by: Tiffany Affolter, UCH Management, Director of Business Development
We used to call it downsizing, but it truly is rightsizing your life to fit the next chapter. When is the right time to rightsize? That’s a question many people over the age of 45 begin to consider—often because our children have moved out, and we’re approaching a completely new stage of life.
We start looking around and asking ourselves, Do I really need this much space? What am I going to do with all my time once the kids are gone or the finish line to working 9–5 is in sight? What happens to my health benefits if I retire? Am I going to work into my seventies—and do I want to?
Whether we’re thinking about working more, traveling more, or spending more quality time with family, all these factors begin to take shape as we reach a certain age. And one thing is certain: we all accumulate a lot of “stuff” over our lifetime. That stuff can become an obstacle—keeping us bogged down, holding us back from looking toward the future with a positive mindset. It becomes easy to say, I can’t take that trip because I have too much to do, or There’s so much to do—I just don’t have time, and then put it off another day.
At United Church Homes, we have an answer that can help you jump-start your next phase—and actually get excited about it.
It’s time to let go, embrace aging, and look forward to what’s ahead. You now have the freedom to do all the things you’ve been putting off due to obstacles, and one thing we do at United Church Homes is offer a variety of service lines and support programs to help make that first step simple.
If you are early in the process of thinking about these questions, The Center for Abundant Aging offers the NEXT Steps on-line course as you ease away from full-time employment. Rooted in the belief that life after full-time employment can be the most meaningful chapter yet, NEXT steps explores the deeper, non-financial dimensions of retirement in a practical framework for personal reflection and discernment. You can find more information here.
If you have already been contemplating making a move, consider our newest offering: Middle Market Senior Living. This option is designed for individuals beginning to consider what their next chapter will look like—how much space they truly need, what lifestyle they want to pursue, and where they want to live. It’s a place where everything is at your fingertips: transportation, meals, concierge services, and social engagement, all without leaving the community. You’ll also have access to a team of care specialists whenever questions or needs arise.
Our service support programs guide aging adults through the various stages of life and provide a clear navigation plan to finally tackle all the “things” that have been put off until now. One of the most challenging areas as we age is healthcare. Your health—and your spouse’s health—becomes a priority whether you choose it or not. Medicare and service support have grown increasingly complicated over the past decade. What was once a simple choice between Medicare and Medicaid has expanded into an alphabet of options that seem to change daily. How can anyone keep up?
That’s where our NaviGuide program comes in. NaviGuide provides a dedicated care coordinator—your personal concierge—who specializes in the services and support needed for your specific situation. They evaluate your individual needs and offer the best options to help you stay healthy, active, and in the most appropriate setting. They can identify programs to support new diagnoses and help you understand the choices available to you and your family. Their goal is to understand your vision for this new chapter of life and help you achieve it.
Below is a testimonial showing how one of United Church Homes’ NaviGuides assisted a client through this support process.
Dr. Reed’s story is just one example of how NaviGuide can support someone through life’s most challenging moments. It allowed her family to be truly present with her instead of trying to juggle the roles of caregiver and care coordinator.
At United Church Homes, our vision inspires new ways of thinking and talking about aging. We want to celebrate older adults and help them feel excited about their next chapter in life. We believe that service lines like our Middle Market communities, along with service support programs like NaviGuide, can help make that possible for all.
