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