According to the census, about 3.1 percent of seniors live in a nursing home or assisted living facility.
If the words nursing home seem too drastic for you, then you must be looking for a retirement community. Retirement communities are restricted to senior citizens who want to spend their golden years in a place they love.
Because we know not all communities are created equal, here are 5 tips to help you find the best retirement community.
1. The Location
When you’re in the process of looking for the best retirement community for you, the first thing you need to keep in mind is the location.
For starters, do you want to stay in the same city? Do you want to move somewhere warmer? Do you prefer the country over the city?
These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you settle on a retirement community.
For example, some people want to be closer to their grandkids and others want to move to the beach.
2. Your Lifestyle
How do you picture your life to be like when you retire? Before you start looking for a retirement community, ask yourself how you plan to spend your days.
Some people want to live a more social life and still want to stay surrounded by dining, shopping, and entertainment.
Other people prefer a more quiet setting surrounded by nature. If this is the case, you might want an area that has plenty of parks and outdoor areas.
3. The Care You Need
If you’re in your early retirement years, you might not need any type of care. However, you also need to think about further down the road.
Make sure you pick a place where you can still have control of your independence but can get care later on or when you need it.
Look into places that have a health care staff on site to give you a hand in case of an emergency. If you have health issues from the start, you should find continuing care to help accommodate you and keep you comfortable.
4. Look at Cost
As you look for a retirement community, you have to keep cost in the back of your mind. The more amenities you have, the pricier the retirement community will be.
If cost is a concern, decide on what you can afford and only look at retirement communities in your price range.
5. Go on a Test Run
It’s important you learn everything you need to know about the community you plan on settling into. Before you sign any sort of paperwork, you need to take it for a test run.
For example, if you plan on moving to another state, you should visit in the bad weather months, so you get an idea of what to expect.
Spend some time living in the area so you get a better idea of what the community is like.
Find the Best Retirement Community
As you can see, finding the best retirement community will depend on a variety of factors such as location, lifestyle, care, and cost.
Make sure you also take the community for a test run to make sure it’s the right place for you.
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