By Catherine Campbell

Moving is always a big job no matter what your age or stage in life, but for a senior it can be quite overwhelming. Deciding to make a change from a house to an apartment/condo, the down-sizing and a change of lifestyle, can add a lot of pressure until you consider that it might be just the change that is needed!

With a house, there are many chores, both inside and out, and you either do them yourself, pay someone or you neglect them. In each scenario, there is more negative than positive for a senior. It is costly, you can hurt or tire yourself unnecessarily or you can be left with a house no one wants to buy because it has fallen to a state of disrepair. If you are finding that house maintenance is getting to be too much, it is probably time to look at a move and retirement living might just be the perfect fit, especially if you are living alone, but for couples it is also a wonderful opportunity to socialize with a wider group of people.

The task of dealing with material possessions is overwhelming, but once finished, it is a welcome relief! At The Berkeley, there are different apartment sizes to choose from all with a decent amount of storage. The unknown of leaving a place of comfort and moving to a new environment can be stressful, but it can also be a welcome change and a source of rejuvenation. Retirement living is all about convenience, social interaction and community engagement. At The Berkeley we want our residents to be active and engaged with a sense of belonging to a community where they have access to a variety of activities and events.

It is our goal to meet the needs of our residents, and we are all ears when it comes to new ideas for activities! Recently, we added a program called ‘Dining In with Gloria’ in response to residents who mentioned missing the fun of preparing a meal for a group. It has been a hit! Once a month, eight people sign up, help to prepare the meal and then sit down to enjoy it together. It is a true celebration of community and the saying ‘many hands make light work’.

For more information or to book a tour, visit www.theberkeley.com or call Jenn Walker at 902.802.0346. She would love the opportunity to take you for a tour to see all the benefits of retirement living for yourself!