So, you are a baby boomer active adult living  in one of America’s posh over 55 communities with all the ammenities one could only dream about and you’ve got the “blues”.   Well here is a receipe for relief:

1.  Accept all Invitations – play a round of golf with a buddy or two at one of the outstanding Active Adult Retirement golf courses.  Take a walk around and mingle with fellow retirement community neighbors; socialize at all costs.  55+ active adults are suppose to be “active” not sitting around alone watching tv.  If you are living in one of those retirement gated communites – bust out and go drinking, eating and enjoy what the good life is all about. 
   
2.  Help Others- it always feels good to help another.  Go out of your way to lend a helping hand to someone who needs it.  Your own retirement community is filled with people needing your love and attention.  To find out about local opportunities, contact area schools, churches and charitable organizations. Seek out and you shall receive big time! 

3.  Eat Healthy and Often:  put the diet asside and enjoy gourmet dining with great conversation while relaxing with friends.  A local 55+ community resort could be your meal ticket.

4.  Travel to Your Favorite Resort – if you got go, then go – what are you waiting for.  Arizona is loaded with cheapo or mucho expensivo gettaways.  Either one, will do you.  This is not the time to count pennies – throw some money around, it will make you feel good.

5.  Get Plenty of Rest:  you will need it to overcome the “Holiday Blues” and keep you in the “Holiday Spirit”.  Just try not to sleep alone.

Do the above and feel the results – happiness or depression, which one sounds good to you?

Governments are worried. Physicians are scarce. Retirement funds are in jeopardy. Will older adults and the up-and-coming Baby Boomers—a combined age group described as a tsunami—spell catastrophe? Or, is the large number of older and aging adults an untapped resource that will add value to the world?

Gain the broad perspective of older adults in “Active Aging Industry Outlook 2010,” the new research report prepared by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA). The active-aging industry provides facilities and programs that are part of a prevention/wellness model focused on quality of life for people who are 50 years and older. On the eve of the first Baby Boomers turning 65 year old, ICAA searched the analysis and research results of many organizations and compiled them into a single source of credible information.

Among the seven key drivers identified in the report are key concepts for the future:

1. An aging population is a large, growing market;
2. Functional ability among “older adults” is so diverse it requires a diverse range of services; and
3. The 50+ community population envisions their future lifestyle as active and involved.

The majority of older adults, according to the findings in the report, are happier, healthier and living longer than any other generation. While the prevalence of chronic health conditions is an important issue, so is the ability of older adults to contribute to society and change the way they age. Their interest in health and lifestyle creates ample opportunity for businesses and for service providers to tap into the older adult market by understanding their needs and wants today—and in the future.

The explosion in up-scale  55 communities and affiliated businesses are examples of new home developers meeting the requirements  of a Baby Boomer active adult community lifestyle

It is time to witness how the Boomers and their parents—together the largest, richest and fastest-growing segment of the overall population—are changing the way society responds to their expectations, needs, desires and dreams.”

•  Convenient access to the I-15 freeway.
•  You can buy old or new.  With Rancho Bernardo being a big community, you can buy a Brand New home in neighborhoods like 4S Ranch or Del Sur or an older home in the established neighborhoods like Bernardo Heights or Carmel Mountain.  It is always nice to have options.
•  Location!  You are only about a 20 to 25 minute drive to San Diego Downtown and beaches.
•  Convenient shopping and restaurants in such places like 4S Commons and Carmel Mountain Ranch Town Center located in the Rancho Bernardo community.
•  Looking to retire?  Rancho Bernardo’s Seven Oaks and Oaks North are 55+ years old active adult retirement neighborhoods.
•  It is part of the award winning Poway Unified School District.
•  It has public golf courses like Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course and Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club, beautiful parks (dog park too!) and scenic walking trails

Now, these are just of few reasons why Rancho Bernardo is an area to think about moving to.   I am sure I am missing a few more but these reasons should give you a really good idea what Rancho Bernardo has to offer.

