Saturday, March 9, 2013

Great Places to Retire in the United States

A significant percentage of Baby Boomers will retire in the United States, either in their current area or somewhere new.  Before making a final decision, they want to know more about the available choices ... and there are thousands!  Below you will find links to dozens of articles that have been written on this blog about a wide selection of retirement options in the United States.

These articles include information about the best cities to retire, cheap places to retire, sunny places to retire, wonderful age-restricted retirement communities, top builders of retirement communities, niche retirement communities, and more.  The articles have featured neighborhoods in virtually every region of the United States and more articles in this category are added frequently.

Index of Articles about Great Places to Retire in the United States

Advantages and Disadvantages of Over 55 Retirement Communities

Affordable California Coastal Retirement Communities

Affordable Retirement Cities with Pleasant Climates  

Age in Place - Retire Where You Live Now

Age in Place Villages Provide Resources in Your Neighborhood

Are You a Retirement Planner, Procrastinator or Crasher?

Baby Boomers Moving Downtown and Uptown

Benefits of Senior Roommates

Best Cold Climate Areas for Retirement 

Best Places to Retire in Pennsylvania
Best Places to Retire in the United States on $100 a Day

Best Places to Retire on $40,000 a Year

Best Retirement Communities in the U.S. per MSN Money

Best Senior Housing Choices for Aging Boomers 

Best States for Retirement, per Moneywise

California Active Adult Retirement Communities 

Camper and RV Travel Job - How to Survive Financially on the Road 

Cheap But Risky Timber Pines Florida Retirement Homes

 Cheap Places to Retire

Choosing a Continuing Care Retirement Community

Colonial Heritage near Historic Williamsburg, Virginia

Cresswind at Lake Lanier Active Adult Community 

Delaware Retirement Ideas 

Downsizing Tips for Seniors - How to Handle the Change 

Finding Niche Retirement Communities

Garden Park at Daybreak - Fabulous Senior Living in Utah

 Garden Spot Village Community for Seniors in PA

Gavilan for Retirees in Rancho Mission Viejo, California

Get Paid to Retire in These Locations 

Golf Cart Friendly Retirement Communities  

Golf Carts vs Golf Cars for Retirees 

Granny Flats vs. Nursing Homes: Could Seniors be Safer Near Their Families?

Great Places to Retire in the Northern US

Green Valley Arizona Retirement Communities

Heritage Todd Creek in Thornton, Colorado

Holiday Touch Retirement Living Communities

Home Sharing Arrangements with Senior Roommates 

Housing Options When Your Spouse is Ill

How Seniors Can Downsize Successfully 
How to Overcome Resistance to Assisted Living 

How to Qualify to Move into a Retirement Community

Kolter Planned Communities for Retirees

 Laguna Woods Village Active Adult Community 

Laguna Woods Village Statistics and Amenities

Leesburg, Florida Affordable Retirement Communities

Lennar, Pulte and Centerline Multigenerational Homes

Lake Ashton Florida Active Adult Community 

Life Plan or Continuing Care Communities - What Levels of Care do They Offer?

Livable Communities for Retirement 

Living in an RV after Retirement 

Margaritaville Retirement Communities

Meritage Homes Adult Communities in Arizona

Minto Homes - Florida Retirement Communities

Money Magazine Best Places to Retire

Multigenerational Families Living Together Again

Niche Retirement Community for Rock and Roll Musicians 

Over 55 Retirement Communities by Del Webb

Over 55 Retirement Communities by Four Seasons 

 Popular Retirement Communities in the United States 

Popular Places to Retire 

Recreation in Retirement Communities

Retire in a University or College Town - Affordable and Fun! 

Retirement Communities in Maine

Retirement Housing for Aging Alone - Are You Prepared for the Future? 

Retirement Living in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley 

Retire to Friendly Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Retire to Robson Ranch near Dallas, TX 

Senior Living Communities for Baby Boomers 

Senior Living in a Med Cottage or Granny Pod

Should You Move or Age in Place When You Retire?

Soleil Laurel Canyon Active Adult Community in Georgia

Sonata Senior Living in Florida 

Starting Over in New Retirement Destinations

Sun City Texas is a Premier Retirement Destination

Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio, California

Tellico Village Retirement Community 


 
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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Advantages and Disadvantages of Over 55 Retirement Communities

My husband and I moved to Laguna Woods Village, a popular over 55 retirement community in California, eight years ago and never regretted the decision.  We enjoy the lifestyle, the activities, and the other people we have met since we moved here.  We feel safe, and expect to live in this community, or a similar one, until we are ready for the nursing home!

However, not all of our friends have made the same decision.  In fact, when I mention to them how much we enjoy living in our community, they are often adamant that they would never consider moving to a retirement community.  On several occasions I have asked them to tell me why they feel so strongly about not moving into an age restricted community, since there are several of them in the area.  You will see their reasons further on in this article.

