“The worst part
about living in a senior community is well…nothing!
It’s great! No maintenance, great new relationships,
and our own home…we are living the dream” - Benny
and Nora
Various
Senior Housing Options for Boomers
2011 is the
first year of Boomers hitting the major milestone of age
65. According to AARP, they'll be turning 65 at a rate of
about 7,000 boomers per day.
With this fact in the background, today is
the best time to consider where you're going to live during
your retirement years. The fact is, if you plan this part
of your life now while you still have control over the decision,
it will be a much happier experience than if you wait to
the last minute or don't have a plan at all. With so many
options out there, whether it's in a warm locale or moving
into an urban area, planning early where you want to live
in retirement is a smart option.
With the recent trend of staying in the
same house they lived in for years, many seniors are planning
different remodeling projects in their own home instead
of choosing to move out. This trend has been noticed by
the to the National Association of Realtors. Other seniors
are choosing to stay in the local community or city they
lived in as well, even if they do decide to downsize their
lifestyle.
Seniors without
much in the way of savings and in need of affordable senior
housing are more commonly moving in with their adult children
or setting up what's called an Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity
(ECHO) which is simply a temporary structure placed on their
children's property for them to live in. This was reported
on recently by the AARP as well.
A more recent development in senior housing
is called home sharing which is similar to what younger
people as well as college students do when they co-habitate.
Basically, two seniors decide to move into a home together
and instead of each person having their own kitchen, living
room, or other common area, they share one while maintaining
separate bedrooms and bathrooms. This reduces upkeep as
well as provides a friendly helping hand for household maintenance
and chores.
With home sharing, some seniors with oversized
homes decide to simply rent out extra bedrooms in the same
home they lived in while raising their children. In some
cases, seniors move in and instead of paying monetary rent,
they barter for cooking, cleaning, and other household assistance.
Community and
religious organizations are increasingly sponsoring large
homes for seniors to live in. These shared housing arrangements
are usually much less expensive than normal accommodations.
Congregate senior housing communities or, “Senior
Retirement Apartments” as they're also known, are
popular with some seniors. In these communities, residents
who are still mobile and active live in separate rooms but
share the common things like central kitchens, housekeeping
personnel, and outdoor maintenance. These communities are
great for people who want to live on their own without any
of the hassles of home responsibility. They also provide recreational
activities and outings to local attractions.
For less mobile
seniors, assisted
living communities are a better fit. These communities
are designed for people who can't live by themselves and do
basic care for themselves but don't need skilled nursing to
take care of health issues. Common things that these homes
provide are assistance with bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning,
laundry, and other non-medical issues of life. Depending on
the level of care provided, these homes can vary in price
and offering. However, no matter what level of care is required,
there are plenty of options out there for this type of residency
arrangement.
A “total
package living arrangement” exists as well. These
communities are called a “continuing
care retirement community.” In this situation,
a senior will move into various facilities in the same property
that provide differing levels of care. For example, a younger
senior would move into an independent apartment but then
move into a higher level of care facility as they age or
as their medical needs change. These communities are great
since they provide continuity without being uprooted from
new friends developed in a senior community. Still other
seniors feel more comfortable living in a continuing care
retirement community. Prices vary so this might not be a
cost-effective living arrangement without some financial
resources since they can charge large entrance fees as well
as monthly maintenance fees.
