A full-service retirement community may be ideal for your golden years. Ideally, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded contemporaries, free to pursue your favored pastimes without having to mow the lawn or take care of a car. How can you find the communities that fulfill these promises while avoiding overpriced, shabby developments?
Don’t wait too long to start looking. When you’re ready, it may already be too late. If you delay searching for the right community until you’re sick or injured, you won’t be able to investigate properly. While you’re still healthy, do your research, speak with friends and associates, and make site visits. The most desirable communities have waiting lists so give yourself plenty of time.
Don’t take a retirement community at face value. Don’t make any commitments until you’ve spent some time at the community. Stay at least one night in a guest house or guest room. Eat some meals in the communal dining room–and be sure to eat your meals with residents, not with the marketing director, to get the inside story.