If you are trying to decide whether an over-55 retirement community for active adults would be the right lifestyle for you, here are some of the reasons people decide that they either want to live in one, or do not want to live in one.

The Advantages of Retirement Communities

Access to a wide variety of affordable activities is the number one advantage mentioned by people who like to live in retirement communities.  Depending on where you live, you may have easy access to golf, tennis, swimming, art studios, woodworking shops, garden plots, live theater, clubs and social activities.

Security is the second most common reason many people give for wanting to live in an age-restricted community.  The majority of retirement communities are gated and many also have private security that is a visible presence in the neighborhood.  In addition, with so many residents home during the day, someone is almost certain to be aware if thieves try to break into a home.

Other reasons given for living in a retirement community include:

They are usually near medical facilities;
Most residents are quiet, without loud teens or social events in the neighborhood;
There are opportunities to meet other people in your age group;
The housing is typically designed to provide easy access for the elderly and handicapped.

The Disadvantages of Retirement Communities

The number one reason people have given me for not wanting to live in a retirement community is that they are happy living in their current home or neighborhood where they have lived for a number of years.  If you have close ties to your neighbors and your community, you may see no reason to move to a new community where you would have to form new relationships.

Another reason people have mentioned is the fact that they have adult children or grandchildren who are living with them, and they know these family members would not be welcome in an age-restricted retirement community.  

Even when they do not have young people living with them, some people like living in a community where there are mixed ages.  They enjoy seeing children in their neighborhood, as well as young couples who are just starting out.

Another group of people, especially those in their 50's and early 60's, have expressed the opinion that they believe the residents of retirement communities are "old" and they do not want to live with all those old people.  Often these people view themselves as too young to live with other people in their 60's, 70's or older.

A final reason I have heard is that the Homeowners Association fees in many retirement communities are a little high.  All that easy access to golf, luxurious clubhouses and "free" amenities does not come cheap.  If people do not play golf, or they do not think they will use the other services, they sometimes feel that paying a large association fee is not worth it.

Where Should You Live After Retirement?

There is no answer that is right for everyone.  Whatever you decide is perfectly valid.  If you are happy where you currently live, or if you live in a household with an extended family, you may not want to move to a retirement community.  

On the other hand, if you want to try some new experiences and live somewhere with enhanced security, then an over-55 community may be the right choice for you.

Look over the reasons that others have used to make their decision, and you will know which choice is right for you.

If you are looking for more ideas about where to retire, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

If  you do decide you want to live in a retirement community, here are a few articles that may interest you:

Over 55 Retirement Communities by Del Webb
Over 55 Retirement Communities by Four Seasons
Sun City Texas is a Premier Retirement Destination
Tellico Village Retirement Community
Laguna Woods Village Active Adult Community

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Phone of clubhouse in Laguna Woods Village taken by author.
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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Tests to Predict Your Longevity

How healthy are you?  Is there a way to predict your longevity?  In recent years, scientists have discovered some interesting clues that will help us understand how long we might expect to live.

The best thing about these longevity tests is that we can use these tests to improve our health.  In other words, if you discover that you do not do well on one of these tests, you can work to improve your score and your overall physical well-being, at the same time.

Walking Speed and Longevity

According to a January 4, 2011 article on ScientificAmerican.com entitled "Walking Speed Predicts Life Expectancy of Older Adults," the walking speed of people over the age of 65 is a reliable marker for their general health and longevity.

This means that the faster your natural gate when you are walking, the more likely you are to be alive in the next five or ten years.  This was based on the analysis of data at the University of Pittsburgh's Division of Geriatric Medicine.

The researchers determined that people with an average life expectancy walked at about 0.8 meters per second.  If they walked at a rate of 1.0 meter per second, their life expectancy was longer than average.  Those who walked at a slower than average pace tended to have a shorter life expectancy.

Of course, this test will not be accurate if the only time you walk fast is when you are taking the test.  Instead, if you notice that you normally tend to walk slowly, you may want to put some effort into gradually increasing your speed.  This will improve the aerobic workout you get when you are walking around in the normal course of your day and, consequently, your general health.

Ability to Rise Unaided from the Floor Predicts Longevity

As reported in the article "Simple Test Predicts Longevity" at health.yahoo.com, another test that appears to estimate our longevity is our ability to sit on the floor and then stand up again using as little support as possible.  How long it took to stand up was not measured.  However, the amount of outside support needed was scored.  When people needed to brace themselves with a hand, a knee or both, they lost points.  If they looked wobbly, they also lost points.

About half of the study participants between the ages of 76 and 80 scored 0 to 3 on a 10 point scale.  In contrast, about 70 percent of those under the age of 60 received high scores of 8, 9 and 10.  This means that they only needed a modest amount of support, such as briefly placing a hand on the floor or on their knee.

