Senior Communities

By 2030, the number of people over age 65 will soar to 71.5 million: one in every five Americans. This is twice the number in 2000, according to "The Maturing of America: Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population," published by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and funded by the MetLife Foundation. As is obvious, they form a large demographic, and it is essential that their needs be catered to. Health care, nutrition, exercise, transportation, public safety, emergency services, workforce development, availability of financing and volunteer opportunities are just some of their needs.

Managing the entire responsibilities of a household may be overwhelming for older people. Senior communities are a wonderful option for those who like their independence but need the extra help and care. Senior communities offer the perfect answer to the need for homes built specifically for seniors, medical aid and assistance with chores.

Some Advantages of Senior Communities

Most homes are built on one level. This eliminates climbing stairs which becomes increasingly difficult with age due to painful joints and bones. Residents are surrounded with people of their own age, so making friends is easy. Also, if one partner passes away, the other already has the support of an extended family in place. The senior community association handles mowing of lawns, watering of gardens, trimming of trees, sweeping of walks and provide snow and ice removal.

History

Kearsley is considered America's First Retirement Community. When Dr. John Kearsley passed in 1772, in his will, he directed Christ Church of Philadelphia to utilize a large part of his estate to established the first retirement community in the US. Currently, it functions as an independent, non profit, senior care facility that provides a continuum of care for lower income adults.

Types of Living Facilities

Senior communities offer one or more of these types of services:

• independent living
• assisted living
• continuing care
• memory support care that may include care for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

Independent living arrangements are usually in the form of apartments or individual units. Unfortunately, services of medical care, meals or help with activities such as dressing are not offered with this type of living facility. For people with these needs, assisted-living facilities exist. Some assisted-living facilities also offer therapeutic programs such as physical rehabilitation. CCRCs are senior communities which provide a range of services, from independent living, to assisted living, to around-the-clock nursing care. This allows the resident to avail of additional services as their needs increase. Most senior communities have mandatory contracts and entrance fees.

Interesting Fact

An interesting town is Ryderwood, Washington where all the residents are senior citizens. Originally a Long Bell lumber camp, Ryderwood was converted into a retirement community in 1953. What is unique about this town is that the store, cafe, post office, fire department, beauty shop, library, etc are all run by seniors. Not only that, the entire town is run by seniors volunteering to do different jobs, from painting buildings, mowing the park's lawn, to taking care of clerical chores at the community club.

Living in Style

There are several contemporary senior communities where residents live an active and full life. Their motto is "retirement is a time to have fun". One can find them zipping by on motorized carts, heading to the golf course, fitness center or banquet hall. Other amenities offered, such as club houses, libraries, swimming pools and spas, arts & crafts centers, billiards and card rooms, tennis courts, basketball courts, continuing education, classrooms, hiking & biking trails, high-tech media centers and ballrooms provide the residents with a large range of recreational activities.

There are numerous senior communities which offer different services at varied prices. While picking out a community, one must be aware and alert. A home inspection should be carried out and conversing with the neighbors always helps. It would be wise to find out about utilities and other associated costs of ownership. Another source of potentially useful information are the minutes from previous meetings, as they record grievances raised. Explore your financing options, and find out if a home warranty plan exists. Lastly, remember that buying a home in a senior community is no different than buying a home from a builder. Conduct a good survey of all your options and try to get the best deal possible.