Reaching the point in your life where retirement is a feasible option can be an exciting time! You’ve worked hard enough to have earned the right to enjoy the rest of your life in ease and relaxation. But before you can relax by the pool or enjoy independent living, you must find that perfect retirement community first. If this is the beginning of your journey towards moving to a senior living facility, you might be wondering what your options are.
What should you do if you’re considering a retirement community? If you are considering a retirement community, you should:
- Decide which type of retirement community you would like to move to.
- Meet with a realtor.
- Meet with a club representative.
- Set important dates.
- Application – Month and two weeks before moving in
- Physical – One month before move-in
- Move-in – Months prior
Each of these steps is necessary to match you with the right residency that can dedicate their resources to your needs. It is also needed to make sure you are moving into a retirement community where your peers and like-minded people can surround you.
What is a Retirement Community?
A retirement community is a living complex in which the amenities and grounds are designed with the needs and desires of the retired residents in mind. It should be noted that a retirement community is not the same thing as a 55+ community, though they both share many similarities.
When you’re considering a retirement community, it is essential to know the differences between a strictly 55+ community and a typical retirement community. This is because they each have their own rules and specifications on what they provide for their residents.
The main difference between the two is the age minimum requirement. 55+ communities tend to focus more on accommodating the needs of residents as they age, while retirement communities tend to focus more on creating an almost vacation-like atmosphere for their residents.
Choose a Type of Retirement Community
While you are weighing the pros and cons between a 55+ community and a retirement community, you may as well consider the countless options when it comes to senior living environments. There are so many niche living complexes designed with the needs of a retiring person in mind that you could tire from reading them all!
The four most common types of retirement communities you should consider investigating include:
- Active Living
- Leisure Living
- Independent Living
- Continuing Care Living
In the following paragraphs, we will go over what each retirement community focuses on, the best type of residents for the specific community, and any other general information that might be imperative to know about the retirement community.
Active Living
Active living retirement communities are the complexes with the notion that their residents want to continue living life as usual with the bonus of being around like-minded people. These cluster homes are built for their residents to continue to live a fully independent life with the addition of club amenities, rather than the focus being on what the complex can offer you.
This type of retirement community is the best option for people who are looking to surround themselves with neighbors who are of the same age range. If you are not concerned with paying extra to get sidewalks customized for easier walker access, you may want to consider an active living retirement community.
There are two subcategories of an active living retirement community: age-restricted and age-targeted. Age-restricted is where an active 55+ community would fall, while the age-targeted active communities try to keep their average resident age in the 55-60 range. These are terms to know, especially if you are hoping to move with your family.
Leisure Living
Leisure living retirement communities are complexes in which their focus is on the amenities they can offer their residents. These types of retirement communities try to create an environment that feels almost like a resort or vacation every day. They are notorious for hosting a plethora of social events, as well as offering endless clubhouse perks.
This type of retirement community usually has a central area where the amenities offered are located. This is mainly to keep the area where the residents live away from primary foot traffic.
Typically, these clubhouse areas offer resort-like facilities such as:
- Pools
- Restaurants
- Gyms
- Walking trails
- Tennis courts
- Basketball courts
- Spas
One thing to consider when looking at leisure living retirement communities is the cost. Because they offer so many resources, they usually charge a higher HOA and monthly fee.
Independent Living
Independent living retirement communities emphasize creating a space in which their residents do not need to rely on outside help for daily tasks. According to Senior Living, independent living can be, “…a community for active, healthy seniors who are able to live on their own.”
When considering a retirement community, you must decide whether you would like to live independently or not. If you know that you would like to have the home to yourself without any nurses or senior companions, then independent living retirement communities would be a great fit!
This type of senior living arrangement allows total freedom to enjoy your days at your own pace. Though if you would like to enjoy the benefits of living independently without the physical and mental stress of caring for your home, you may want to consider an age-restricted independent retirement community. These types of communities include maintenance fees within their monthly package fee, so you would not have to mow the lawn or cut the grass!
Continuing Care Living
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (or CCRCs) are senior living communities that are set up like independent living situations, except for a nurse or senior companion who comes to help with the nuances of caring for a home and yourself. This means that the individual can continue to live independently in their own homes, but a skilled professional may come to help care for them.
These types of retirement communities also include more effective care options for those with disabilities. Depending on the type of disability, each senior living complex will have different staff members and accommodations to serve the needs of their residents best. It is also not uncommon for these kinds of senior living situations to have an onsite medical center, specialized doctors, or even separate care areas.
Although it ranges from the professional staff members and senior companions cooking and cleaning for you to simply enjoying your company, continuing care retirement communities can be a great way to know you can enjoy your retirement stress-free.
