View Full Version : 55+ senior retirement communities
Anyone here live in a 55+ community? I started looking into them last year, thinking of my elderly parents. They're still not interested, but I wanted to gather info just in case (see my recent thread on anticipating parents' needs).
While doing this, I realized, hey, maybe this is what I would want for myself someday, an active "independent living" community where I could move into assisted living later if needed.
I'm not 55 yet, but when I get there, why not move in? I have yet to visit any, but on paper they look pretty sweet. To anyone who's lived in one or looked at them, would 55 feel too young to be there? I know the average age is closer to 75 or 80. I've always had older friends anyway, even as a kid, so maybe this would be a logical progression?
This idea keeps coming and going. I do some research, then forget about it. Then the notion comes back. I'll probably visit a few eventually. Maybe that would make things clearer? The promo photos and videos of folks with canes and walkers are not so appealing, but having everything "taken care of" does. Basically you pay an entrance fee and/or a monthly fee and are allowed the run of the place. A staff takes care of the homes, grounds, facilities, activities, and even the food in some cases.
Seems like simple living to me. Why not join at 55?
Why not for me would be the cost. I try to never pay anyone to do things for me that I can do for myself. I am over 55 and can do yardwork and cooking myself.
iris lilies
1-7-22, 3:40pm
My condo is in a de facto over 55 building of 40 units. It’s a high-rise in the city. While it is true that we have one young family in the building because the mom is in a wheelchair and they need that kind of access, everyone else is at least 50 years old.
It’s very charming and it is a nice community. People are social within the building.My condo cost $65,000 (super small, tho) and it has a heated garage space which is not the norm around here. Monthly condo fees are about $310. There’s a lovely private backyard and a small community garden.
No one cooks for you though.
Everyone should consider these naturally evolving places for senior citizens that are not part of these ridiculously expensive “planned communities. “
iris lilies
1-7-22, 3:42pm
In answer to your question at age 55 are you too young? You would certainly be one of the younger people in those stated planned communities.
I actually considered another high-rise building around the corner from mine it is a stated senior citizen assisted living center. See I’m attracted to these old 1920s buildings. I considered it when I was in my 50s, not seriously of course, but more seriously as we purchased a house in the country and I needed a city place to land.
The median age in my county is 56.6 years old. At ~58, I am perhaps the youngest adult in my local neighborhood. I'm the median age for our fire department personnel.
~50% of the community is retired or semi-retired, deriving their income from retirement funds/pensions/savings.
Why not for me would be the cost.
Yes, they can be very pricey. But some you can enter for about $100K and then pay a few hundred a month for services. I think this would be doable for me. Or you can enter for zero and pay $3K to $4K per month. I'd rather pay a reasonable chunk upfront and have lower monthly fees.
My condo is in a de facto over 55 building of 40 units. It’s a high-rise in the city. While it is true that we have one young family in the building because the mom is in a wheelchair and they need that kind of access, everyone else is at least 50 years old.
My former apartment was in a building that used to be like this. Over the years, the ages trended downward, and now it's quite a mix, for better and worse.
The median age in my county is 56.6 years old. At ~58, I am perhaps the youngest adult in my local neighborhood. I'm the median age for our fire department personnel.
Good comparison. Do you feel out of place as the youngest? Are there others near your age?
My main desire is to find relative peace and quiet. A place without kids and loud dogs would help. There are probably cheaper ways to find peace and quiet in a low-maintenance lifestyle. The 55+ community is just one idea I've had. I'm currently renting in concrete condo complex that I had hoped would be quieter. Already thinking of moving again this year when the lease ends. Unfortunately not so many attractive options in this area.
My folks bought a patio home in their early 70's. About 1400 sq ft with a little grassed in yard and small back patio for flowers and a picnic table. Their HMO covered most of the exterior maintenance. In their declining times they were able to get in-home assistance for most of their needs other than long term nursing help. Meals on wheels, grocery delivery, and some senior services and relatives for driving, basic housekeeping, bathing, etc. It would be the route I would want to go that still offers some sense of independence. A lot of people probably reach a point where they need more care, but it worked for them almost up to the end. They both lost quite a bit of mobility but remained fairy sharp.
Assisted living would probably be the next step for greater needs, but there are a lot options before reaching that that are not nearly as pricey and still offer some independence. Having some sort of built in social community and organized activities might be a plus for some.
My take based on limited experience.
I'd investigate all the options available for retirement living--they don't all require a $100K buy-in. I would certainly consider one.
Jimmy Buffet apparently has several retirement communities:
https://www.latitudemargaritaville.com/
I've considered 55+ mobile home communities lately. They have a privacy to property tax quotient that appeals to me.
