Making The Right Retirement Decision for You

You've made your decision. It's time to leave the hassles of home upkeep behind and enjoy a vibrant, stress-free lifestyle in a retirement community. 

But something might be holding you back.

Maybe your spouse doesn't see your future the same way, maybe you're wondering whether you can afford it, or perhaps you worry that the move itself will be a chore.

Seeing how others have addressed similar concerns can boost your confidence and reassure you that you're on the right track. Here's how these Erickson Senior Living residents navigated their roadblocks:

Time to do what you enjoy

When Tony and Linda Macone received a brochure about Brooksby Village, an Erickson Senior Living community in Peabody, Mass., Linda was intrigued. She searched YouTube and found many videos about Brooksby, including their amenities and services. She liked what she saw.

But Tony wasn't so sure. "When she told me about it, I told her she was wasting her time," says Tony. "We were happy living in Nahant, Mass. I was still taking care of the house without any problem." But, he admits, "It was getting harder."

Linda was worried. "In my opinion, the house maintenance was getting to be too much for Tony," she says. "Also, the neighborhood changed. People moved away, and the new neighbors weren't as friendly."

The couple decided to schedule a pressure-free tour of the community, which changed Tony's mind. They then signed up for Brooksby's Live the Life program, allowing prospective residents to stay on campus overnight and experience the vibrant, carefree lifestyle firsthand.

"It happened to be snowing that day, and we were at a restaurant looking out the window. The snow was so pretty," recalls Linda. "And then, we saw the grounds staff shoveling it. Tony said, 'You know, I think I might be able to do this.'"

The Macones moved to Brooksby in May 2025 and are enjoying their new lifestyle, free from the worries of home maintenance--or shoveling snow.

Tony now says, regarding his initial doubt, "I wish I'd known about Brooksby sooner!"

Financial accessibility

After experiencing a fall, Carol DeSouza started reevaluating her living arrangements. Suddenly, her condo in a 55-plus community no longer seemed adequate.

"I made a decision that I needed more surrounding me," says Carol. "I wanted services around me, especially medical. I couldn't do it on my own any longer."

With an on-site medical center, continuing care services for future needs, and security trained in emergency response, Carol found everything she was looking for at Linden Ponds, an Erickson Senior Living community in Hingham, Mass. 

But she had one concern--finances. "As a state employee on a pension, I thought there was no way I could afford to live at Linden Ponds," she says. "But I was wrong! My tax advisor explained that living at Linden Ponds was not only obtainable, but that I could continue to enjoy the same--or a better--lifestyle than I did in my condo."

Since moving to Linden Ponds in 2022, Carol has been busier than ever. "There is so much to do here!" she says. "I'm eating with neighbors, meeting friends for coffee, or hopping on a shuttle bus to church. I'm making connections."

Leaving maintenance behind

Colorado native Perry Williamson was ready to put an end to the never-ending headache of home maintenance. "I couldn't keep up with it anymore," he says. "And there were too many stairs in my home."

Perry had friends living at Wind Crest, an Erickson Senior Living community in Highlands Ranch, Colo., so he decided to pay them a visit to learn more.

"Based on their recommendation and what I saw, I moved here in August 2022. It has been a great experience for me," says Perry. "I became a member of the car club and a member of the woodworkers. I love it!" 

While he never had any reservations about making the move, Perry often engages with prospective residents who do, and he is always happy to allay their fears. One of the biggest concerns he hears about is the daunting task of downsizing, but as Perry points out, "It's just a point of life that you need to accept."

Don't let doubt delay your move to a retirement community! It's a decision that many people, like Tony, wish they had made sooner.

Request a brochure to learn more about how you can enjoy a vibrant, carefree lifestyle at an Erickson Senior Living community.