Once it has been decided that a move is necessary, there are several options to consider. Most seniors strongly resist moving into an “old folk’s home” for fear of the negative images they hold.  There are several options available in today’s marketplace including: condominiums, life lease apartments, senior’s apartment buildings, supportive housing, retirement residences, and long term care facilities.  An open discussion about what the senior would like and their current and future care needs is a great place to start.

When making a decision about a move, it is important to remember that each living arrangement has benefits and drawbacks. A condominium might be a good fit for someone who is finding the outside maintenance of their home to be a challenge and who wants to maintain complete independence- as no services are typically offered.  Many have a doorman or concierge who can provide some level of security and assistance.  These buildings also can allow the senior to stay in a community of people of varying ages. Seniors living in condominiums still need to prepare their own meals and take care of their own household chores. Perhaps the largest drawback to this type of move is that it is likely that the senior will have to move again as their care needs increase, unless there is space and interest in hiring private home support assistance and/or a live in caregiver.

A senior’s apartment building is a rental option for seniors who, much like those who purchase condominiums, find outside maintenance of their homes to be difficult to manage but in every other way would like to maintain complete independence. These apartment buildings have an age requirement and do not allow children or younger families to rent. Seniors who chose a facility like this to call home may find that they meet more people who share similar interests and activities. Like the condominium, however, the largest drawback to this type of facility is the need to move again to higher levels of care when health begins to decline and the need for assistance with tasks of daily living increase unless there is space and interest in hiring private home support assistance and/or a live in caregiver.

Supportive housing provides affordable housing designed to help seniors re-establish connections to the community. The housing is linked to voluntary and flexible support services designed to meet the seniors’ needs and preferences. It is designed for people who only need minimal to moderate care, such as homemaking or personal care and support, to live independently. The level of support may vary, and some support services are provided by on-site staff, while in other instances may be delivered on an outreach basis. This may include adult day programs or medical/physiotherapy clinics coming into the apartment building. Staff working in these facilities try to help seniors in their building get linked into other services offered out in their community, such as senior’s centres. These staff, however are not medically trained, some are Personal Support Workers (PSW’s) while others have certifications in recreation planning. In many facilities, no one is on staff during the night in case of emergency.  Supportive housing buildings are owned and operated by municipal governments or non-profit groups including faith groups, seniors’ organizations, service clubs, and cultural groups. Accommodations, on-site services, costs, and the availability of government subsidies vary with each building.

Accommodation costs are based on market rent for similar apartments. Seniors wishing to live in this environment need not have a certain income level however subsidies are available for seniors with limited financial means. If eligible, the government may subsidize the rent so that the senior only pays up to 30% of their household’s monthly income. To be eligible for a rent subsidy, the senior must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or refugee claimant. If they own their home they are obliged to sell it within six months of moving into supportive housing. Local governments may set additional eligibility requirements for rent subsidies. There is usually a waiting list for subsidized units. Seniors may have to pay an additional fee for optional services such as transportation, recreational outings or hairdressing.

To find out what the further eligibility requirements for subsidy are for your province, and to find out where there is a supportive housing unit in your area, contact your local CCAC or Community Care Association who have application information as well as a listing of all supportive housing locations in the area.

A retirement residence is another option. Many are geared to modestly well and independent seniors. These rental facilities, can range in price and service delivery.  Many offer dining room settings, pools, exercise rooms, supervised outings and bus services.  Units can include a bachelor, one or two bedrooms and some have kitchenettes that allow residents to opt in or out of some of the meals.  These retirement residences have the benefit of having staff (typically Personal Support Workers) available to residents as well as nursing and recreation planning staff. This provides the senior and their family a feeling of security in knowing that there is always someone close by in case of emergency. These facilities often become a community unto themselves, with meals offered and activities and events pre-organized by the staff.  Many even have visiting physicians and other health practitioners and can arrange for medications to be delivered right to the resident’s door.

Within many retirement communities varying levels of assistance for personal care are available (assisted living) and can be purchased as needed for an additional fee. These programs are offered as a means to help seniors ‘age in place’ so another move will not be necessary. Additional levels of care may be referred to as ‘assisted living’ which includes some hands on assistance from a Personal Support Worker for bathing and/or dressing and may include medication monitoring.  If the individual requires more assistance during the day and evening, or are dealing with significant cognitive issues that result in the need for full time supervision or a secured floor, while some facilities may be able to accommodate others would deem them ready to move to long term care or to require extra help from private service providers.

