Trends in Retirement Communities

Retirement community developers are forced to change with the times. On examination of the changing housing needs for retirees, they are finding that there is more of a demand for computer labs, weight rooms and lap pools than for the purely recreational focus of the past generation.

Moving beyond shuffleboard, the modern communities are incorporating elements of what modern seniors want (fancy media and computer rooms, better lighting, easy care amenities, tighter security and ergonomic designs that will make things easier as they think ahead to age related disabilities.

Today’s retirees are completely different from the “older folks” of even one generation ago. The age of people living in adult retirement communities is coming down. The younger residents often stay in the work force as consultants or are using retirement as an opportunity to jump into a new career.

Folks enjoy living in adult communities because of the recreational facilities, the socialization, and to enjoy the freedom of having someone else be responsible for maintenance and yard work.

Americans are living longer and are healthier than ever before. The possibility exists that you might spend as much of your adult life retired as you did working. This trend is profoundly affecting housing wants and needs. 85% of retirees do not want to move out of their current homes (according to AARP statistics), but the retirees who opt to stay put are more apt to be from the lower income group or those living in a rural area. The wealthier or younger retirees are looking for cushier and more stimulating lives in a new setting.

Communities for seniors-only are resorts packed with activities and are often centered around thriving activity centers. People are moving into these communities at an earlier age and staying until infirmities force them into a community with more support services.

A mild climate is an attraction, but many retirees are now opting to move north and are gravitating toward lower cost living areas in the Midwest and South East. College towns have their appeal too, for those who value intellectual stimulation and want to be somewhere where they can take classes or attend lectures and plays. AARP studies are finding that many Americans do not want to be segregated from the general population and enjoy remaining in the thick of things. The housing market it happy to accommodate these changing trends.

 

Comments

[Mary Albert]

I'm looking at picking a retirement community myself for a friend so this article is timely.

Thanks!

[Medical Alert]

Very interesting article. All the points you've brought up make a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing this information.