Top 5 Things to Look for in a 55+ Community

With millions of Baby Boomers retiring each year, the demand for 55+ active adult communities continues to grow. These communities usually offer many advantages for seniors including a low-maintenance lifestyle, resort-style amenities and a sense of community and safety.

Top 5 Things to Look for in a 55+ Community

Location

Location is always one of the most important aspects of choosing a place to live, especially in retirement. The year-round climate in the area is a big consideration as is the proximity to friends and family. Having access to activities and areas you enjoy such as parks, beaches, shopping, restaurants, golfing, cultural events or whatever your main interests are is paramount to enjoying your free time.

Housing Options & Floor Plans

55+ active adult communities vary in the types of housing they offer. While some retirees are comfortable renting or buying a condo or townhome, navigating stairs can become difficult in later years. Many seniors are choosing communities where they can buy and personalize a single-family home with minimal, or no steps, between inside and outside spaces. Single-level living is ideal for those that wish to live in their home through retirement. Especially if the homes are designed with wide interior doorways and walk-in showers to accommodate aging in place.

Review the floorplans available in each community to find the right size and layout for your lifestyle. Many 55+ communities allow you to choose your favorite floor plan to build as well as structural and design options so you can truly make the most of your new home.

Important considerations when reviewing floor plans:

Are there a variety of square footage options from small two-bedroom homes to large four-bedroom homes?
Do the floor plans offer plenty of storage space, outdoor living areas and private spaces?
Do they offer open floor plans with good traffic flow and lots of natural lighting?
What structural options are available? Can you add an owner’s suite sitting room, sunroom or bonus suite that can be used as flex space for overnight guests, hobbies, office, library, exercise room or whatever you may need?
Can you choose the type of countertops, flooring, interior fixtures and paint colors?

Make a list of must-haves and keep it handy when reviewing floorplans to make sure the community you are considering has the perfect home for your lifestyle.

Security & Safety

Different communities offer varying levels of security such as gated entrances and cameras. In 55+ neighborhoods most of the residents are in and around the community on a daily basis and are friends with their neighbors. There is a real sense of community and residents look out for each other.

Activities & Amenities

One of the top 5 things to look for in a 55+ community that’s very important to active adults is the availability of community activities and amenities. While it’s great if the community is not far from amenities in the local area, having them in the community within walking distance is so much more convenient and worthwhile.

Many 55+ active adult communities offer a clubhouse with a general-purpose meeting area and kitchen, exercise equipment and even pool tables. Other amenities can include a swimming pool and/or spa, walking trails and tennis, pickleball and bocce ball courts.

Community activities are often provided for residents, or organized by residents, to help them socialize and meet each other. These can include exercise classes, game nights, cookouts, gardening classes, movie nights, quilting groups, crafts and book clubs to name a few.

If being involved in and organizing community activities and having access to resort-style amenities is important to you, make sure to inquire about what’s available in the communities you are considering.

A Sense of Community

Having a sense of community where you live is vital to feeling like you belong. Enjoying the company of your neighbors and being invited to events is important to many seniors. It can sometimes be hard to get that feeling in large sprawling communities, so make sure the overall community feels like it is the right size and fit for your lifestyle.

It’s a good idea to not only walk homes you are interested in but to get out and walk the community and meet the residents to get a feel for the atmosphere. Feeling a sense of community is as much about people as it is about anything else the community has to offer.

Top 5 Things to Look for in a 55+ Community