It’s actually the third pillar, right after such basic human needs as water, food, sleep, and safety. 
The social atmosphere, sense of belonging and camaraderie that you’ll find in an adult living community are likely far greater than in a typical residential neighborhood. The sense of community commonly felt among the residents can have a tremendous influence on their overall well-being and quality of life. Members of active adult communities regularly get to know their neighbors well, develop meaningful friendships and enjoy a general sense of camaraderie.

A sense of community is built through connections with staff workers, administrators, residents, and their families. Daily, weekly, monthly and special activities encourage authentic relationship building. Often, activities are centered around shared areas of interest such as religion, music, food, hobbies, crafts, nature and games. Gatherings, field trips, and communal meals and events encourage residents to get to know each other on a deeper level and help establish a sense of belonging. Finally, many adult communities participate in community and volunteer projects that naturally bring residents together to accomplish a common goal, developing a sense of camaraderie and brotherhood.

They offer safety and security.

One of the greatest gifts you can enjoy at any stage of life is peace of mind. Knowing that you’re living a safe, secure environment helps ensure that peace of mind. Often, one of the benefits of living in an adult community is greater security, from entrances monitored by security staff to advanced security systems that protect the safety of the belongings you store in your private living quarters. Other safety and security features may include:

• Well-lit parking lots, sidewalks, streets, walkways, and other common areas
• Fire alarms, smoke detectors, and CO2 detectors all inspected and regularly maintained
• Emergency evacuation maps posted throughout the premises
• Illuminated or clearly marked emergency exits.

Complete maintenance free living

One of the joys of living in an adult community is that it's completely maintenance-free. One of the most difficult aspects of home ownership is that it comes with a variety of maintenance responsibilities. Moving into an adult community means handing over many of these time-consuming, labor-intensive and tedious responsibilities so you can spend more time doing the things you love. Beyond just snow and trash removal services, other maintenance services you’ll no longer have to worry about include:

• Complete landscaping such as mowing, bush trimming, spreading mulch and edging lawns
• Shoveling snow off sidewalks and driveways
• Changing hard-to-reach light bulbs
• Organizing repairs on large appliances, heating and cooling systems, roofing, downspouts, and other outdoor fixtures.

While most people who move into adult communities don’t need much if any assistance with day to day tasks, they may still benefit from having certain daily needs met by staff in their community. Many adult communities offer assistance with errands, housekeeping, meal preparation, and even pet care

Does the idea of reducing the responsibilities on your plate appeal to you? If your answer is “yes”, consider All Jersey Moving and Storage when you’re searching for a professional moving company to help execute your move to an adult community. In addition to providing exceptional service you can count on, we offer a variety of additional services from secure containerized storage to packing and unpacking. By allocating these responsibilities to your movers, all you have to do is arrive at your new community and start enjoying the amenities it has to offer.

There’s a home option to accommodate every need.

Most of the homes situated in an adult community are designed with the unique needs and preferences of more mature residents in mind. Therefore, you can expect easily accessible rooms, options for a single level or two level home, wide doorways, and secure railings.

Many communities have homes for singles and couples that accommodate a variety of budgets. Residents can typically choose from duplexes, townhomes, condominiums, smaller one to two bedroom homes and larger single level homes with two-car garages.

Often, these homes are energy efficient, have high ceilings and open floor plans, and are designed with features that help to ensure resident safety, thereby reducing the risk of preventable falls.

Conveniently located near everything you need.

Moving to a location with convenient access to local spots is ideal in choosing the right adult community. This is especially important if you want to have the option to walk or take public transportation rather than drive. Most adult communities are conveniently located near:

• Shopping malls, restaurants, and theaters
• Hospitals or other medical offices
• Places of worship
• Grocery stores and other retail outlets
• Community facilities such as parks and recreational area

COMMON CHALLENGES OF MOVING INTO AN ADULT COMMUNITY

Change isn’t easy -- and emotions often run high!

Let’s face it - one of the hardest parts about getting older is accepting that we’re aging! Moving into an adult community requires coming to terms with the fact that you’ve reached a new life stage, and that can be difficult to do.

Leaving behind the comfort of a familiar home and community where many memories were made is never easy. The older we get, the harder it becomes to adapt to change and new routines and environments. One of the best ways to move smoothly through this transition is to focus on the fact that after you’ve settled into your new home and learned the lay of the land, you’ll have the time and freedom to enjoy the many benefits of living in an adult community.

To help create a sense of comfort in your new home and ease the transition, decorate your new living space with keepsakes from your travels and photos of friends and family. This will help you feel “at home” in your new home much more quickly.

The moving process itself.

One of the greatest challenges of moving to an adult community is, quite simply, the moving process! Packing up all your earthly belongings and unpacking them again at your new home can incredibly stressful, both physically and emotionally.

Fortunately, securing an experienced, reliable moving company can help reduce the stress of your move. All Jersey Moving and Storage is New Jersey’s first choice when it comes to moving adults to active communities because of the variety of specialty services we offer. In addition to transporting your belongings with the same care we’d use if they were our own, we offer partial and complete packing and unpacking services so that your move into an adult community can be completely hands-free. We also offer containerized storage services for those who wish to keep certain valuable or sentimental belongings they no longer have a use for or space for in their new home.

When hiring a reputable moving company for your move into an adult community, be sure to book your preferred movers a few months in advance to ensure that they have availability on your desired moving date. As you begin packing for your move, make sure your belongings are secure for transit by reviewing these packing tips. Let All Jersey Moving and Storage take care of the rest so you focus on starting a new chapter in your adult community.

Transitioning.

Regardless of your age or life stage, moving can be stressful for the simple reason that you are leaving a comfortable environment and entering unfamiliar territory. Fortunately, adult communities frequently offer services to help make your transition as easy and seamless as possible, from meet-and-greets and guided tours to classes and communal meals during the holiday season. If your stress about the impending move is weighing you down or paralyzing you, consider speaking to a professional who can help you navigate the process and offer emotional support each step of the way.

Take the stress out of moving to an adult community.

While moving to an adult community comes with a variety of challenges, none are insurmountable. Intuitively, we know that every big life change comes with challenges and it’s 100% normal to feel unsettled while in transition. By focusing on the benefits of moving into an adult community and getting the support you need to navigate the challenges, you will set yourself up for a smoother, more enjoyable move.

One of the greatest moves you can make to ensure a successful transition is hiring a professional residential moving company experienced with moving mature adults to active adult communities. Let All Jersey Moving and Storage, one of New Jersey’s first choice residential movers, handle your move. We’ve helped countless adults relocate to adult communities in the New Jersey area, across the East Coast and beyond. We understand the stresses and demands that accompany this major transition and do everything in our power to make the move as seamless as possible!

Moving into an adult community? Contact us today for a complimentary quote.