Your
Next Move: Are You Ready for a Retirement Community?
By Aldene Fredenburg
The
kids are gone, your career is winding down, and you can think of
better things to do with your time than maintaining a house that's
too big for you. Maybe it's time to think about a retirement community.
Adult
planned communities, aimed at people 55 and older, are taking the
needs of today's baby boomer generation into account. This group
of future retirees is largely healthy, active, and involved in the
world. While they're interested in maintenance-free living and the
security and safety of a planned community, they're also attracted
by amenities such as on-premises fitness centers, tennis courts,
theaters, and walking trails. Many are located in peaceful country
settings, yet with easy access to shopping and restaurants.
Some
planned communities offer detached single-occupancy homes, while
others focus on condos and others offer a mix of housing arrangements.
All offer a range of services, from maintenance assistance for your
home to the opportunity to sign up for a meal plan. One retirement
community in New Hampshire, for instance, offers a hot meal every
afternoon for dinner, either to be picked up by the resident or
delivered to the home.
Of
course a major advantage of living in a planned community is the
opportunity for social interaction. People who've spent the last
two decades caught up in child rearing and career objectives are
finding time to reconnect with interests and ideas of their youth,
making friends with the same social history as themselves. The activism
of the sixties often resurfaces, and retirees find themselves getting
re-involved with old causes or seeking out new ones. Having a collection
of individuals with the time for friendship and an interest in exploring
new pastimes can present opportunities for a vital new phase of
your life.
So
how do you choose a retirement community? First, do you want to
live in your own private home or in a condo with easy access to
neighbors? What type of maintenance contract does each community
offer? Do the amenities - gym, pool, exercise classes - match your
interests? Is the retirement community located for easy access to
neighboring towns and major highways? If you're at a point where
you don't want to drive anymore, will you have access to public
transportation?
As
important as the home and amenities is the atmosphere. Each community
tends to develop its own character, which seems to endure even as
residents come and go. Some communities can be very dynamic, full
of active adults who interact on a daily basis and maintain a lively
social life. Others are very quiet, with residents who mainly keep
to themselves and are looking for a peaceful environment.
Before
you choose a retirement community, make sure you visit a number
of times, and connect with some residents. Ask questions about the
community, the social interaction, any special events offered, and
try to gauge just what kind of milieu it offers. Also be sure to
ask how satisfied residents are with the administration, how willing
the owners are to do repairs and meet other needs of residents -
an unwillingness on the part of administrators to perform quick
repairs and to answer questions from residents can result in a kind
of grumbling, unpleasant environment.
It's
important to take an honest assessment of the future life you see
for yourself, and then look for a retirement community which meets
your expectations. With your own personal goals clearly in mind,
you'll likely find the community which matches your goals.
Aldene
Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire
and frequently contributes to Tipso
and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and
regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business,
education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include
an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and
a feature on prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord.
She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.