A life lease apartment is much like a condo – but includes access to all the services of the retirement home. These facilities may be within a retirement residence or a separate facility. The benefit to these types of apartments is that the resident maintains a bit of equity –they own their apartment and when they pass away, the money from the sale of the apartment will act as an inheritance or be available to pay off any remaining debt. If a retirement residence has life lease suites along with apartments, assisted living programs and long term care, the senior could move once and not need to move to another facility. Rather, they would move within the facility as the need arose for higher care levels.

One of the major drawbacks to moving to a retirement setting is the need to adjust to a communal setting. In these facilities there is a set menu, a set meal time and bus trips and outings are set according to a pre planned schedule. It can also be a shock for a senior first moving into one of these facilities to see “all the old people”. Discussing what to expect and getting tours of possible residences will help make the decision as to whether the facility will be a right fit. Some locations will offer trial stays so that seniors can see what daily life will be like, get to taste the food and meet other people who live there.  Respite and convalescent care is also offered in many retirement residences and may be another good way to introduce an alternate setting.

A long term care facility is available for those who require more assistance than what is offered by the retirement residence. These facilities are funded by the government so that no person who requires this level of care will be turned away for lack of funds.

These facilities have 24 hour nursing care and residents receive help with all activities of daily living- eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, as well as having provision for laundry and housekeeping.

In the Province of Ontario, long term care facility admission is accessed through the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). The CCAC will send a case manager to your home to help you to select 3 facilities that you would be willing to move to, in order of preference. Much like Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Prince Edward Island have agencies (Home and Community Care Services, Community Care Access Capital Health, “Centres locaux de services communautaires”(CLSC) (Local Community Services Centre in English) and Home Care Office respectively) through whom residents of the Province access admission to long term care. These government agencies assess applicants for eligibility, assist with completing applications, monitor the waiting lists, and advise residents of their admittance to a particular home. Initial contact with any of these agencies can be completed by either the senior themselves or a family member. To ensure that you make an informed choice, it is always good to book a tour of each facility, enjoy a lunch and speak with other residents and family members prior to making any decisions on your application.

If you are still unsure of what setting would be right for your parent, a Geriatric Care Manager can help assess your parent’s care needs and can assist with outlining the various local options available. They can help the senior to make a decision that will optimize their health and lifestyle for the immediate and long term.

First of all, look for communities that are less like a “resort” and more like a “community”. Remember, all those amenities cost money and someone has to pay for them making them less affordable in the long run.

Many communities in North Carolina and South Carolina have golf memberships, tennis memberships, social memberships, and even equestrian memberships. There are fees associated with all of them, and you don’t want to find out how much they are, after you settle into what you thought was your Best Place.

There can be fees for using the health club, pool, boat docks, and community room for social events. Recently, I was researching several communities in

North Carolina and I came across a golf community that had an initiation fee of $100,000! Plus yearly dues of $7,000, and a dining minimum of $1400 per year. I don’t know about you, but that’s one heck of a chunk of change

It doesn’t make much sense to choose a golf community, if you then can’t afford the membership and fees associated with it. Most communities have either a

Property Owners Association or a Homeowners Association, and each have fees associated with them.  If you own a townhouse or condominium, the fees are usually higher.

Many retirees today are seeking out retirement communities in North Carolina and South Carolina based on a choice of lifestyle and their interests, and they need to find out before hand if the fees associated with those activities will make it impossible to pursue them.

One way to find an affordable lifestyle in North Carolina and South Carolina is to look at some of the many small charming towns. They’re a good bet whether you’re retiring or relocating to the Carolinas.

I like to find small towns with active communities, just outside the larger metropolitan areas, or small towns within close proximity to other small towns,or small towns with colleges in them. These situations give you the advantage of small town living, but with big town services.

When I say small towns, I’m talking about towns of approximately 10-30,000 people.  Towns like Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and Boone in North Carolina are great examples of living in a “cluster” of smaller towns that have a lot to offer.

