MARCH 2023 - 1
Scaling Back: The Many Sides of Downsizing in Later Life
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FLORAL BORDER
M A R C H
Allegra Bridges and Bob Neuroth are settling nicely into a two-bedroom home near Seattle, an eight-hour drive from their previous home on the Oregon coast and a twenty-minute jaunt to see their grandkids. As they rearrange furniture and make trips to the Goodwill, they consider what they’ve given up and what they’ve gained in their recent downsizing. Bridges says, “The most expensive house we ever bought is the smallest house we’ve ever had. But we bought it for the lifestyle we want as we age. We wanted something comfortable, with a high walkability rating. Safety is a huge factor, and proximity to healthcare, shopping, services, freeway, family and friends and public transportation if we were to need it.” With health considerations due to Bob’s cancer diagnosis, the couple had to make tough decisions and take action to create a life that fits their needs now. Neuroth says, “Where we live now, in this smaller house, is much more expensive than where we moved from. However, where we lived before, the drive for a decent doctor was 45 minutes, and a specialist was two or three hours away. So, the cheaper housing was outweighed by the negative of not having the medical services we need now.” For many older adults, this weighing of the options, needs and wants is an important conversation later in life.
continued on page 6 ASK THE EXPERT: CHOICES IN HOW TO LIVE EYE HEALTH: CATARACT SURGERY FEATURE: SCALING BACK: THE MANY SIDES TO DOWNSIZING IN LATER LIFE