With roughly 10% of the country’s 2,000 retirement communities located within its borders, Pennsylvania is the #1 destination for older adults researching continuing care. (Continuing care is the technical term for Senior Living that incorporates supportive services or higher levels of care, if ever needed. Retirement communities featuring continuing care are often labeled CCRCs, and occasionally are called Life Plan Communities.)
The average age for moving into independent or residential living in a community like Cross Keys Village is one’s mid-70s, with a 2-year difference between men and slightly younger women. This average hasn’t moved in recent years, but trends are developing. A noticeable increase in younger new villagers, still working in their 60s, who are attracted by the wellness and education programs, is almost matched by an increase in older new villagers, who come to us in their vigorous mid to late 80s.
How old do you have to be, then? All CCRCs have a minimum age, which ranges from 55 and up. At Cross Keys Village, the first occupant in a residence must be at least 62, while a second occupant can be as young as 55. Some communities impose a financial “youth premium” for new residents below 60. That is not the case at CKV.
A financially secure retirement community is able to maintain a high census: it stays full or near-full at all times. Potential new residents are offered a newly vacant apartment or cottage (or a newly built residence) according to their existing position on a wait list. Consequently, you cannot count on a “last minute” opening in a healthy Senior Living community. Among the 50 new households that we welcomed at Cross Keys Village between July 2022 and June 2023, the average time elapsed between their first phone call or email to CKV and their move-in date was 46 months. Of the 50, only 3 households moved to CKV less than a year after their first contact with us. That is why you shouldn’t “wait until something happens” to consider moving to a Senior Living community in order to maintain your independence. We are often asked: “How long is the wait list?” There is no easy answer to this question since no one is compelled to accept an apartment or a cottage when we call them with an offer. Once you have matured to the top of the list, you can delay the decision to move indefinitely. However, the typical time spent on the wait list is 2 to 3 years, depending on the type of residence you prefer. When new construction is planned, it can be the quickest way to join a community. That was the case at CKV with our Hearthside flats, and that will likely be the case with our Bridgewater Landing expansion in 2025-26.
Moving into a Senior Living setting is not an easy decision to make. As we wrote elsewhere, it “presupposes an awareness that late middle-age – a chapter in life that is smooth and enjoyable to many – is coming to an end.” Leaving a house that is full of memories is emotionally draining, and one could regard moving to a senior living community altogether as a loss. That would be a major misconception. Again and again, we see brand-new villagers regain energy and zest after unpacking their boxes. Opportunities to be active and socialize, and an overall sense of community contribute to a general self-renewal, regardless of whether you are outgoing or more reserved. “I should have come sooner” isn’t a cliché tag line from our sales department. It’s something we hear almost every day.
Financially there could be advantages to refrain from postponing a move. If your existing house needs an unexpected major repair such as a new furnace or a new roof as you slowly decide to move, that extra year or two you waited could have a financially significant impact.
Now, let’s get real, shall we? If you are part of a couple, chances are that you aren’t both approaching or experiencing aging exactly the same way. The difference can be an age difference, a medical health difference, a difference in the way you adapt to new technologies, or even a difference in your comfort level in social situations… or any combination of the above. One of you – or both – may have taken on light to moderate caregiving responsibilities for the other, possibly compensating for a spouse’s failing eyesight or hearing loss.
A degree of loving interdependence in a couple is natural, and it is a cherished element of a long marriage. For many villagers, living in a retirement community adds a safety net, a welcome feeling of security for married older adults who are concerned about their spouse’s long-term security and well-being. This is another serious reason to start considering a move without delay.
“You aren’t ready for a home!” That’s what your friends and your children will say when you tell them you are visiting Cross Keys Village as part of your research into Senior Living. And they are absolutely right. While our inviting Residential Living apartments and cottages are only a few hundred yards away from the Skilled Nursing Center, proximity doesn’t mean likelihood. Actually, the reverse is statistically true. Let us show you with an example…
Imagine a nice two-story duplex on a quiet street in a nice part of town. Two great couples in their seventies have lived there since their children went to grade school together. As it happens, George and Gladys are moving to a retirement community next week. However, Marvin and Martha have decided they will never move. Fast forward 12 or 15 years. George and Gladys are comfortable in their apartment. Gladys stayed short-term in the Health Care Center twice, after two surgeries, but she is back home. She doesn’t cook much anymore but the restaurants downstairs are lovely and affordable. George is still athletic, exercises every week, and stays engaged with his friends in the Model Railroad Group. Back in town, Marvin and Martha are struggling. Marvin cannot climb the stairs and spends most nights in a none-too-clean recliner. He is also getting forgetful on occasions and Martha worries when she leaves him alone, rarely, to go play bridge with friends. Their house shows signs of deferred maintenance and they lose sleep over upcoming repairs and bills. Except for their children now and then, they don’t see anyone much, and their nutrition isn’t the best.
Of course, this is a made-up story. But you can see how moving to Residential Living at CKV or another great CCRC might actually make you less likely to be “ready for a home,” even if you pass by “the home” twice on your daily walk with the sunrise walking group coordinated by the Wellness team.
As you mull over whether or not to consider moving to a retirement community, our final recommendation is to talk with people your age who have already made the move. Let us explain why. People who call us for the first time tend to have two main things on their minds: housing and future care. They understand the benefits of a Senior Living setting as a combination of real estate and senior care. Even after they sit down with our retirement counselors, they don’t always grasp the value of the third component: the social and programming element (wellness, lifelong learning, creative arts, dining, etc.).
The “Social Element” should be an important motivator for you to consider a move to a retirement community. That is why we urge you to make a list of tough questions to ask your friends who are already living in a CCRC setting. Or you may request a Cross Keys Village Ambassador Tour, a popular formula allowing you to visit our common spaces with existing villagers while hearing their unfiltered experience before and after their move.
In conclusion, there is no best age to consider a move to a retirement community. As long as your life in your house is safe, reasonably entertaining, and with a reliable support plan in place to manage the unexpected, there is no rush to move. However, if you wait until your situation starts “wobbling” to research Senior Living options, you are likely to time yourself out of the fulfilling lifestyle you would experience in a retirement community such as Cross Keys Village.