Retirement Communities - What Are My Options?

By Aj Yeakel

If you're 55 or over, you now have a plethora of retirement living
options. In anticipation of millions of baby boomers entering
retirement within the next few years, new retirement communities are
cropping up across the nation. These retirement communities are
generally broken down into the following five categories:

• Active Adult Communities
Resembling resorts, these are generally gated, low maintenance homes,
villas or condominiums designed to offer active adults everything they
need to enjoy their retirement years. Units are often single-level and
universally accessible. Amenities might include a clubhouse, health
and fitness center, indoor pool and outdoor pool, 18-hole golf course,
tennis courts, boat ramp/dock, movie theater, bowling alley and more.
The choices are growing; today there are even RV and affordable
manufactured home communities for active adults and communities for
gays and lesbians.

• Independent Living Communities
For those who want to live independently but do not want the hassle of
maintaining a home, independent living is a popular solution.
Independent living apartments and condominium units are becoming more
plentiful. Today's senior living communities include social centers
with wide range of social activities and amenities such as fitness,
classes, and trips and local transportation. While dining rooms are
common, many new communities even offer bistros, beauty salons,
libraries, massage-therapy,craft rooms, computer rooms, movie
theaters, game rooms, and chapels.

• Assisted Living Communities
These are for people needing assistance with the Activities of Daily
Living (ADLs) but wishing to live as independently as possible for as
long as possible. Assisted Living communities bridge the gap between
independent living and nursing homes. Residents are not able to live
by themselves but do not require constant care. For these seniors,
assisted living facilities offer help with daily activities such as
eating, bathing, dressing, laundry, housekeeping, and assistance with
medications. While many facilities have centers for medical care, the
care offered may not be as intensive or available to residents as the
care offered at a nursing home. Most assisted living facilities create
a service plan for each individual resident upon admission.

• CCRSs, Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Assisted living facilities are often connected with independent living
residences and nursing homes. The combination is known as a continuing
care retirement community. If you want to make your next move your
last, take a look at CCRCs (otherwise known as life care communities).
These long-term care alternatives provide a package of services,
including housing, health care and social services, to seniors. A CCRC
provides independent living units, either apartments, rooms or
cottages. Additionally, it guarantees a range of health care and
social services, which may include intermediate or skilled nursing
care, usually available on the premises. Generally a CCRC requires
some type of prepayment, generally an entrance fee and/or monthly
fees, and offers a contract that lasts for more than one year or for
life and that describes the service obligations of the community and
the financial obligations of the resident.

• Nursing Care Facilities
Nursing homes are designed to care for people that are not able to
care for themselves and have numerous health care requirements. Bottom
line: Whatever your needs and preferences, there is likely to be a new
retirement community with other seniors who share your interests and
an array of amenities in or near the location you prefer.

Are retirement communities right for you If you want to learn more
about your retirement options, click here or visit
http://www.afteriretire.com, a popular resource for retirement
planning information.

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