Retirement has a way of changing what “home” means. The house that once felt like your safe space may now come with more stairs, more yard work, and more upkeep than you’re physically able to manage. Friends and neighbors may have moved away, and the days that used to be full of family and work have quieted down. You may find yourself wondering more and more what’s next for you? What does the next chapter look like?
For many active older adults, the answer is independent senior living. It’s a lifestyle shift with more freedom, more connection, and fewer chores. In this guide, we’ll explain what independent senior living is, the different forms it can take, and how to know when it’s the right time to start exploring your options.
What is Independent Senior Living?
At Delmar Gardens, independent senior living means having a private apartment of your own within a community designed to make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. You furnish and decorate your space the way you like, keep your own schedule, and come and go as you please.
Our independent living communities take the work out of running a household. Maintenance, housekeeping, and linen service are handled for you, chef-prepared meals are served daily, and scheduled transportation helps you get to appointments, errands, and places of worship. Instead of planning your week around chores, you can plan it around the things you enjoy, whether that’s a fitness class, a card game with neighbors, an afternoon outing, or happy hour with friends.
What sets us apart from other communities in the area is the support that’s close by if you ever need it. Independent living and assisted living are offered within the same communities, and skilled nursing is available within the Delmar Gardens family of communities (usually just next door!). If your needs change down the road, more support is available without a disruptive move or starting your search over.
What Independent Senior Living Is Not (Common Myths)
Independent living is often confused with other types of senior care, and a few common misconceptions keep people from exploring it. Here’s how those myths compare with life at a Delmar Gardens community.
Myth: Independent living is the same as a nursing home.
At Delmar Gardens, independent living residents live in private apartments and manage their own day-to-day lives. Care is provided as needed in a personable way, not in a clinical setting. The staff is more like a trusted friend than a healthcare worker, focusing on building relationships along with covering care needs.
Myth: You’ll give up your privacy and freedom.
Neither privacy nor freedom are sacrificed when you move into one of our communities. You won’t have to worry about the physical and mental demands of owning a home, and can instead choose to spend more of your time doing the things you enjoy. Your apartment is your home, furnished and decorated your way. You set your own schedule, come and go as you please, and decide how involved you want to be in the community.
Myth: It’s only for people who can’t live on their own anymore.
Oftentimes our independent living residents choose to move into a community while still very active. They’ve decided that even though they could live on their own, it’s become too tiresome and tedious for them and they’re ready for the next chapter of their aging journey. Our independent living communities are designed for active, self-sufficient seniors who simply want more time for the things they enjoy.
Myth: Life in a senior community is quiet and boring.
Our independent living communities are quite the opposite! We offer a full calendar of social, physical, spiritual, and intellectual activities for our residents. There are fitness classes, social clubs, special outings, happy hours, etc. There’s always something to do and someone new to meet.
Myth: Moving in means seeing less of your family.
We know how important family connections are for our residents and we highly encourage frequent visits and interactions. We help facilitate visits, arrange overnight stays if desired and plan special family events and activities. We actually find that many residents experience an improved relationship with their family after moving in since it takes away a lot of stressors. Adult children have peace of mind that their parents are happy and well cared for so that they can focus on enjoying their time together instead of worrying about them or assuming the role of a caregiver.
Who is Independent Living Designed for?
There’s no single type of person who chooses independent living, it mainly depends on their circumstances. Residents come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds, interests, and reasons for making the move. What they tend to share is a wish to spend less time managing a home and more time enjoying life. You might recognize yourself, or someone you love, in one of these categories:
- The empty-nester with more house than they need. The kids are grown, the extra bedrooms sit empty, and weekends disappear into yard work, repairs, and upkeep on a home that’s bigger than it needs to be. Independent living lets you trade that to-do list for a space that fits the life you have now.
- The recently widowed senior who’d rather not live alone. After losing a spouse, a once-busy house can feel very quiet. Independent living offers your own private space with friendly faces close by, shared meals, and plenty of chances to connect, at whatever pace feels right for you.