Those who scored 3 or below had a 6.5 times higher death rate over the next six years than those who scored 8 or higher. People who scored between 3.5 and 5.5 were about 3.8 times more likely to die than those with the highest scores.  Those who scored between 6 and 7.4 were 1.8 times as likely to die than those who had scored higher.

The bottom line was that a one point improvement in the subject's sitting-to-rising score correlated to a  21 percent decrease in their mortality or death risk.  The lesson to be learned from this test is that people who have stronger legs and core muscles tend to live longer.  These are muscles that can be strengthened with weight training, either in a gym or by using hand weights and performing common exercises in a class or at home.  Again, putting some effort into improving your core and leg strength can also translate to a longer lifespan.

Why Do These Longevity Tests Work?

These tests give doctors important clues to your overall health and fitness.   Our fitness level is closely associated with our survival rate.  In related studies, it has been shown that having body flexibility, muscle strength, coordination and a high strength to body weight ratio are also important indicators of our fitness.  For example, people who are flexible enough to touch their toes and perform similar stretches also tend to have more flexible arteries.  This is one indicator of a healthy cardiovascular system.  Doing yoga stretches can help improve our health in this area.

Having good balance is also an important indicator of our health.  In addition, it has been shown that improving the balance of older people helps to protect them from falls and related injuries.  Since illnesses related to falls are one of the leading causes of death in senior citizens, having good balance can improve our longevity.

The retirement community where I live offers special balance classes.  In addition, many of the yoga and aerobic classes in our community are also designed to help the participants improve their balance, flexibility and core muscle strength.  This shows how important it is to continue to get exercise on a regular basis no matter how old we are.  In fact, some residents of our community who are over 100 years old continue to go to the gym every day.  This should be a lesson to the rest of us!

Researchers who performed the longevity studies stressed that these tests were not a fail-proof system of  determining your personal life expectancy.  Just as people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels may live longer than expected, or people who seem to be in perfect health may die suddenly and unexpectedly, these tests are not a guarantee that you will either die soon or live a long time.  However, they are thought-provoking and helpful in motivating us to improve our fitness levels.

If you are interested in improving your health and fitness so that you score better on these tests, take up activities such as walking, yoga, swimming and weight training.

If you are looking for more health and retirement information, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

You may also be interested in reading:

Sexually Transmitted Diseases after Age 50
Aging and Tips to Prevent Hip Injuries
Alzheimers Symptoms, Risk Factors and Treatment Options
Exercises that Help Fibromyalgia

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo courtesy of www.morguefile.com


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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Sandwich Generation Headed Towards Retirement

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, as reported on the AARP blog, many people today are finding themselves part of the "sandwich generation."  In fact, almost half of all adults between the ages of 40 and 59 have a living parent who is over 65 and, at the same time, they are either still raising a child under the age of 18, or they are financially supporting an adult child.

About 27 percent of the people in the sandwich generation are providing financial support to their adult children; about 21 percent are providing some support to their aging parents.  In addition, the US Department of Health and Human Services states on their website that, according to the U.S. Census of 2000, over 2.4 million grandparents have primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren.  That number has undoubtedly grown since the year 2000.

Why We Are Providing Financial Support to our Family Members

There are several reasons why so many Baby Boomers are finding themselves in the position of providing physical and financial support for other generations of their family.  One reason is the recession which started in 2007.  Since that time, many young people have found it difficult to find jobs that pay well enough to enable them to be financially independent.  Another reason is because an increasing number of elderly parents are being forced to move in with their adult children in order to survive, especially if they lost their homes or savings during the recession or as a result of long illnesses and other financial setbacks.

When family members are in financial distress, it is natural for us to reach out and help each other.  Very few of us would feel comfortable taking care of ourselves while letting our children or parents suffer.  It is very commendable that we are willing to take on these extra burdens in order to alleviate the suffering of our relatives.

How to Protect Your Own Retirement Plans

The problem is that many Baby Boomers who are part of the Sandwich generation are finding it almost impossible to save for retirement.  While they are taking on the support of their adult children and their elderly parents, their 401K's and IRA's are sitting empty.

While I would never advocate that people let their family members suffer while they build up big bank accounts, people who find themselves in the "sandwich generation" need to do some serious financial planning so they do not find themselves destitute in retirement.  If you can think of no other reason to try to save more money towards retirement, ask yourself if you want to be a burden on your children and perpetuate the stress of being in the sandwich generation on them.

More than ever, it may be wise to consult with a financial planner and make some changes in your lifestyle now so that you can help your family members, while still being able to save for your own future at the same time.

There is no reason why anyone should feel guilty about saving for their own future.  After all, if you are able to take care of yourself during your own retirement years, you will also be helping your children by not making them financially responsible for your care.  We can all work towards the day when the size of the sandwich generation decreases once again.