The western part of North Carolina also has some of the best places to live in the Carolina’s, like Cashiers, Fontana Village, Bryson City and Waynesville.

For coastal living, one of my very favorites is New Bern. It’s one of the best places I’ve been to in North Carolina. It’s a quaint small town with a historic housing stock and beautiful open spaces. The Neuse and Trent Rivers come together in the middle of Town. It’s gorgeous!

Although it’s still considered a small town, you won’t lack for shopping, culture and great restaurants. The ocean is only 40 minutes away and the Pamlico

Sound is right next door. And the people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met!

In South Carolina, you’ll find beautiful, quaint, small town living in places like Anderson, Beaufort, Summerville, and Georgetown.

Today, there are an increasing number of people interested in living just outside small downtowns where they can walk to shopping, restaurants, and activities.  Especially with the price of gas! Small towns in North Carolina and South Carolina have become very popular for relocating empty-nesters, as well as boomer retirees.

When I say small towns, I’m talking about towns of approximately 10-30,000 people.  Towns like Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and Boone in North Carolina are great examples of living in a “cluster” of smaller towns that have a lot to offer. 

The western part of North Carolina also has some of the best places to live in the Carolina’s, like Cashiers, Fontana Village, Bryson City and Waynesville. 

For coastal living, one of my very favorites is New Bern. It’s one of the best places I’ve been to in North Carolina. It’s a quaint small town with a historic housing stock and beautiful open spaces. The Neuse and Trent Rivers come together in the middle of Town. It’s gorgeous!

 Although it’s still considered a small town, you won’t lack for shopping, culture and great restaurants. The ocean is only 40 minutes away and the Pamlico

Sound is right next door. And the people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met!

In South Carolina, you’ll find beautiful, quaint, small town living in places like Anderson, Beaufort, Summerville, and Georgetown. 

Today, there are an increasing number of people interested in living just outside small downtowns where they can walk to shopping, restaurants, and activities.  Especially with the price of gas! Small towns in North Carolina and South Carolina have become very popular for relocating empty-nesters, as well as boomer retirees

There’s usually a greater sense of “community” in these smaller towns, and opportunities to get involved as a volunteer or civic leader. 

Other advantages includeless traffic, more affordable housing and usually lower taxes. You might also find some great old houses just waiting for you to restore them. 

Whether you’re relocating to the Carolina’s or looking for an active adult retirement community, there’s a small town that could be just right for you. 

But wait, I must also tell you of a possible downside. In these small towns, you won’t find as much diversity in the people and you might be considered an “outsider” at first, and you may find that all the cultural events and services you want may not be readily available. 

Either way, if you pick a small town in North Carolina or South Carolina that’s a short ride from one of its urban areas, you’ll be assured of a variety of services, good medical care and plenty of activities to keep you busy. 

There is also the added benefit if you find a community with a college or branch of a major university, where you can experience plently of intellectual stimulation and diversity.

All and all, if you use my “cluster” concept of relocating or retiring around other small towns, the drawbacks will be far outweighed by the slower pace, quality of lifestyle and lower cost of living.

Two of my favorite small Best Places in the Carolinas are Lenoir, North Carolina which was rencently voted a “Hot Bargain” in National Geographic Adventure Magazine, and Aiken, South Carolina, which is located in the middle of beautiful horse country just northeast of Augusta, GA.

Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Utah, Tennessee, North Carolina and Arizona are some of the top picks for the best retirement states. It is mainly because they are able to provide the best value for retirees, a lot more leisure activities, moderate climates, and may also be known for their natural beauty, people and intriguing geographical sights.

When searching for nationwide retirement solutions it can be essential to take into consideration what exactly your monthly cash flow or funds is going to be. Most retirees live on a set income. Look for states that have lower living costs reports with little or no sales taxes. These lower taxes permit those with a fixed income afford the day to day costs of food and other daily needs.

Lower sales taxes could possibly indicate higher income or property tax. Therefore it is definitely a good idea to evaluate home ownership to residing in a retirement community or leasing. Leasing in a retirement neighborhood is able to offer their residents the security and safety of residing in a gated area. Renting additionally offers residents escape from needing to handle the maintenance of the residence and the prospect of living in a more gracious way of life.

