Retirement life signals that chapter where you get to relax and unwind after years of building up a successful career. That’s also the time when you get to choose to live on your own. You may want to decide whether to leave your hometown for a place that has everything you need to enjoy the best years of your life. Living in a retirement community might be the best option.
Your choice of a good community can get daunting along the way, because there may be too many options to sift through. Each one may offer the same features as all the others, so you will need to take as much time as you can to zero in on a place that meets your personal needs and points the way to the kind of lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Ease up the selection process by checking out the guide below:
1. Consider long-term needs
When starting your search for the perfect place to settle down, don’t rely on trends and exaggerated features. You may end up paying too much for amenities you won’t even need to live comfortably. Go for a community with services that are tailored to your specific medical conditions. You have the option to live in an assisted living environment or a full retirement village that has the same allure as a small town.
No matter what you choose, always think about your long-term needs, especially if you want to stay in a retirement community for good. It helps if you can come up with a set of goals and criteria to help you water down your choices to a few options that match your preferred lifestyle. This way, you will be able to settle down and live the life you want with no regrets.
2. Check the location
Aside from setting clear goals and expectations, it also matters to know if the community’s location is accessible. You will want family members and friends to visit you easily, so consider choosing a community close to your hometown. You might also want to pick a place that lets you travel outside of the community, especially if it’s located near the beach.
Climate should also be a major consideration when you’re out looking for a retirement community where you can live a more active lifestyle. Areas in the south are the most popular among retirees, many of whom choose to settle down in cities like Miami and West Palm Beach. If part of your retirement plan is to live in a warmer place with beautiful beachfront views, then consider a community that offers it as a highlight.
3. Review the price
Living in a retirement community won’t come cheap. Not only will you be renting your living space, but you will also need to pay for utilities and extras such as community fees, healthcare costs, and maintenance services. You may also need to pay for the services of your caregiver in case you live in an assisted living community. Fees in high-end communities are much higher, considering the amenities they offer.
In any case, it’s always a good idea to plan out how much you will need to pay to stay in a retirement community. List down all possible expenses and run these numbers against your potential pension earnings. Explore other financing options such as your 401(k) contributions and VA benefits and determine how much you’re willing to spend throughout your stay. From there, you can make a well-informed decision that strikes the perfect balance between sustainability and comfort.
4. Review a community’s reputation
Even if you think a senior living facility has all the best features to enable greater convenience, you still won’t know for sure if it offers the same in reality. Look underneath the surface and always take promotional ads with a grain of salt. Anyone can claim they’re the best place for retirees but former residents may say otherwise. You wouldn’t want to entrust yourself or an elderly loved one to a service that’s reeling from a nursing home abuse lawsuit, so it pays to dig deeper.
For this, you can always reach out to people you know who have loved ones who are staying or have stayed in the place. Aside from asking about the best things it offers, talk about how orderlies and staff treat elders there. You may also want to check how fast the community responds to emergencies such as accidental falls, burglaries, and fires. If a community falls short of these essentials, then it won’t do you any good to risk spending your retirement there.
Endnote
If you’re on the lookout for a retirement community that fits your needs, consider these tips and pick the one that’s guaranteed to make the rest of your or your loved one’s life easier and healthier.
