A full-service retirement community may be ideal for your
olden 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.