Rightsizing Your Retirement: How Much Space Do You Really Need?

How much space do you want? How much space do you need? When considering a move, this second question is often more impactful than the first.

At Erickson Senior Living, we know that people exploring their senior living options have different needs and budgets. Some may prefer a cozy, value-friendly one-bedroom apartment home design, knowing that they'll spend most of their time out and about enjoying community programs and amenities. Others may want a second bedroom to use as a den or craft room.

To this end, Erickson Senior Living communities offer a wide range of one- and two-bedroom floor plan designs. Each apartment home boasts open living spaces, modern kitchens, and the accessibility and convenience of life without stairs.

Time to rightsize

When meeting with prospective residents, the request I hear most often is, "Can we get extra space?" While I understand that desire, I encourage people to consider rightsizing to an apartment home that better fits their current lifestyle.

For example, the guest bedrooms in your current house may be nice to have when out-of-town family members come to visit, but realistically, how often are they occupying those rooms?

In this instance, I suggest our one-bedroom with den layouts over our two-bedroom apartment homes. The spacious den provides the sought-after extra living space - which can be multifunctional - and the savings are tremendous!

For those with their hearts set on two bedrooms, I suggest designs that have one bathroom instead of two. Many people like having a separate "hall bath" for when guests come to visit, but most of the time, it's just another room to clean.

One-level living

Thanks to the one-level living at Erickson Senior Living communities, I've seen Riderwood residents thrive in their apartment homes.

In a typical multilevel house, laundry is located in the basement. In our apartment homes, washers and dryers are tucked discretely in a utility room - with cabinet space - so there is no need to heft laundry baskets up and down the stairs.

Individual rooms scattered across multiple floors create a cramped atmosphere and prevent natural light from flowing through. With large, picturesque windows and open-concept floor plans in each of our apartment homes, residents enjoy bright and airy living areas.

More beyond your door

I also remind prospective residents that each Erickson Senior Living apartment home, in addition to providing a beautiful living space, grants access to a wide range of amenities and services. These amenities include state-of-the-art fitness and aquatic centers, classrooms, libraries, restaurants, woodshops, theaters, and more.

So, while you may be scaling back on personal living space when moving into an apartment home, the amount of common space to share with active, likeminded residents is nearly endless!

To help determine what rightsize apartment home most accurately meets your needs, schedule a meeting with a personal planning and moving consultant at an Erickson Senior Living community near you. By sitting down together, we can discuss your personal tastes, budget considerations, and how to get the most out of your new space.