Although each has its pros and its cons, more and more retirees are choosing to move into retirement communities and they have many good reasons for doing so. Here are the top five reasons why you might want to consider moving to a retirement community. When I say retirement community, I am including Over 55 Communities and Active Adult Communities.
You Can Budget Your Finances when Staying in a Retirement Community
Financially, moving to a retirement community can be a sound decision. With most communities, you will be able to establish a regular annual or monthly fee that will include some of the extras you are paying for now. As such, you can budget your expenses accordingly to make sure you have plenty of money to do the other things that you are looking forward to doing during your retirement, such as traveling or going back to school to learn something you have always been interested in learning more about.
At many retirement communities, you will also be able to save money by cutting out certain expenses. Many retirement community members, for example, do not find it necessary to have a vehicle because all of their needs are met within the community. Or for a couple, to get by with one vehicle. The community is probably located near stores, bus stops, or other conveniences that make car travel unnecessary. Some also offer shuttle bus services within the community and to areas of interest outside of the community. A golf cart may be all you need. Uber and Lift are great backups if needed.
You Can Socialize with Other Adults when Living in a Retirement Community
Since a retirement community consists of other adults that are also retired, you will have plenty of opportunities to interact with other adults. Socialization and having fun with friends is important as you age. In addition, you don’t have to worry about potentially rowdy teenagers or noisy children when living in a retirement community because all of the residents are older adults like yourself.
You Can Pursue Your Interests when Staying in a Retirement Communities
Many retirement communities, particularly active adult retirement communities provide their residents with opportunities to explore their interests. It is common for an active adult retirement community to have its own golf course, tennis, pickleball and bocce courts, and swimming pools. They even commonly offer classes in other areas of interest, including martial arts classes, art classes, dance classes, music classes, and more. By selecting the right retirement community, you will be able to remain active in your favorite activities for the rest of your life.
If you choose a retirement community in the right location, it will also make it easier for you to pursue your interests outside of the community. If it is located near to a college or university, for example, you will be able to easily pursue educational opportunities you have always been interested in. If it is located near parks, you can visit the parks and go hiking and enjoy other outdoor activities. If it is near to a major venue, you can enjoy concerts, plays, and other cultural experiences as well. Retiring to a small town will allow you more outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, etc.
You Can Feel Safe at a Retirement Community
Retirement communities offer an added layer of security that most people cannot afford to implement when they own their own homes. A homeowner can install security alarms and cameras, but most homeowners cannot afford to have a gated property or to have security officers patrol their home.
At retirement communities, many are located close to a hospital and urgent care facilities. In addition, security may be on call to residents 24 hours per day. Therefore, you don’t have to wait long to get assistance in an emergency situation.
Many retirement communities are also gated. These gates may be manned by a human or may be electronic and require using a special card to access the community. Some even require both. As such, you can take comfort in knowing that only residents or approved visitors will be able to access your gated community.
You Can Enjoy Convenient Living at a Retirement Community
Retirement communities are usually geared toward making life as convenient as possible for residents. In many cases, all of your expenses are covered in one fee, including taxes, insurance, and utilities. This makes it far easier to keep track of your monthly expenditures.
Furthermore, maintenance and care of your property is easy at a retirement community because you usually don’t have to take care of these jobs at all. Jobs such as mowing the lawn and raking the leaves are often taken care of by the retirement community staff. Similarly, if you have a needed repair, you can contact a member of the retirement community staff to take care of the issue for you. This kind of worry-free living allows you to enjoy your retirement without getting bogged down by household concerns.
Retirement communities may also provide assisted living services or may help provide you with necessary medical care. Whether or not these services are included will depend on the type of retirement community you select. Regardless of the type of community you select, many are located conveniently near to medical centers or hospitals so you can easily receive the medical services you may require.
While some retirees might feel a certain attachment to their homes and find it difficult to give it up, many realize that the size of the home is more than they need now that the children have left and that upkeep on the home is simply too strenuous. In addition, having a home can make it difficult to pursue other interests and to travel without concern for the safety of the home.
With a retirement community, many of the worries of home ownership are alleviated. In addition, retirees can enjoy the safety and conveniences of retirement communities while having the opportunity to explore areas that are of interest to them. With so many perks associated to living in a retirement community, it is easy to understand why so many retirees are deciding that this type of living is the best choice for them.