Why Choosing the Right Community Matters for Your Golden Years

Retirement is the period where you embrace true freedom. No 9 to 5 obligatory routine to maintain, no responsibilities to maintain. The time to pursue your passions and hobbies. Your golden years, however, can become a horrible experience if you fail to pick a supportive community that is more than a place to live.

On this note, a place with social connection, safety, healthcare access, and recreation is what you need to enjoy life’s happy hours. To help you decide, this article is a teeny endeavor.

For anyone in their golden years, long-term well-being and comfort revolve around picking the right retirement community. The perfect community should balance the physical, social, and financial expectations.

Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies finds that naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) have a lower livability index on AARP, especially in different services like transportation and others.

Here’s the thing — a community with a higher livability score provides affordable housing, better walkability, and accessible healthcare facilities that are more attractive and feasible for senior citizens.

You see, retirees yearn for membership, influence, and emotional connection within the senior communities. This is particularly discovered by the Knight Foundation in their “Soul of the Community” study. These variables affect wellness programs and customizable living options.

Without hesitation, health infrastructure is utterly imperative for retirement communities. As the community serves as a safety net, amenities like this will ensure the protection of old adults. For instance, 89% express that healthcare facilities close to inaccessible proximity influence their decision to relocate. In addition, there is a reduction of 20% in health issues observed in areas with higher walkability.

Most elderly people feel lonely and isolated as a matter of fact. To counter this, a community should be retirement-friendly and prioritize affordability. The average retiree household spends about 30% of their income on housing types. Also, They should be able to engage in social and recreational activities.

A proper, befitting community is essential for a good life in your golden years. It directly has an effect on your mental and physical health. And the results are staggering.

For good measure, active seniors in a socially connected community have a 50% higher immunity against cognitive decline in contrast to isolated individuals. This is research done by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

A well well-thought-out society fosters a sense of belonging, cuts down stress, and encourages active engagement with people. These are the key factors in maintaining a positive outlook during the retirement period.

Take Pine Lakes as a point of reference, its plans are meticulous and surrounded by a serene watery setting in Florida. This place demonstrates a fusion of natural landscape with architecture and amenities. Not to mention the emphasis on accessibility and social inclusivity.

The homes of Pine Lakes have easy access to clubhouses, walking trails, and wellness programs. These indicate the superfluous possibilities to connect with the community. The Pine Lakes management found that 87% of residents believe their quality of life has improved substantially after moving into the community. 78% of them cited, the Pine Lakes boosted their social relationships as a core benefit.

That said, the intergenerational programs in Pine Lakes strengthen seniors’ social engagement while bonding with younger generations. The Generations United that retirees in such settings are more satisfied with building a stronger sense of purpose.

Pick and choose is not the way to consider a community for your golden years. There is critical thinking and analysis required behind this. I’ve accumulated all the things you should consider or avoid, to find the optimal community.

Health and Medical Access: Healthcare facilities are the primary concern for anyone in their older age, this is what you should look out for when selecting a community. Check whether specialized clinics or hospitals are within accessible proximity. Inquire if they are capable of treating chronic conditions.

Affordability: Evaluate the cost of living of a community. Check if it’s feasible with your retirement budget. Take the cost of housing, utilities, and potential care services into consideration. The reason behind this is that financial strain is a stumbling block to achieving a better lifestyle in your golden years.

Social Engagement Opportunities: Seek places that have extensive social interaction points such as clubs, volunteer groups, and intergenerational activities. As a senior citizen, this will help you live an active life. And eventually, you’ll have better psychological and physical health.

Safety and Accessibility: Always consider the overall law and order situation of the neighborhood. Go through the crime rate and the previous year's stats.

Environment: A stunning landscape with sufficient greenery can uplift the mind and soul. So try to opt for areas that have a favorable climate.

Invisible Expenses: Some communities may seem promising at first in terms of costs. However, as time goes on, they reveal hidden charges for maintenance and health services. Beware of such communities before making a decision.

Limited Diversity: Cultural limitations can hinder vibrant social relationship building. So steer clear of such areas where cultural or age-group diversity is minimal.

Low Livability Scores: A community scoring lower in terms of livability indices means it lacks necessary resources for retirees. Unless you want to suffer in your golden years, avoid communities with scores lower than 50 [AARP].

Moving into a new community is nerve-racking and challenging at the same time. Be it for young adults or retirees. With evaluation, careful planning, and following a proper guideline, you can overcome this effortlessly.

• Go to the community you narrowed down. Physically explore the neighborhoods and talk to the residents. This will give you a better understanding and help you decide.

• Check on the necessary amenities. Compare between other communities.

• Rent a luxury house for a few months before you permanently move in. See whether the community meets your expectations.

• The first thing you should do to cope with a new neighborhood is to make contact with people. And what is better than different hobby groups or voluntary organizations? Join these clubs to become socially active, and improve your life. This will be a compliment to your golden years.

• You can exploit technology to connect with new neighbors and local events. Apps like Meetup or Nextdoor will help you in this regard.

• Participate in fitness programs or explore walking trails. This will help you reduce the risk of chronic diseases by 30% [WHO].

• Keep in touch with local senior organizations or advocacy groups. You will feel appreciated and stay updated in this way.

Focus on your unique needs and how you want to organize life in such precious years. Start exploring communities that align with your golden years’ goals and visions. Live a happy and joyful life that will fulfill your bucket list.