Living in or near a college town might be amongst the best in nationwide retirement solutions. College towns are alluring for the reason that they normally offer you good quality health care, reasonably priced living alternatives as well as free or substantially cheaper college courses for seniors. They also provide a rich cultural and artistic setting in which to reside. You’ll find several small college towns that offer many of the above conveniences without having all of the traffic.

In making the report on the best retirement states they should offer good retirement residential areas. These communities normally have many services for active adults over 55 as well as for those that may require assisted living rentals. They commonly feature clubhouses, swimming pools, golf courses, retail shops and convenient medical clinics. They typically may have common areas for socializing. For those searching for a golf retirement community Arizona, Florida and the Carolina area sound like the most desired.

According to a Dell Web survey of baby boomers, 55% of them plan to move when they retire.

If you own a home, it is likely your most valuable asset. Although there may be many emotional ties to your current home, you should consider if its the right place for you in retirement.

There are many good reasons to consider downsizing or relocating for retirement:

Retiring with debit is not optimal; perhaps you can downsize and eliminate the need for a mortgage completely.
Even if you don’t have enough equity to buy a smaller home outright, reducing the size of your mortgage payment will likely improve your financial security in retirement.
Your housing needs during retirement will most likely be different than your current needs and you may want to find a home and community that better suits your retirement needs.

In addition to a lower mortgage relocating can provide several other financial benefits:

Moving to an area with a lower cost of living, lower energy costs and better tax environment are all things that can benefit you financially.
Moving to an area that offers a climate or community that is a better fit for your retirement can have a positive impact on your retirement lifestyle.

Beyond the financial savings relocating and/or downsizing can improve the quality of your life. You can reduce the time and hassle of maintaining your current home and move to an area ideally suited to your values and interests.

You might move out of your large suburban home into a condo by the beach. Or, relocate across the country to be closer to family. Perhaps your health would benefit from a different climate.

No matter your motivation, retirement should be a time for you. Find the place to make these years the best they can be.

Be sure to consider the following points when evaluating retirement locations:

Proximity to family
Climate
Adult education opportunities
The number and types of doctors
Hospitals
Air Quality
Crime rates
Availability and cost of recreational activities
Availability and cost of cultural activities
Ease of travel-proximity to transit systems, airports, train stations, etc.
Cultural events and festivals

You will also want to consider how well you will be able to live in the home or condo you choose as you age:

How easy is the property to maintain
Does the home have stairs
Could the home accommodate a wheel chair if necessary?

The questions and concerns can seem endless when you begin the process of selecting a new home for your retirement. There are many organizations, websites and magazines dedicated to helping provide answers to these questions.

Many companies offer the price saving benefit of their relocation program to retiring employees. Be sure to check with your Human Resources Representative about this important benefit. Once you choose your new home and are ready to move, A. Arnold World Class Relocation will be there to get you moved into your new home with ease.

With or without a gate or guard house, people feel safer living in a community with like minded people with similar interests and communities are becoming very popular especially with people in retirement.

Most all communities are deeded real estate. And today, there are many different types and styles of “communities” which have various levels of amenities.  It is important as you explore in search of finding your Best Place to live, you know and understand all the choices that are available.

An “Active Adult Community“ is an age-restricted community requiring at least one household resident is age 55. No one under age 19 may be a permanent resident. Residents usually engage in community activities and are retired, employed in some manner or have their own business.

Many Adult Communities maintain the property for the residents. I like to call them “Active Lifestyle Communitiesbecause, for the most part, the focus today seems to be more on lifestyle and amenities, rather than age.”

Some communities are centered on boating, golf, horses, fitness or some other outdoor activity. They have a certain “style” to them.

“Private Residence Clubs“ is deeded real estate ownership (fractional ownership) without the added responsibility of owning. The price varies with residence and number of weeks in your plan.

With “Destination Clubs“ you don’t own any of the real estate and for only a membership fee and yearly dues, provide access to houses throughout the world. Both Private Residence and Destination Clubs provide high-end housing at resort destinations with five-star amenities.

