By Steve McLinden, bankrate.com
March 18, 2005
All are names for assorted new senior housing communities and buildings that are cropping up all around the country to satisfy the healthier, more active modern species of seniors who continue to redefine the word "retirement."
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More than ever, 55-plus communities are appearing in multiple manifestations. Some are heavy on recreation, with golf courses, scenic vistas, water features, walking paths, swimming pools and even "tot lots" for visiting grandkids.
Many also offer security, meals, scheduled transportation and outings, housekeeping, and a wide variety of healthcare services ranging from on-call doctors and nurses to assisted care. But the one thing all 55-and-ups want in their new community is to be masters of their domain.
"Seniors definitely want more control over their lives, especially now that life seems to be more unpredictable than ever," said Dr. Stephen Golant, a gerontologist and national senior housing expert at the University of Florida's Institute on Aging. "That's what these age-restricted condos and communities offer. They are controlled in the sense of upkeep, in who can live there and what can come up around them. There are no unpleasant surprises."
Golant stresses that the quality and standards of age-restricted communities, much like assisted-care facilities, "vary greatly from state to state and city to city, even though legislators would like to think there is consistency. It's not a uniform product."
That's why he and other senior advocates stress the importance of comparison shopping.
"People will spend more time shopping for a car or a briefcase than they will for something far more important, such as looking for a community that best suits their needs," he said.
Seniors should "make absolutely sure it's the lifestyle they want," said Sally Hurme, a consumer protection lawyer with AARP.
Here are some important tips on choosing a 55-plus community:
- Look beyond amenities: Recreation is important, but healthcare access, mobility issues, educational opportunities and any special property-tax allowances for seniors may also be significant.
- Make a checklist of wants, questions and concerns: Cover them thoroughly with the salesperson, agent or tour guide.
- Seek universal senior-design elements: A first-floor bedroom, wider hallways and wider doorways will come in handy, as will bathroom support bars, nonslip tubs and floors. Picture yourself in the home in 10 to 15 years and acknowledge that circumstances will likely change.
- Know the difference between "age-restricted" and "age-targeted." Age-restricted usually means 80 percent of residents must be age 55 or older, while age-targeted is designed with senior-friendly amenities, but has no age restrictions.
- Make repeat visits: Observe your prospective senior community or building at varying times. Is its culture or political make-up compatible with yours? Will you miss the presence of children and other young people?
