Definitions
Retirement Communities & Retirement Living
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Retirement communities are dwellings restricted to seniors, usually age 55 and older or 62 and older. Facilities do not include support services or staff to address the special needs of aging residents. Instead, retirement living residences are designed for independent individuals in good overall health who are able to live on their own but desire the lifestyle associated with community living.
Active Lifestyles
Retirement living communities often cater to those who seek enriched lifestyles with organized social activities. Many offer classes such as dance, art, ceramics, woodworking and more. Others are equipped with exercise and fitness facilities, swimming pools and spas, laundry services, meals and/or dining facilities, and have access to local transportation.
Age Restrictions Preferred
A recent study by the AARP concluded that over 40% of seniors moving to apartment complexes prefer age-restricted communities to age-integrated residences. The Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations allow for age exclusion, however, exceptions can be made for those who are under the minimum age if they are disabled. Residences that satisfy the technical definition of senior housing can legally exclude families with children.
Retirement living communities are not licensed by government agencies and are absent from formal regulations. Agreements and conditions are determined by the organization managing the community. Residents who qualify for senior communities are often eligible for federal subsidies. In such cases, it would be prudent to determine if facilities accept rent vouchers.
Some factors to consider when searching for retirement living communities:
- Complex safety features and individual unit security
- Storage availability
- Proximity to doctors and medical care
- Parking convenience
- Single level versus multilevel
- Stairs versus elevators
- Bathroom safety, including grab bars
- Site amenities
- Quality of facility management
- Proximity to relatives
Posted in: Is It Right For You?, Weighing your Housing Options
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