Are you considering moving to a 55+ or Active Adult Community? When planning for retirement or older age, active adult communities are a popular choice. They offer many different benefits, from a sense of community, numerous activities, and diverse amenities, but there are several important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to move to a 55+ Community. In this article, we discuss several of those factors.
Living Amongst Your Peers
Moving to a 55+ or Active Adult Community means that you will be joining like-minded adults that are a similar age and in a similar phase in their lives. Selecting to live in the same community means that you probably have similar living preferences to other residents. Engaging in activities and living in proximity to each other will give you the chance to get to know each other and discover other commonalities you may have. You will have the opportunity to build a sense of community with other similar adults. You won’t have any young families or college-aged kids living next door but could still venture outside your community if you prefer to experience some diversity in age.
Opinions of Current Residents
There is no better testament to a community than that of the people who currently reside there. What do the current residents say about the community? What do they like about living there? Is there anything they wish to see improved? Getting a sense of how the current residents feel about the community can help you make your decision of whether it’s a good fit for you. Many communities offer resident testaments on their websites, or if you choose to check out any communities in person, ask to speak with current residents during your visit.
The Homeowners Association (HOA)
Most 55+ communities are run by an HOA. The HOA collects fees and enforces rules and regulations for the community. The number of fees and what they cover, for example, amenities and the upkeep of grounds, will vary by community. Rules and regulations enforced by the HOA will also vary by community. Some HOA’s have a limit on how long your children can visit, and what you can do with your home and within the community. Ask about each community’s HOA fees and rules as you consider your options.
Your Desired Lifestyle
Many 55+ and Active Adult Communities have a number of activities, events, and centers of activity (pools, clubhouses, golf courses) where you can meet new people and make new friends easily. Most of these communities offer many different opportunities for social engagement and interaction; there is a reason that they are called “active” communities. Is a more active community something you’re looking for? Consider whether this type of community would fit with your lifestyle and goals for your future.
Medical Care
55+ and Active Adult Communities are not retirement homes or assisted living facilities. They do not offer around-the-clock medical care, and usually do not have a physician or other healthcare professional on-site. However, many of these communities are close to hospitals and doctors’ offices. If you or your partner need (or you anticipate needing) more regular medical care, then you may want to consider options like retirement homes, assisted living facilities, or continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in addition to 55+ communities.
While there are many factors to consider when contemplating moving to a 55+ or Active Adult Community, here we discuss several of the most important ones. Planning for your future retirement is vital, and the earlier you plan, the better. Once you decide a 55+ community is right for you, the next most important steps are researching and visiting communities to help you make your decision.