Teacher Terry
1-7-22, 6:14pm
Locally they cost a ton of money plus don’t appeal to me. A friend 10 years older looked into some and said no way.
My old condo was a de facto retirement community. I've known people who lived happily in 55+ mobile home parks.
Teacher Terry
1-7-22, 7:10pm
My condo has many seniors as well as younger people. It’s really quiet. It was really well built in the late 70’s.
I think it depends entirely on the specifics of the place and how much one values certain aspects like privacy. I guess if I am old and by myself that would be a better choice than a non 55 1 BR apartment somewhere - at least for the socialization aspect. We have looked into a couple of places and I'm too much of a gardener to like the mow and blow sterile landscapes that they have. There is a higher end 55 plus place near us with the full spectrum - completely independent townhouses on up to full care. I am told that assisted living there starts at $10K a month but one can buy townhouses for around $450K and up.
This reminds me - there are quite a few 55+ mobile home communities where we are considering a move to. We checked some out and thought they were kind of cute with a sort of village feel. Lot fees are around $500 a month though but that usually includes water, sewer and trash pickup.
dado potato
1-7-22, 8:17pm
If my dear wife required long-term care beyond my ability to provide/obtain it for her in our house, I would try to place her in a Green House (with the shahbazim working for the wellbeing of a small group of residents) similar to Mirasol in Loveland CO or Jamie's Place in Winthrop WA.
If the shoe were on the other foot, I hope my DW would place me in a Green House.
Atul Gawande wrote about Green Houses approvingly in his book, Being Mortal
It is important to know the needs and wants of the elder person(s). Discussions with them may be revealing!
This reminds me - there are quite a few 55+ mobile home communities where we are considering a move to. We checked some out and thought they were kind of cute with a sort of village feel. Lot fees are around $500 a month though but that usually includes water, sewer and trash pickup.
A friend pays $400 a month, which isn't bad. if I had a choice, I'd buy in a park where everyone owned their own lot. "Blow and go" sounds like heaven to me...:D
If my dear wife required long-term care beyond my ability to provide/obtain it for her in our house, I would try to place her in a Green House (with the shahbazim working for the wellbeing of a small group of residents) similar to Mirasol in Loveland CO or Jamie's Place in Winthrop WA.
If the shoe were on the other foot, I hope my DW would place me in a Green House.
Atul Gawande wrote about Green Houses approvingly in his book, Being Mortal
It is important to know the needs and wants of the elder person(s). Discussions with them may be revealing!
I looked at the second one. You cannot hug your family members. I would rather die than live in such a control freak environment.
I saw a really nice house in the Princeton area a while back and was surprised at how reasonable the price was for the area. But then I saw the HOA fees. I had good friends who used to live there.
Here's an example. https://www.compass.com/listing/2424-windrow-drive-princeton-nj-08540/540672345420188881/Even if you pay almost a half a million for the house, you still have $10k in taxes and a couple of thousand a month for HOA fees.
My preference is not to make my "forever home" a 55+ community. I'm hoping I can age in place here, with my similarly aged neighbors there to keep an eye on DH and I and we will do the same. DH said today as he was plugging up drafty doorways, "It's work to live here" but what are you going to do. I like waking up with purpose, even if that means mowing lawns, stoking fires and plugging drafts.
I like waking up; I could do without a purpose--especially if "purpose" means chores. So I aspire to the lowest-maintenance life possible.
I like waking up; I could do without a purpose--especially if "purpose" means chores. So I aspire to the lowest-maintenance life possible.
I'll admit that I'll be happy when my "purpose" isn't getting through 10 hours of interviews, but usually I get something out of those days. At least I did today, speaking with patients.
I figure I'm here to learn. So far, I've learned I don't like chores that have to be done over and over (among other things). :idea: I guarantee you I would have made the worst housewife ever.
I figure I'm here to learn. So far, I've learned I don't like chores that have to be done over and over (among other things). :idea: I guarantee you I would have made the worst housewife ever.
I remember my mother-in-law telling me when my kids were really small and I was an SAHM that she thought I should get a job and hire someone to clean the house. I took the first part of her advice and would have done well with the second.
I remember my mothe-in-law telling me when my kids were really small and I was an SAHM that she thought I should get a job and hire someone to clean the house. I took the first part of her advice and would have done well with the second.
I think that's very wise advice.
iris lilies
1-7-22, 10:04pm
I figure I'm here to learn. So far, I've learned I don't like chores that have to be done over and over (among other things). :idea: I guarantee you I would have made the worst housewife ever.
