Does that perfectly describe your day? If so, congratulations! You’ve already found your active adult community. Does that perfectly describe the day you wish you had? If so, it’s time to get serious about finding the best active adult living community for you.
Designed to enhance and enrich the lives of older adults, active adult communities provide an environment in which to fully embrace this exciting chapter of life. Keep in mind, active adult living is not an assisted living type of senior housing or a continuing care facility with different levels of services. Active adult living is about joining a community of your peers to develop new and meaningful relationships and create wonderful memories.
Though all the best retirement communities for active adults are focused on providing a fun, carefree, resort-worthy lifestyle, specific amenities vary from one property to the next. Some offer sprawling suburban campuses, while others are more urban. Each community has its own highlights, like nearby championship golf, or an active tennis facility or a great clubhouse in which to participate in a long list of activities.
Finding the right active adult community is a process. When you’re ready to begin, make sure to consider the following:
Location, Location, Location
The first step toward becoming part of the best active adult community for you is to decide where you want to live. Will you relocate to a warmer climate? Would you rather stay close to familiar neighborhoods and family? How important is access to the city? Or would you rather live in a more quiet, rural setting? And then there are geographical considerations. Are you a beach person who has always lived near the water? Or would sand and surf be a new experience for you? Maybe you want to be near the mountains or in a drier more desert-like area like Arizona. Once you have zeroed in on your choice of location, you can start to pare down the options.
It’s All About You
As you peruse brochures, think about how you picture your lifestyle. Do you absolutely need access to golf or tennis? Are you a fitness buff who requires a state-of-art gym and Olympic-sized pool as well as a wide variety of classes that will accommodate your interests and skill level? What types of continuing education classes appeal to you? The right active adult community should afford you the physical, social, and educational opportunities you are looking for.
Do the Dollars Make Sense?
When researching active adult communities, make sure you are aware of all the costs involved. Read the fine print carefully to ascertain any additional membership fees for activities. It’s also important to consider the cost of living in the area you have chosen and how it compares to your current location.
The best active adult community for you is the one that checks all your personal boxes. With a little time and research, you will soon be rightsizing into the community that is just right!