How to Take Care of Yourself

In addition, it is important for Baby Boomer caregivers to take care of themselves emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually.  No matter how much you want to help others, you cannot do a good job of caring for your parents or grandchildren if you let yourself get run-down.

Take time to get exercise, eat right and sleep right.

Take advantage of any assistance you can get that will make caregiving easier.  Do you have other relatives that can help with the burden, at least once in a while?  Are there community resources, such as adult daycare, that can make life a little easier for yourself?

Keep up with your friends and religious affiliations.  You deserve to get a break from your burdens once in a while and renew yourself socially and spiritually.

Relax and get rest whenever you can.

If you are interested in learning more about where to retire, health issues that may arise while you age, financial planning, changing family relationships and more, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You may also be interested in reading:

Why Some Seniors are Choosing Cohabitation
Living with Your Kids
Retiring Former Hippies Spark a New Generation Gap
Healing Relationships with Your Adult Children

You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo of multi-generational family courtesy of www.morguefile.com

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Retirement Living in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley

Retirement Communities in Palm Springs and the other desert cities in the surrounding Coachella Valley of Southern California have been popular for decades.  Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Sonny Bono, and Gerald Ford are among the celebrities who made the area famous. 

Over the years, the valley has been so popular with movie stars and wealthy Los Angelinos, that the city of Palm Springs was once known as the Playground of the Stars.  There are many reasons why this area is so attractive to retirees.

Amenities in Palm Springs and other Desert Cities

The Coachella Valley gets approximately 332 days a year of annual sunshine in this lovely desert valley surrounded by spectacular mountains, particularly Mount St. Jacinto that rises 10,000 feet above the valley floor.  The Coachella Valley is populated by a string of small cities that begins with Palm Springs and ends with Indio.  The communities include Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, and Desert Hot Springs

Attractive homes in the area can be purchased from less than $150,000 to over a million dollars.  In early 2012, the median selling price was about $200,000 in the city of Palm Springs.  Home prices are a bit higher in some of the other communities such as La Quinta.

Many of the gated communities that dominate the populated areas of the desert cities have their own amenities which may include country clubs, swimming pools, spas, exercise rooms and, in many cases, a golf course.  It is not a problem, however, if you move to a community that does not have its own golf course. There are over 100 golf courses in the Valley, and most of them are open to the public.

The Coachella Valley cities also offer a number of opportunities for fun and entertainment, including the 125,000 square foot Palm Springs Art Museum, the Desert Museum, a variety of festivals, shopping centers, restaurants, theaters and other entertainment venues.  Indian Wells is home to a world famous tennis complex.

There is also a large, modern medical system in the Coachella Valley, which brings peace of mind to people who choose to retire there.

Popular Coachella Valley 55+ Retirement Communities

Here is a list of some of the major retirement communities in the Coachella Valley.  If you are seriously considering relocating to this area, you will also want to contact a Realtor to help you compare current listings and find a community in the correct price range to meet your needs.  The list below is just intended to give you a general idea of the opportunities that are available to you.

Sun City Palm Desert in Palm Desert
From about $200,000 to over $1 million

Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio
From about $200,000 to about $850,000

Trilogy at La Quinta in La Quinta
From about $250,000 to over $1 million

Heritage Palms in Indio
From about $200,000 to over $600,000

Four Seasons in Palm Springs
From about $250,000 to $450,000

Villa Portofino in Palm Desert
From about $150,000 to $250,000

Villa Portofino and Heritage Palms were also recently listed by "55 Places" on their website as two of the Top 10 Snowbird Communities in the United States.

Coachella Valley Weather

The weather in the Coachella Valley is most appealing during the winter when daytime highs range from the 70's to the 80's, and nighttime temperatures drop into the 40's.  Summers, however, leave residents with no doubt that they are living in a desert.  The temperatures can rise to 105 degrees or higher during the day and frequently do not drop below 80 degrees at night.

In addition, many Palm Springs residents complain about the wind and dust storms in the summer.

Since the Coachella Valley is only about a two hour drive from Los Angeles and the beach towns of Orange County, it is not unusual for some desert residents to rent an apartment near the beach for two or three months during the summer.  This is a good compromise for people who love the desert in winter, but don't like the intense summer heat.  For example, Laguna Woods Village on the outskirts of  Laguna Beach, California is very popular in the summer with desert residents who are fleeing the heat.  Short term leases on furnished apartments are available in that community for about $1200 to $1800 a month.

If you are looking for more interesting places to retire, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this article to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

You may also be interested in reading:

Over 55 Retirement Communities by Four Seasons
Over 55 Retirement Communities by Del Webb
Sun City Texas is a Premier Retirement Destination
Living in an RV after Retirement

You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo of Kaufmann House in Palm Springs courtesy of www.en.wikimedia.com
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