It’s not a single struggle that challenges you. If it were just the money, or just the neighborhood, or just the distance from children and grandchildren, you would have done something before now. But maybe the combination of several factors, an unexpected and expensive repair, a neighborhood break-in, and your son-in-law’s job transfer all have you thinking maybe you’re ready to move on.
Your family has probably been getting busier with their own growing families. They genuinely love visiting and want to help. But maybe they live too far away to visit daily or even weekly. Maybe they are so busy with school, teams, jobs, and kids that they just haven’t been around much. They’re living the carpool and coaching life now and you sometimes feel left on the sidelines.
That’s what 55+ communities offer: people your own age available for a walk, a chat, a cup of coffee, or a game of chess in a safe and well-kept community setting.
A Member in an Exclusive Club
55+ communities restrict house occupancy to at least one member of the household aged 55 or higher. Some communities prohibit occupants under the age of 19. The restrictions are in keeping with the Fair Housing Act.
The intention of these age restrictions is to create a community specifically designed to meet the needs and comforts of residents in and near retirement. As such, 55+ communities are not intended for children or teens, young families, or young professionals.
In recent changes to the Fair Housing Act, 55+ communities are no longer required to provide the care and services of assisted living or nursing facilities. This means that 55+ communities are a true transition between the young family homes of the suburbs and the assisted, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities that the elderly require.
The Benefits of 55+ Communities
In addition to creating communities of people experiencing the joys and challenges of being together in the same stage of life, 55+ communities can provide amenities and services tailored to the needs of active residents age 55 and up. Some benefits include:
- Adult recreation facilities like pools without slides and parks without playgrounds
- Adult activities like book clubs and board game tournaments
- Adult spiritual wellness programs like faith services and meditation
- Adult health programs like exercise classes and fitness facilities
- Adult hobbies like golf, tennis, and volleyball
- Adult classes like cooking, wine tasting, and art appreciation
55+ communities give you the facilities to renew an old hobby or take up a new one. They can be at once private and social, independent and engaged. Residents in these communities find renewal in activity and excitement in new horizons, new friends, and a new environment.