Find a Realtor
One of the mistakes many people make before deciding on a retirement community is not hiring a real estate agent. Although you can do the process entirely on your own, it will save so much frustration and misunderstanding of what precisely each community can offer if a realtor is involved.
Specifically, you want to find a realtor who specializes in retirement communities. This is because you want to find an environment that will suit your specific living needs. One complex might offer the best gym memberships and walking trails, but what you need is a complex with larger doors to accommodate your walker.
Realtors that specialize in retirement communities can quickly sift through the different types and what they all offer with ease. They can also read and understand the various costs that come with monthly package fees, the system by which most retirement communities charge.
These realtors are trained in the jargon that comes with knowing the exact breakdown between the mortgage, HOA fees, clubhouse fees, and everything else the senior living community might charge and why. On top of all of that, they can also give suggestions on which retirement communities might better assist you in your transition to a retired lifestyle.
An average realtor will be able to find you a living space; a retirement community realtor will be able to find you a forever home.
Meet with a Representative
After multiple consultation visits with your realtor, you should begin the process of meeting with retirement community representatives. It is highly suggested that you invite your realtor to come with you to look over the paperwork.
You will want to meet with a representative of the retirement community to get a better sense of what they can offer you. They should be knowledgeable of all the amenities and living situations they can provide to you. This is a crucial part of the process when considering a retirement community because this could potentially be your forever home. You want to make sure you know what you are signing up for and what they can offer for you.
Some questions you may want to ask the representative are:
- Is this an age-restricted community or senior accommodating community?
- Are there any HOA fees? Are they yearly or monthly?
- What does my monthly fee include?
- Are there visitors welcomed to the community?
- Are the amenities included in my monthly fee, or do I have to purchase a separate membership to use them?
At the very end, you should request a tour of not only the clubhouse (if they have one) but also one of the living spaces. The entire process should be treated just as if you were trying to buy a house or rent an apartment.
Talk to Current Residents
While on your tour, and with the permission of the representative, you should try to talk to some current residents about the living situations. This will be your first insight on how the senior living complex operates and if what they are advertising is just as real. This is also a chance for you to get a feel for the type of neighbors you may have, and whether this community will be a good fit for you if you decide to move there.
Set a Date
So, you’ve selected the type of retirement community you would like to live in. You’ve also found a real estate agent that specializes in senior living facilities. On top of all of that, you’ve met with a club representative and have decided on which specific retirement community you would like to move into.
Congratulations! All that’s left now is to set a date, but you need to set a date for more than just your move-in. According to Magnolia Manor’s guide for moving into a senior living arrangement, the following dates and appointments should be made.
Application
To start with, you need to decide which day you would like to complete the application. Today, you can usually apply online or over the phone, but some retirement communities still require an in-person signature. Because of this, you may want to set a day aside to go in to apply to the retirement community.
You should give a minimum of two weeks’ notice that you would like to apply to a retirement community. That will provide them with enough time to set the appointment and accommodate any of your needs (i.e., walker, limited movement or walking, etc.).
Physical
Many states require a general physician’s medical exam to complete the application process. This form will need to be sent to the retirement community offices within 30 days of your move-in date. It is recommended that you set this appointment the week after your application date.
The reason for the general physical exam is to assess the longevity of the community’s residents before they will need access to CCRC. This is to help keep costs at a lower rate as well as ensure the financial security of the community.
Again, not every state requires the medical exam, but it’s better to have it well in advance as not to delay the moving process.
Move-In
One of the most important dates you can set is your move-in date. Of course, this date will vary depending on whether the retirement community you’ve chosen has a waiting list or not, so be prepared to be flexible with it.
Once you do have a move-in date set, you should follow the checklist below to make sure everything is for a smoother transition:
- Sell your home – It may seem obvious, but you should sell your old home even if you have the monetary means to keep both. This will separate you from the old one and help the transition to retirement.
- Update your address – Go ahead and start forwarding all your mail to the new address. This usually takes about five business days to process, so it’s better to do it now rather than later.
- Cancel your utilities – Cable, phone, internet, electric, water, gas – everything that goes to your current home should be cancelled. The retirement community you are moving to should provide their own, but make sure with the representative!
Preparing Your Family for Your Move
Although this might be an exciting time for you, your family may need some extra time to process your leaving. This can be especially true if one of your family members or friends have been acting as your primary caregiver. Each person is unique and will handle the transition differently, but there are some questions that most people will deal with.
“Why are you leaving?”
Remember that it’s not you leaving your family. Instead, it is you starting a new life that can better accommodate your needs. To help ease their minds with this, consider looking into visitor rules and regulations that your retirement community might have.
“Who will take care of you?”
