To help them make the most out of their retirement, buying a home for your senior parents can be a good idea. But purchasing one for the elderly isn’t exactly the same as buying for a new, growing family. With their age, there are a couple of things that need to be taken into consideration before closing a house deal.
But buying a home for seniors isn’t as easy as looks. With their growing needs, there are several factors that come into play. Here are some things to consider when purchasing a home for lolo and lola:
Safe and Quiet Neighborhood
Senior citizens will want to relax and have peace of mind in their days post-retirement. This makes a gated subdivision or a provisional town the ideal home for them.
Houses along a busy street or near commercial establishments might not be ideal for them. Imagine your lolo who gets woken up every time a car zooms past the house. It could be your lola who isn’t getting enough sleep due to establishments that do not close until late at night.
Gated subdivisions have the added bonus of safety as these areas are well-protected. On top of that, they can call on the community’s security guards for a quick response in case of an emergency.
Simple Structure
Going up the stairs and traversing several rooms between each other may be fine for now. But due to aging bones and aching joints, senior citizens will soon be unable to do so. Seniors should live in bungalows with simple room structures so that it will still be easy to get around.
Homes should also have as few slippery surfaces as possible to prevent accidental slipping. Doors and windows that they can easily open and close will be an added bonus, to accommodate weak hands. A sizable yard would also be good for senior citizens so that they can walk around for exercise and even engage in some gardening.
Senior Citizen Discounts
While there is no provision under the law that gives senior citizens discounts for purchasing homes, the location that they choose should allow them to maximize their benefits and privileges under the law.
The Senior Citizens Act offers a 20% discount in restaurants, medical-related privileges, transportation, and recreational facilities.
Besides, senior citizens are exempted from paying individual income tax, if they choose to take on a minimum wage job to pass the time. They also do not have to pay training fees for socio-economic programs conducted by private and government agencies should they want to learn new things. If your lolo or lola wishes to pursue either route, you might want to consider choosing a home near their preferred workplace or training center.
Near Medical Facilities
Speaking of medical privileges, senior citizens will need to be able to go to hospitals immediately, as managing health issues will become one of their top priorities. It is important that there is a quick and accessible route from their home to the hospital so that if lolo or lola feels any form of discomfort, they can easily set an appointment with their doctor.
It will also be a good idea to have a direct number of the hospital and to make sure that its ambulance is operational, in case it is needed.
Accessible to Family
Last but not least, senior citizens may be choosing to buy a new home upon retirement, but that does not mean that they would want to be away from their beloved family.
Some senior citizens might want to live near the beach, some might want to live somewhere cold, while some might want to live in the province where they grew up in. Whichever location they choose, their home will require regular visits from their loved ones, so just make sure that it is not too far away for the occasional drive up for a visit from the grandchildren.
Having a place of their own gives an empowering feeling and promotes a sense of security for seniors. But buying a home for them will take a lot more thought and careful consideration because their care needs continue to change as they age. Keep these things in mind when home-shopping and you can have the peace of mind that you will get one that is adequate for your elderly parents or relatives’ current and future needs.
