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