Regardless of whether you are moving to an independent living accommodation or one that has certified caregivers (CCRC), the main people that will take care of you are the people who run the retirement community. They have spent many years crafting a support network necessary to alleviate all the stresses that fully independent living has. There are care options within retirement communities that you cannot find elsewhere.
“When can I see you again?”
Again, it might be a good idea to check with the club representative on the visitor rules and regulations. However, there is always the option of technology! Video chatting, phone calls, text messages, and social media can keep families connected from all around the world.
The point is that moving to a retirement community does not mean that you are going to be isolated away from your family or friends. You may find that you can see them more often with so much extra free time thanks to the amenities from your senior living complex.
What It’s Like Living in a Retirement Community
Since you’ve gone through the entire process (maybe hypothetically at this point), there is still one question that lingers: What do I do when I’m living there? Besides enjoying the newly retired life and community, you must take full advantage of the amenities offered to you.
Don’t be afraid to make an appointment with the club representative even after you’ve moved in for suggestions on what you should be exploring about the retirement community.
Once you’re ready to, you should see if there are any social events hosted by the complex. This will be a great way to get to know your neighbors and introduce yourself to an array of people. You should also take this opportunity to ask around for any advice they may have or any suggestions on local restaurants or activities you should experience.
When it comes to inside your own home, it is recommended that you spend the time hanging all your photos first. Not only will this help make your new house feel more like your home, but it will also serve as a reminder that you are not alone in this process.
The focus is the same one that it has been throughout the entire process: you. This is your retirement community that you are now a part of, so take it in your own time and at your own pace. There’s no rush to know all your neighbors within a specific time frame, nor are you required to participate in every event for HOA. Enjoy your new living space at your own pace and comfort!
General Tips You Should Know
The process of moving to a new place can be hectic and sometimes overwhelming, especially if you are going from a family home to an independent living apartment. There are many steps between finding a retirement community that fits your wants and needs and moving there. Here are some general tips you should consider as you contemplate a retirement community as your forever home.
Research
You can never do enough research when it comes to retirement communities. There are so many types – from luxury to RV parks to singles-only – that you will never run into two that are the same. Research is an incredibly important first step in understanding not only what each senior living complex can offer to you, but what you’re looking for in your retirement living lifestyle.
This research does not have to be done alone! Besides bringing a senior living real estate agent into the equation, speaking with your family or friends is another excellent source of information, especially if they have lived in a retirement community themselves!
Get Rid of Stuff
One of the hardest and most emotional aspects of moving is having to go through everything you own and decide what to do with it. Should you throw it away, donate it, pass it down, or take it with you? Those questions will plague you with every single item of furniture, clothing, and everything in between that you own.
Since it is such an overwhelming event, it is recommended that you do this with family and friends. Relive memories, give things away to those that will get the most use out of it, and figure out if something is invaluable to you.
One great tip on this is: If you forgot that you owned it, you would not remember that you threw it away.
Hire a Moving Company
After you have gone through all your possessions, you may find that you still have tons of stuff. Although family members and friends may offer to help, the best decision you can make is to hire a professional moving company. This will not only take the burden of boxing everything you own up off your shoulders, but it will ensure that you can begin your easier living immediately.
One main concern when it comes to hiring a moving company is the cost. However, Moving has found that the average rate of a local move (moving within the same state) is about $1,250. This rate covers a 2.5-bedroom home; if you are moving from a smaller space, your price will most likely be far less.
In some cases, the retirement community you are moving to might offer their own moving company as an option! Be sure to ask the representative while on your tour.
Have Multiple Options
There is a chance that the dream retirement community you want to move to has a waiting list, or worse, has no listings available. You should prepare a list of at least ten different senior living complexes that you would be equally as excited to move into. That way, if one is unavailable, you have so many more great options waiting without having to compromise your own needs or wants.
Read Reviews
A retirement community could seem like heaven on earth when you see it in a pamphlet; the tour could have been perfect in every way. Still, it’s essential to read the reviews that both past and present residents have left.
Maybe they offer a pool, but it hasn’t been cleaned for four years. Perhaps they have wider doors for walkers, but they still do not have enough parking in the lots outside the clubhouse. There are little things that you would not find out about unless you spoke to a resident or lived there yourself too long to make the change to somewhere else.
In Conclusion
When you’re considering a retirement community, many elements go into the prep work before even looking at housing options. But each step is an important one in the task of finding the right living conditions for your needs and wants out of a retirement community.
This will be the last time you move and hopefully become your forever home and friends. You’re not just trying to find somewhere to put your stuff; you’re looking for an entire community and network of people that you can get along with.
So, it does not matter if you decide to live in a leisure senior living community or a continuous care retirement community; what matters is how you feel in that environment. The beauty of having so many options when it comes to retirement communities is that there is sure to be a perfect one just for you and your needs.
