Ways To Make Your Senior Living Apartment Feel Like Home

You may be feeling slightly overwhelmed or even apprehensive about the newest chapter of your retirement — and that’s completely normal! There are simple ways to make the transition easier by helping your new apartment feel like home. Here are a few thoughtful tips to add personal touches and familiar comforts so you can settle in and feel at ease right from the start.

1. Choose a community that makes you feel at home. When looking into different senior living communities, observe how residents and associates interact. Are they friendly and relaxed with one another? If it’s the right fit, you’ll feel warmly welcomed and comfortable, too.
2. Check community guidelines. After you’ve found the ideal community, it’s important to review any rules or recommendations about changes to your apartment. Knowing the restrictions up front will help you plan how to make your apartment as homey as possible.
3. Determine what furniture to use. Based on your floor plan and square footage, measure your furniture and decide which pieces will fit best in your new space. You can always decide if you want any new furniture once you move in. Comfortable seating, multi-functional furniture and storage pieces can be especially useful when you downsize.
4. Reflect your personality in your décor. Starting fresh can be exciting, but it’s helpful to avoid clutter, especially in a smaller space. Consider selecting a few favorite decorative pieces that reflect your personal style while keeping your home comfortable and easy to navigate. Many residents enjoy bringing cherished items from their previous home, while others prefer to create a fresh new look. Choose what feels most welcoming and enjoyable to you.
5. Add photos and other memories. Every home needs personal touches to make it unique. Framed photos of your family, friends and memorable events will not only give you reason to smile but they can also help jumpstart conversations with your new neighbors and discover shared interests.
6. Find opportunities for new connections. Another way to feel at home in your new community is to get to know the people around you. Dine in common areas with other residents, join in community activities and visit with neighbors. Hamlet makes it easy by having ambassadors to show new residents around and introduce them to others in the community.
7. Keep in touch. When we move, we often miss the people, not necessarily places or things. It’s important to stay in touch with friends and family outside your community. Invite visitors over once you’re settled. This is a great opportunity to show them around— and don’t forget to introduce them to all your new friends and neighbors!
8. Make room for new memories. Once you acclimate to your new community, you’ll make plenty of new memories and share fun experiences with friends. Whether creating new décor in art class, harvesting veggies from the community garden or inviting friends to your apartment, we believe the more involved you become, the more at home you will feel.

Making a big change, like moving to a new home and adjusting to a different routine, can feel challenging. It’s natural to feel uncertain at first, but those feelings often ease with time. At Hamlet, our team is here to support you every step of the way. With a welcoming community and many opportunities to connect, residents often find themselves settling in, building friendships and feeling at home sooner than they expected.