| Retirement communities are not just for the retired. | | | | instead of going outside for needed exercise and the |
| At age 55, you are eligible to move into | | | | vitamin D from sunshine. Many seniors are snowbirds |
| age-restricted communities or a community with no | | | | and can enjoy 2 climates by traveling back and forth. |
| age restriction that is also right for retirement. You | | | | You can find the solution to this problem by being |
| may be anxious to move to a community for many | | | | more mobile and sometimes creative. Creative |
| reasons. Here are some reasons why people move. | | | | solutions may involve timeshares, resorts, retirement |
| 1) Your neighbors -- real estate statistics show one | | | | rv parks, and even boats and cabins. |
| of the main reasons people move is because of | | | | 4) Health -- as we age, we may begin to have the |
| neighbor problems. If I was a sales agent at a | | | | first signs of disease, disabilities and illness. We believe |
| retirement community, I would ask my prospective | | | | that moving to another place may be good for us. |
| clients, "How is your current neighborhood." If the | | | | This can be a place where the air and water are |
| customer starts talking about their neighbors with the | | | | cleaner, a place where there isn't as much traffic, a |
| barking dog, the teenagers with loud music, the | | | | place with more sunshine, a place with conveniences |
| eyesore home next door etc, I would know this was | | | | nearby, or a place closer to medical facilities we want. |
| a serious buyer for a retirement community. | | | | Health is the number one concern of aging seniors |
| Retirement communities have rules and restrictions | | | | and often it requires moving. |
| that protect you from these stressful situations and | | | | 5) Family -- there are many seniors starting to move |
| seniors are flocking to them. | | | | to where their children live and this increases as they |
| Seniors particularly are vulnerable and aging makes it | | | | age. Problems can arise here: the area may be one |
| more difficult to cope. It is true that retirement | | | | they cannot afford. If so, the children must help out, |
| communities are somewhat insulated from the | | | | if possible. The senior may wish to stay independent |
| stresses of the outside world, but in a beneficial way | | | | while the children wish the senior to live with them. |
| for seniors. It is not selfish to want to live | | | | These can be complicated situations and must be |
| somewhere that is dedicated to your peace of mind, | | | | worked out in the families. |
| well being and happiness, but the fact is that seniors | | | | Often the simple answer is to help the aging parent |
| require more quiet and relief from everyday stress. It | | | | to get settled into a retirement condominium |
| is especially true for those with any kind of health | | | | community where there is help available 24 hours and |
| problem. | | | | maybe some assisted living services, if necessary, |
| 2) Home Maintenance -- this is also a big one--bad | | | | while still staying active as much as possible. |
| neighbors can get you motivated but constant | | | | 6) Social Life -- The freedom that seniors feel from |
| upkeep of your current home will just wear you out. | | | | not having job pressures gives them more time for |
| You have looked forward to doing things in your | | | | social activities. Perhaps when they were in their |
| retirement years that are different from taking care | | | | career years they never had this time. Retirement |
| of your home. If you want to travel you have to | | | | communities are full of activities and opportunities to |
| worry about who will watch your home. Your home | | | | meet new people. You can be as socially involved as |
| is probably aging as you are, and consumes finances | | | | you wish. |
| you will need for your retirement. Sometimes your | | | | These situations and more have made retirement |
| floor plan isn't right for your senior years. | | | | communities extremely popular, and today, they are |
| 3) Climate -- the third main reason for moving and | | | | abundant, and in every state. They are helping many |
| maybe the number one reason for those that move | | | | seniors to live the full and active life they always |
| to another state is wanting a milder climate. As we | | | | dreamed of in retirement. |
| age, we notice the cold more so we stay inside | | | | |