I don’t like housework, although sometimes I don’t mind dusting off and tidying, and maybe polishing some of the nicer things around here. But I seldom do it. The thing about gardening is that it’s repetitious work that you have to do it over and over, except things in the garden change. They change over a week, they change over a season, they change from year to year so it’s never exactly the same.
ApatheticNoMore
1-7-22, 10:06pm
I think I have more problem with wage labor than anything else, of course that all depends, I hardly want to live somewhere women have no choice regardless.
Reality check. Nothing is for sure so plan for options. I bought my little house as an investment and to increase my odds of a secure home for the duration. With the house prices going insane, it was a really good decision. Not everyone has that option though.
Seniors hit with a 43% rent increase.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/rent-hikes-double-digit-fredericton-1.6306468
Teacher Terry
1-7-22, 11:35pm
Rents here for a small 2 bedroom apartment are between 1800-2000k/month. I wouldn’t be able to afford to live here if I didn’t own. Some people rent a room in a house but that’s 800-900/month and I would never do that.
Reality check
Yep. The houses we have been looking at back near family have gone up $100K in one yr. I don't think we can afford them anymore so not sure how to proceed other than to stay here:(
A friend pays $400 a month, which isn't bad. if I had a choice, I'd buy in a park where everyone owned their own lot. "Blow and go" sounds like heaven to me...:D
I am now in TX in a senior mobile home park. The people here own the land the home is on and pay around $500/year for fees and have reasonable property taxes. The senior park down the road charges $500/month to lease the land. Needless to say, people are clamoring to get in this park. We have no desire to own more property and the rent we pay is fairly low. DH says if something happens to me he would consider living here year round because of the social aspect and minimal maintenance.
If my dear wife required long-term care beyond my ability to provide/obtain it for her in our house, I would try to place her in a Green House (with the shahbazim working for the wellbeing of a small group of residents) similar to Mirasol in Loveland CO or Jamie's Place in Winthrop WA.
If the shoe were on the other foot, I hope my DW would place me in a Green House.
Atul Gawande wrote about Green Houses approvingly in his book, Being Mortal
It is important to know the needs and wants of the elder person(s). Discussions with them may be revealing!
Thanks for posting this. I put this on my “to read” list!
dado potato
1-8-22, 9:58am
There is a directory of Green Houses in operation and in development around the USA at the following website: http://thegreenhouseproject.org
The Green House model has been adopted by both non-profit (faith-based) organizations and for-profit Skilled Nursing Facilities. The cost (private pay) may be slightly higher at Green Houses than institutional SNFs.
Before I could decide on a placement, it would be essential to take a tour and visit a few times. I would want to observe
shahbazim as they interact with elders,
skilled nursing resources,
food service,
housekeeping,
etc.
Are elders able to gather around a fireplace?
How friendly are the companion animals?
How aesthetically pleasing are the furnishings and interiors?
Can bird feeders/water-features be seen out the windows?
How dark is the night sky?
happystuff
1-8-22, 10:40am
I've lived in a mobile home before and actually enjoyed it, but it was on a private lot. I wouldn't mind doing the same again and actually am "mentioning" the idea to dh every now and then. LOL. I had a friend who lived in a mobile home park that actually looked like lots of tiny houses in a nice little community... lawns, trees, etc. Very nice.
dado potato
1-9-22, 10:34am
Dr Bill Thomas, founder of the Green House Project and its Director of Innovation gave a talk in 2016, "Keep Memory Alive". The Youtube video is about 50 minutes long. Thomas is critical of American old-age institutions, which he considers medically centered and overly controlling.
Listening to this talk may increase insight into the Green House model ... "Where it is coming from."
Title: Keep Memory Alive - Dr Bill Thomas - 2016 Age of Disruption Tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntc5dTifKzk
That reminds me of a podcast I listened to some years ago. They were interviewing a doctor whose first job out of med school was medical director at a senior living facility. He got there and started aggressively treating people's ailments and after a few months was taken aside by someone on the board who explained that that wasn't really his purpose there. This didn't dissuade him so the next thing he did was convince the board to let him buy several dozen birds (parakeets, if I remember correctly) and cages that they would then give to any resident that wanted one. The birds and cages got delivered and since the cages had to be assembled first he had all of it delivered to the room off the lobby which got used as a hair salon once a week. Then he and his head nurse started putting cages together amid the chaos of all these birds flying around the room. Their was a window to the lobby and soon there were a crowd of residents watching the show and acting more animated than they ever had. It was the first interesting and unexpected thing to happen to any of them since they had moved to the facility.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.