I am 80 years old and live in a Continuing Care Facility (Independent, Care, and Memory Care) and will live here for the rest of my life. I will get progressive care as I need it. Right now I am in good health and live in the independent living part of the facility (600+ residents). Moving here simplified my life tremendously. No house to take care of. Good meals are provided. Housekeeping provided. We are surrounded by people in the same stage in life and a well-trained staff of people. I pay $4,600/month for my wife and I to live here. Social security and retirement checks pay for most of that. The rest comes from savings.

A few comments from my perspective: the #1 killer of older adults in loneliness. They become isolated and are, frankly, forgotten. I see people here where I live have their spouse of 50-60-even 70 years die and they go into depression. A friend here had his wife pass away recently. Everyone made sure to include him in daily activities and conversations. Here it is not as bad because there are always people around to talk to and do things with. That is so important to older people who are alone. We are a social animal and need contact with other people. People here have group meals where 6 to 8 people put tables together and eat. Lots of stories and laughing. There are lots of social activities and events here too. As people age they do not want to leave their houses - mobility issues or cannot drive as well, so living here means getting out and seeing people is just a matter of opening the door and walking (or riding) down the hall to a public area where there are always people. I belong to several groups (watercolors, table tennis, and ukulele) and my spouse plays mahjong and bridge every day. People meet down the hall 2 or three evenings a week for sing-a-longs someone organized. We use the beautiful gym and pool a few steps away where there are exercise classes everyday.

It was hard giving up our nice house that was full of memories and things we were comfortable with but it had become a burden. Something always needed fixing. It was a cluttered, disorganized, and sometimes dirty mess. There were people in our neighborhood that had no friends and relatives. They were utterly alone every day with nothing but a TV, a phone and maybe a computer that confused the hell out of them. Very sad. Life can be a hassle. Moving here lifted a huge load off my and my wife's shoulders.

Not everyone of course can afford living the way we do. But you can.

If you haven't saved a nickel for your retirement, it is time to do so. Our savings over the years has allowed us to do what we are doing now and allows us to travel extensively all over the world. We have never been rich. At the time, it was hard to save. Because we did not have top level jobs, we had to sacrifice but it was, looking back, worth it because now we live a safe, dignified, interesting, and healthy life. And our kids do not have to worry about where to put Mom and Dad or to dispose of a house full of what they would consider junk. That has all been done. Our kids fully support our decision to come here to live. We live very simply without a lot of material possessions that just clutter things up.

So save your money and pray that we get politicians that realize that inflation is the enemy, the real enemy of older adults. A few years of what these clowns lie to us and call 'temporary inflation' and our hard earned savings will be gone and they will still have their mansions, servants, boats, and air planes. Think about that when you vote the next time.