The explosive “New Urbanism“ communities tightly cluster a wide variety of home types, foster interaction; residents are diverse from the retired to young families; feature walkable Main Street shopping, restaurants and a mix of commercial development.

The New Urbanism community de-emphasizes the need for a car has undeveloped common “green space” and offers residents of different ages and economic backgrounds.

New Ruralism communities foster connection with nature, privacy, and community involvement only as desired.

The home sites are usually large and separated by nature preserves, natural features, and agricultural land.

New Ruralism communities are characterized by undisturbed open spaces shared by everyone.

A new type of community real estate is Co-housing. Co-housing is where people are committed to helping each other and becoming popular with the same generation that gave us the commune.

Residents of a Co-housing community own a townhome or condo and share a “common house”, participate in the design, operation and maintenance of the community.

The common facilities usually contain a kitchen, lounge, children’s room, recreational facilities, meditation room and workshops.

As you can see, there are many different types and styles of “communities”.

Whether you’re retired or relocating to what you want to be your Best Place to Live, communities offer a wide variety of lifestyles.

There’s no better way to find out more about the communities you are considering, than taking a trip to visit them. Many offer “discounted“ weekend packages.

However, before you spend all that time and money, make sure you read the fine print.  Also, many provide a video or DVD of the community, so you can get to know them without ever leaving home.

Visit www.PlacesOfValue.com for more information on the best places in North Carolina and South Carolina, relocation and/or retirement made easy.

Get Your FREE REPORT on “Affordable Best Places In The Carolinas”, and find your Best Place to Live in North Carolina or South Carolina. Visit:

http://www.placesofvalue.com/go/go.php?c=ncscad2

While many people would love to retire in Manhattan or Paris, many cannot afford those options. Retiring on a fixed income means living within your means. Also, as beautiful as a white Christmas may be, most retirees do not want to spend their winter months digging snow out of the driveway. Taking a careful look at these critical factors can help retirees make the best choice possible.

Affordability

With fluctuations in today’s economy, many retirees are being forced to reconsider their finances. There are often penalties for earning extra income, so the budget must be designed accordingly. The less expensive an area is, the further that monthly income will go. There are affordable options geared toward retired individuals and families in established communities. Retirement homes for sale in Orlando that combine accessibility, affordability, medical services and easy access to world class entertainment.

Welcoming Weather

Young bodies may be able to thrive in bitter cold but older joints prefer warmer, gentler climates, which is what makes retirement homes in Orlando so popular. It’s not so much the cliche of retiring to Florida, but the fact that the weather provides plenty of warm sunny days are comforting to the senses and that allow for outdoor activities and socializing on a regular basis.

Medical Services

Living in a rural wilderness may be fine for young adults, but diseases, disabilities, prior injuries, and chronic conditions tend to catch up with us as we age. Convenient access to medical services must be considered when looking at retirement homes for sale in Orlando, Missouri, Costa Rica, or anywhere else. Ideally, geriatric medical services of various levels will be close at hand to provide for increasing medical needs, in case conditions worsen.   

Accessibility

Accessibility is another important factor when choosing a retirement home. While you may not need advanced accessibility features now, you won’t want to be burdened with the cost of adding on should you need these later. Sidewalk ramps and elevators become more necessary as we age. Finding the perfect home does no good if assistance is needed for every activity.

Entertainment

This stage of life means more free time to enjoy community events, museums, arboretums, educational opportunities, amusement parks, and other attractions. There is no reason not to enjoy all this hard-earned leisure time. That’s part of what all those years of hard work were for and what makes looking at retirement homes for sale in Orlando worthwhile.

Make Enjoying Life a Priority

Some will find retirement homes in Orlando to be the ideal opportunity while a home town based senior community will be right for others. No matter what you choose, make enjoying life a priority. Now is not the time to settle! Ask yourself what you really want out of retirement and then go out and find it, rather than taking the first or most obvious option. Most people are surprised to find that a sunny Florida retirement filled with activities, friends, and sunny days really isn’t that expensive or out of reach at all.