Over 55 living communities are a popular choice for independently minded retirees who want to make the most of their freedom and enjoy an active, social and safe lifestyle. They offer plenty of attractive benefits for seniors, and plenty of facilities to help them make the most of their retirement.
While the nature of facilities will depend somewhat on each individual retirement community, you can generally expect the following types of facilities to be available in an over 55 living community (and most at no cost to residents of the community and their guests).
Retirement living facilities
It goes without saying that the main facility provided by an over 55 living community is retirement housing. These houses are specifically designed to make life easier for older people, and are complete with plenty of handy features that allow retirees to live a convenient and happy retirement.
Having homes that are purpose built for retirement means retirees are able to live independently for longer. Retirement community homes are well-thought through and well-constructed, and usually come with quality fixtures and fittings.
Recreational facilities
You obviously have more leisure time when you retiree, and many retirees place a great deal of importance on the recreational facilities available at the centre. While you can certainly access any number of recreational facilities out in the wider community, it can be handy to have them onsite and to have their usage limited only to members of the community and their guests.
Depending on the individual community, facilities may include:
- Pool
- Tennis court
- Library
- Movie theatre
- Meeting rooms
- Clubhouse or community centre
- Nature reserve
- On-site restaurants or cafes
- BBQ areas
- Games areas
Of course, the available recreational facilities will differ widely from community to community, so make sure you check out exactly what facilities are available before you commit to moving in.
Safety and security facilities
This is a big one for older people, who can often feel vulnerable in their own home, particularly if they are living alone. Over 55 living communities allow retirees to feel completely safe and secure, with safety facilities a big priority. It starts with well-lit streets and clear paths to allow retirees to move around safely at any time, and continues on with security cameras, gated entrances and sensor lights.
As well as the community, individual houses also sport handy security features such as deadlocks on the doors and security screens as standard throughout the homes. Plus, the homes ensure the safety of older people with easy access designs that aid mobility, and the potential to add further support features if necessary.
Allied health facilities
Many over 55 living communities also incorporate allied health facilities, such as doctors, physiotherapists and podiatrists. You may also find wellness facilities such as massage, hydrotherapy, hairdressers, nail technicians or rehabilitation programs.
Having these facilities onsite ensures quick and easy access without having to travel anywhere, and can make it much more likely that older people will seek help for issues. And if communities don’t provide these facilities onsite, they are often located within close proximity to the centre to provide similar easy access.
Pet acceptance
Most retirement communities will welcome small to medium sized pets – although you will likely have to get approval for your pet first, and to meet certain conditions of pet ownership. This is great news for retirees who don’t want to leave their furry friend behind when they move – just make sure you check your retirement community’s policy before you make any decisions.
- Gardens
Most over 55 living community have landscaped and professionally maintained gardens – both in communal parts of the village, and in the residents’ own houses. Individual gardens tend to be on the small side, as most retirees don’t want to spend a lot of time on garden maintenance.
In many cases, the retirement community will maintain the garden for you, leaving you free to just enjoy spending time in it. If you’re one of those people who love to garden, however, most communities will be willing to accommodate your interest, and may accept your help in the community gardens, or allow you greater freedom in your own garden.
Caravan Parking
One of the great things about retirement is the ability to lock up your home and go travelling whenever you feel like it – and many retirees take advantage of this with caravan ownership. Thus, many over 55 living communities provide caravan parking so that you can easily store and access your caravan – making those trips away much more convenient.
Clearly, retirement communities offer a great array of facilities and activities for their residents, which make them a wonderful place to live after you retire. Have a look at one such community and its facilities here: