I’m sure everyone has heard the saying “60 is the new 40!” The senior generation today is definitely more active, physically fit, and social. With this, there is a growing desire to create a lifestyle that adapts and facilitates a community of like-minded people. There is a comfortable feeling being around people who have common interests, goals, and challenges. Many Baby Boomers are looking to retire to an active adult community. The goal is to downsize, have a maintenance-free lifestyle and have time to engage in more social opportunities.
Traditional Options
Luckily, with the growing number of Baby Boomers, there are more options available every day. Side note: did you know 10,000 Baby Boomers will celebrate their 65th birthday every day from now until 2030? That’s a lot of birthdays!
Here are some traditional options that have been highly common over the years:
- Aging “in place” – many desire to remain in their home for their later years in life. It’s comfortable and familiar. A much smaller percentage actually manages to do this for various reasons. This could present challenges as they age because of location. In suburban or rural areas there will be a need to drive to do errands, go to doctor appointments and be a part of a community. Although driving may not be a challenge now but it maybe 20 or 30 years down the road.
- Living with family, if possible, is a great way to stay active and engaged in life with those you love. Attached mother-in-law suites and detached smaller cottages are becoming more commonplace. If you’re considering this option, here is a list of all homes for sale that offers some sort of mother-in-suite in Summerville.
- Assisted Living Communities – allow seniors to live on their own while still allowing them to access some of the help they need as they get older.
55+ Living Communities
Something that has been around for a while, but becoming more popular, are 55+ living communities. Also known as Active Adult Communities. These communities allow those over the age of 55 to buy their home or condo within a private, amenity-filled community. In some of these communities, the amenities are nothing short of resort-like.
We are lucky to have six of these communities in Summerville. They are a mix of residents who may continue to work part-time or full time, or may also be retired. One main concept of the active adult communities is that people in the same stage of life probably share a few leisure-time interests and pursuits. Whether it’s proudly talking about grandchildren or lamenting the fact that our eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, it helps to be around people who not only understand but actually feel the same joys and concerns as well. People who live in these communities are not just buying a home, but choosing a community and lifestyle. Check out more information on these communities here.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to explore your options concerning active adult communities.