“Facing medical concerns, 75-year-old Bill Giesenhagen and his wife moved out of their single-family home near Denver last month and into an apartment in an assisted-living community.He and wife Maggie downsized the right way, starting to plan their move in 2006 and giving themselves enough time to adjust to their new lifestyle. They also hired a senior relocation specialist to help them get organized and deal with the emotional task of selling off belongings they could no longer keep.
Giesenhagen, a diabetic and open heart surgery survivor, and his wife lost almost half their living space when they moved into an 1,800-square-foot apartment at Classic Residences by Hyatt, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. But there, he is guaranteed to receive fast medical care should he need it – a relief to his wife, who still works and often travels.
“She was concerned about my being by myself at home,” said Giesenhagen, a retired general contractor. “We don’t have to worry about that anymore.”