“Senior living” conjures up quite a few care and housing options, such as assisted or independent living, nursing homes, even homes focusing primarily on Alzheimer’s care. There are also options known as 55+ Active Adult Living Communities that allow seniors to function independently in their privately owned homes, where they are as active as they would like to be. In these communities, seniors maintain their independence and privacy, while downsizing their home to one that does not require as much care and has little or no yard maintenance responsibilities. Residents in these communities have many opportunities to interact and enjoy themselves with others in the same phase of life, forging friendships and bonds that will enrich their retirement years.

enior living” conjures up quite a few care and housing options, such as assisted or independent living, nursing homes, even homes focusing primarily on Alzheimer’s care. There are also options known as 55+ Active Adult Living Communities that allow seniors to function independently in their privately owned homes, where they are as active as they would like to be. In these communities, seniors maintain their independence and privacy, while downsizing their home to one that does not require as much care and has little or no yard maintenance responsibilities. Residents in these communities have many opportunities to interact and enjoy themselves with others in the same phase of life, forging friendships and bonds that will enrich their retirement years.

Unlike assisted living, the seniors in these 55+ communities are able to care for themselves, needing no assistance for everyday tasks such as cooking or cleaning. The main difference between this type of community and any other master-planned community development is the age restriction – at least one of the residents in each of the 55+ community homes must be at least 55 years of age.

While 55+ communities generally do not provide any health care related services as would be found in an assisted living scenario, these communities are most commonly found near medical facilities and hospitals. When the time arises that a senior in a 55+ community needs assistance for normal responsibilities, they will be expected to find their own support.

Amenities offered in 55+ developments vary per community, but most offer at a minimum, a clubhouse and facilities such as a pool and fitness center. Some communities offer a variety of features such as golf courses, biking/walking trails, fishing lakes, tennis/bocce ball/pickle ball courts, and aerobics/dance studios. Some communities even offer their residents a planned activity calendar with numerous clubs, groups and classes to join such as billiards, bowling, sewing/quilting, line dancing/ballroom dancing, game night, woodworking…. the list goes on!

As can be seen, 55+ retirement communities are destinations for seniors that are still actively involved in life. If you are over 55, energetic and full of life, a 55+ Active Adult Community may be the retirement choice for you!

Editor’s Note: This article submitted by Vicky Francis, Realtor, Carolina One Real Estate, 1530 Old Trolley Rd, Summerville, SC, (843) 870-5793, www.CharlestonChoices.com