- The couple ready for their next chapter together. For couples, independent living can mean more time for travel, hobbies, grandkids, and each other, without chores waiting at home. And in a community with a continuum of care, couples can stay close even if one partner’s needs change.
- The planner who wants to decide on their own terms. Some people simply prefer to make big decisions before they have to. Moving while you’re healthy and active means you choose where you live, settle in at your own pace, and have more time to build friendships and enjoy everything the community offers.
- The senior whose friends have already made the move. Sometimes the best introduction comes from a friend who’s already living there and loving it. Joining people you know makes the transition feel easier, and you’ll have familiar faces at the dinner table from the start.
- The adult child looking ahead for a parent. Many families start this research together. If your mom or dad is still independent but living alone, struggling to keep up with a large home, or spending more time by themselves, independent living can offer a lifestyle they’ll enjoy and peace of mind for the whole family.
Independent Living vs. Aging in Place
For many older adults, their first instinct is to stay put. According to AARP research, most adults 50 and older say they’d like to remain in their current homes as they age. Houses hold memories, routines, and a sense of comfort that’s hard to replace.
Aging in place can work well, especially for people in good health with a manageable home and family or friends nearby, but it often takes more energy than people expect. Over time, a house may need changes like grab bars, ramps, or a first-floor bedroom. Upkeep that once felt routine, like mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, or cleaning gutters, can become harder to do yourself or more expensive to hire out. Then when driving becomes more difficult, many seniors opt to spend more time at home which can create a sense of loneliness.
Independent living offers a different path. You still have your own private space and your own routines, but home maintenance, meals, transportation, and social opportunities are built into everyday life. Instead of adding services one at a time as needs come up, they’re already in place.
When is the Right Time to Transition to Independent Living?
We can’t tell you exactly when this move is necessary and there really isn’t a perfect age or single moment that tells you it’s time. Only you and your family can make that decision. What we can share is common signs that we’ve heard from residents and their families over the years:
- Keeping up your home takes more energy than it used to. Repairs get put off, rooms go unused, and chores that once took an afternoon now take the whole weekend.
- You’re spending more time alone than you’d like. Friends have moved or passed away, neighbors have changed, and days can go by without much conversation.
- Getting around is harder. Driving at night or in bad weather feels less comfortable, which makes it harder to get to appointments, errands, and social plans.
- Meals have become an afterthought. Cooking for one or two feels like more trouble than it’s worth, so meals get simpler or skipped.
- Your home no longer fits your life. There are stairs you’d rather not climb, more space than you need, or a yard that feels like a second job.
- You’d rather spend your time on what you enjoy. You’re ready for more travel, hobbies, time with grandkids, or simply less to worry about.
- You and your family are thinking about the future. You want a plan in place for what comes next, rather than making a rushed decision later.
If a few of these sound familiar, it may be a good time to start exploring your options. Many residents tell us they wish they’d moved sooner, because moving while you’re active gives you more time to settle in, build friendships, and enjoy everything the community has to offer.
Explore Our Independent Living Communities
Every Delmar Gardens independent living community shares the same commitment to comfort, connection, and caring support, but each one has a character all its own. With communities throughout the St. Louis area and in Lenexa, Kansas, you can find a place that keeps you close to family, familiar neighborhoods, and the routines you love.
Explore our independent living communities below to learn more about each one:
Ready for Your Next Chapter with Delmar?
Independent senior living is about more than where you live. It’s about wanting to build a life with more freedom, more connection, and fewer worries about keeping up a home. Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or starting the conversation with a parent, the most important step is simply to begin exploring.
When you’re ready, the Delmar Gardens team is here to help in whatever way feels most comfortable for you:
- Be Our Guest: Spend time in one of our communities and experience daily life firsthand before you decide. [Learn about Be Our Guest]
- Schedule a tour: Visit in person, see the apartments and common spaces, and meet the people who make each community feel like home. [Schedule a Visit]
- Give us a call: Talk with our team at (636) 733-7000. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you find the right community.
- Reach out online: Send us a question or submit a contact request, and a member of our team will follow up with you. [Contact Us]
There’s no pressure and no wrong question. We’re here to help you find the next chapter that feels right for you.
