There are many exciting types of lifestyle and housing options to consider.

Senior Active Adult Communities

Many of these communities first appeared in resort areas in Florida and Arizona. Now they are quickly appearing on the outskirts of many large metro areas. Active adult communities residents must be 55 or older. There communities feature livable home designs features that make a home more livable, that is more comfortable, easier and safer for independent living. If you haven't seen these, you really owe it to yourself to visit a 55 Communties and tour their lovely models.

These active adult communities typically feather a large clubhouse that is the center of many clubs and special social and phycial activities that is a center piece of this type community and leads to a healthier retirement. Theese 55 community subdivisions have the master bedroom on the main level and many are ranch, one level homes or low maintenance cluster or cottage homes. Lawn maintenance programs are managed and paid by the Homeowners Association.

An Active Adult community is an age-restricted community that typically requires at least one resident be age 55 or better and restricts anyone under 19 from being a permanent resident. Age restrictions may vary by community.Your friends and family are always welcome to visit, and in most communities, visitors under the age of 19 are able to stay with you for up to 3 months each year. Advantages of Active Adult Communities.

Pulte/Del Webb is leading developer in this type communty but there are many regional and local builders doing the same. Use the above links to their web sites to locate a community near you and take a visit. Most Senior active adult communities have recreation centers, sports, swimming, special interest groups, social clubs, arts and crafts, exercise, dance and music. Many have Golf. Many have scenic locations.

Some of our most popular seaches for Senior Community California, Arizona, Florida, NC.

Senior Homes and Communities
Age Targeted But Not Restricted

More builders are building Livable Homes that makes your home more livable, comfortable and safer. These do not have to be in an age restricted community.

Some Senior communities are like Age-Restricted Communities in that they cater to the same age related interest with one level ranches of master on main, livable homes designs, community center, recreation and activities, etc, but they are not explicitly age-restricted. So you get seniors and sometimes young couples getting their starter home. But the subdivision community offers some of the same features sought by Senior persons. Variety of properties fall in the category including single family homes, condos, duplexes, townhomes, manufactoried homes, houses in subdivions, villages, parks and other communities.

Independent Living Centers

Independent living communities are for seniors who can for the most part, take care of themselves. An independent living community provides senior friendly housing and services.

Independent communities are limited to and designed for seniors with some common areas may included TV or family rooms, large meeting room and livable desgin features live elevators, ramps, at entrance pickup area and wider halls. Sometimes there is an outside garden with seating areas.

Other features vary but could include on site dining, shuttles, commercial services on site, nurse or on call medical services.

Independent living properties vary greatly from urban highrise apartments or condos, to rural personal care homes with individual smaller buildings.

Assisted Living Centers

Seniors only residential facility that offfers meals, assistance with personal care, housekeeping, and monitoring of resident's health and safety. Nursing and medical care not included.

Senior Apartments

Senior apartments communities sometimes are under federal housing guidelines (HUD) and will only accept low income seniors, but some are privately owned. Senior apartments are age qualified for independent active seniors 55 and older. Senior apts are designed for active seniors and do not offer meal service, housekeeping or medical assistance. There is a limted number of senior apartments and may be a waiting lists several months long.

Senior apartment complexes are many times located in urban city centers in high rise aptment building. Lately, many senior apartments are in low rise apartment complexes in the suburbs, near shopping centers and malls, pubic or mass transit.

Continuing Care Retirement Community

- CCRCs are so named because they address the entire continuum of care with healthy seniors moving into independent living apartments, but having the security of knowing they can "age in place" thanks to assisted living and skilled nursing services on site. The number of CCRCs nationally has risen sharply over the past 25 years from 274 in the early 1980s to 2,240 in 2005, according to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

Usually are very expensive however many guarantee lifetime shelter and care with long term contracts that detail the housing and care obligations of the CCRC as well as its costs. This is becoming more popular.

( retirement homes, retirement communities, senior housing, long term care and elder care facilities)