Many older adults have decades of memories connected to a family house in Amarillo. They may have raised their children there, hosted holidays, retired with their spouse, and built a life in the community. Selling a house as a senior in Amarillo involves many emotional and financial decisions, and many would prefer to keep things the way they are.
However, downsizing a house may provide a necessary change to help seniors manage changing mobility needs, and assisted living communities can help with personal care tasks in a maintenance-free setting. At Pegasus Landing of Town Square, the assisted living and memory care teams help residents and their families plan for long-term care, which can include downsizing a house in Amarillo, TX. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how to weigh the benefits and costs of selling the house and when to move to assisted living.
The Costs of Aging in Place as a Senior in Amarillo
According to the Pew Research Center, 60% of older adults would prefer to age in their home even after they need a caregiver, while just 18% report that they would prefer to move to assisted living. However, aging in place can be more costly than living in a residential community once all the separate expenses are added together.
For example, though many seniors live in paid-off houses, a mortgage is not the only cost of homeownership. They also pay for property taxes, insurance, utilities, lawn care services, and repairs. If their mobility needs have changed, they may need to renovate the home with grab bars, ramps, new floors, and more so they can remain in the house.
Most families take on these projects in stages, which can take hours of planning and cost thousands or tens of thousands in renovations. And once in-home care becomes needed, the monthly costs of aging in place can quickly become unsustainable.
According to CareScout, in-home care in Texas averages $5,720 per month for non-medical care and $390 per hour for a private duty nurse. For seniors who need regular help with personal care tasks like grooming, eating, walking, dressing, and toileting, regular in-home care can be far more expensive than assisted living.
When Downsizing Becomes the Better Option
Aging in place comes with its own benefits, including feelings of familiarity and freedom. Families shouldn’t underestimate the value of these emotions, which can help seniors feel less lonely and more independent. Assisted living isn’t the answer in every situation, but families need a way to tell when the time is right.
To make the right decision, families can first ask important questions about their loved one’s abilities and needs, including:
- Can they live on their own or with occasional help from family members?
- Can they prepare healthy meals for themselves each day?
- Can they manage their medications on their own?
- Are they still comfortable driving to appointments and errands?
- Is their personal care and hygiene still okay?
- Can they keep up with house bills and banking?
- Has the yard become too much for them?
- Do they seem lonely or depressed?
- Can they move freely around the house?
These are basic observations that can help families start conversations about their loved one’s needs. Depending on the answers, something may need to change, but none of these questions make downsizing to assisted living “required” if another solution is available.
For example, if the yard has become too much to handle, private yard care services can handle the difficult tasks. If mobility changes, simple home renovations like anti-slip mats and grab bars can help. However, families should watch for signs of recent falls, medication mismanagement, feelings of isolation, and money issues to determine when the time is right to make a bigger change.
Assisted Living Communities Can Help
Downsizing in Amarillo, TX, or moving to a senior living community can take a lot of pressure off a senior’s everyday schedule. For some seniors, a living situation with a smaller yard and fewer stairs could be all they need to live comfortably and maintain their independence. However, many remain in the family home until personal care becomes necessary, which can be costly and difficult to manage without a live-in family caregiver.
Assisted living communities offer a setting that bundles the costs of dining, house repairs and maintenance, yard care, personal care, and more into one rate. This makes the month more financially transparent and gives residents room to plan for their long-term care as things change. Assisted living care teams personalize daily assistance for each resident to preserve as much independence as possible while providing the care they need.
Frequently Asked Questions
The right time depends on physical needs, finances, and abilities. If families notice recurring falls, piles of unopened mail, mismanaged medications, a disheveled appearance, or feelings of isolation, a change may become needed.
Many move into assisted living or a senior living community, downsize to a smaller home, or relocate closer to family. The right decision depends on the independence they can still handle, their financial situation, and their preferences.
Aging in place involves many separate bills for house care, maintenance, dining, personal care, and more, while assisted living bundles most expenses into one personalized rate. Which one is cheaper depends on the situation, but assisted living is more streamlined.
Downsizing can remove mobility obstacles and help families organize belongings, which have often built up over decades. Whether it’s the right move depends on how independent your loved ones can still be and what their plans are for their future care.
Selling a House as a Senior in Amarillo
Working through a lifetime of belongings can be difficult, but having the conversation early can make everything easier. Families can approach the process gradually, coordinate the closing with the move-in date of the assisted living community, and find experienced help in the community. The team at Pegasus Landing of Town Square helps families weigh the costs and benefits of staying in the family house, downsizing, or moving to assisted living.
Talk Through Your Options Today
Choosing the next steps for a senior loved one’s care should be a family decision, made with confidence and clarity. Schedule a personalized visit to Pegasus Landing of Town Square, so our care team can help your family weigh the costs and benefits of downsizing and learn more about assisted living in Amarillo, TX.