What comes to mind when you think about Michigan? The peculiarly shaped Midwest state is known for its cars, lakes, and cities still finding their feet, but one thing it definitely doesn’t have a reputation for is being a hot retirement destination. But while the winters are cold and the roads are bumpy, choosing assisted living in Michigan has plenty of benefits for even the most discerning retiree.
What is Assisted Living?
At its most basic definition, assisted living is housing for elderly and disabled people that provides assistance with daily activities, such as meals and housekeeping. While there’s nothing wrong with this completely serviceable definition, it’s impossible to sum up all the benefits of assisted living in a single sentence.
Living in an assisted living community means so much more than getting help with activities of daily living, or ADLs. Depending on the community, care can extend to nursing assistance, respite and memory care, and rehabilitation. Even for aging adults that are capable of performing ADLs on their own, the community aspect of assisted living is extremely valuable, as isolation during retirement is a huge risk factor for poor mental health.
Why Michigan?
-
Cost
- According to the 2017 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the cost of assisted living in Michigan is lower than the national median cost for a private one-bedroom apartment. Michigan’s tax burden for individuals is among the lowest in the country, and options like long term care Medicaid and the Choice Waiver Program help eligible elders with the costs of assisted living and healthcare. While it may not be the first place people think of for great places to retire, there are many reasons why choosing an assisted living community in the Great Lakes State offers plenty of bang for your buck.
-
Outdoors:
- For the aging outdoors person, Michigan may as well be paradise. With four of the five Great Lakes forming many of the state’s borders, as well as over 11,000 inland lakes, residents of Michigan are never more than six miles away from some form of waterfront. In addition to lakes, the state’s natural landscape boasts over 36,000 miles of rivers and streams and 20.3 million acres of forests, on which 4 national parks, 103 state parks and recreation areas, and almost 8,000 miles of biking, hiking, and snowmobiling trails are available for enjoyment. Phew! And that’s just the start. For the hunters, fishermen and -women, winter sportspeople, swimmers, hikers, and those who just enjoy fresh air, Michigan offers everything you need.
-
Arts & Culture:
- If the great outdoors doesn’t call your name often, or at all, there’s still so much to take in. From the rejuvenated big city living in Detroit to the rich history of the old trading ports like Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinac Island, to the thriving art and music communities in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Saugatuck, there’s truly something within half a day’s driving distance for everyone.
If you or a loved one is looking for an affordable but fun and full of life location for retirement, assisted living in Michigan should be at the top of the list.