The term “senior living community” often brings to mind a small, quiet, unassuming neighborhood without much to offer in terms of social engagements. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Modern Active Senior Living Communities in Las Vegas aim to provide resort-style living opportunities for seniors looking to maintain an active, independent lifestyle and get to know people their age with common interests. These communities offer an escape from the isolated lifestyle that often comes with retirement, which can provide substantial health benefits. The American Journal of Public Health published a study that found that socially isolated seniors are twice as likely to experience age-related memory problems as highly social seniors.1 Before moving into an Active Senior Living Community in Las Vegas, here are some questions to ask yourself.
1. What kind of lifestyle do I want? It’s important to ask yourself what kind of lifestyle you’re looking for in your new home, even though it seems like an obvious question. Different kinds of Senior Living Communities offer varying levels of care for their residences, including health care, meal plans, transportation, and cleaning services. Active Senior Living Communities, also known as 55+ Communities or Active Adult Communities, are best suited for seniors who don’t require special assistance in their day-to-day lives and want to pursue hobbies and attend events close to home.
2. Where do I want to live? Now that you’ve decided on an Active Senior Living Community as your new home, it’s time to figure out which area in Las Vegas is best for you. Are you staying close to your family? Are you interested in the city life or gambling scene in Las Vegas? Eventually, you’ll want to leave your community and do some exploring outside, so pick a location with plenty of interesting things to do nearby. It can be family, the Strip, downtown, Red Rock, or even your favorite restaurant. Another thing to consider when moving in Las Vegas is the view. Vegas offers a beautiful view of the skyline at night, so keep that in mind when you’re choosing both the location of your community and the location of your house within that community.
3. What’s my budget? As with any move, it’s important to set a budget when looking for a 55+ Community that includes rent or mortgage, HOA fees, transportation, meals, and healthcare. Active Senior Living Communities vary in the services they offer residents, so it’s a good idea to ask about transportation, meal plans, healthcare, and housekeeping services, as well as any extra monthly fees that may be included. The average monthly price to live in an Active Adult Community is about $2,295 in Nevada, with $1749 being the monthly minimum and $3,300 being the monthly maximum.
4. What kind of amenities do I want? One of the biggest incentives of 55+ Communities is their resort-style amenities for residents. Depending on the community, there could be a golf course, Olympic-sized swimming pools, gyms, and arts and crafts rooms. Some Active Adult Communities even include places like theaters, restaurants, and libraries. Make a list of your favorite pastimes or hobbies you’d like to explore. Chances are there’s a community that offers what you’re looking for and more.
5. What are the age requirements? Most Active Senior Living Communities require at least one person in the household to be above the age of 55, hence the name 55+ Community. This makes for a quiet and peaceful neighborhood with few children running around and lots of opportunities to make friends with people your age. Some communities also have an 18+ age requirement for their amenities such as pool and gym, so make sure to ask if you plan to bring young children.
4. What kind of amenities do I want? One of the biggest incentives of 55+ Communities is their resort-style amenities for residents. Depending on the community, there could be a golf course, Olympic-sized swimming pools, gyms, and arts and crafts rooms. Some Active Adult Communities even include places like theaters, restaurants, and libraries. Make a list of your favorite pastimes or hobbies you’d like to explore. Chances are there’s a community that offers what you’re looking for and more.
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6. What activities do I want to be offered? According to the National Association of Home Buyers, 22% of buyers in 55+ Communities reported that they were primarily attracted to the activities offered by their communities.3 Active Adult Communities vary in the number and type of organized activities that they provide. Do you enjoy attending plays? Are you interested in taking aerobics or yoga classes? Fitness classes, theatre shows, banquets, and parties are just a few of the activities that you can expect to see in these neighborhoods.
7. What are my future needs? If you’re thinking of this as a long-term home, you’ll want to account for medical needs that could arise in the future. As you’re looking at units, take into account the structure of the homes. Are the hallways and doors wide enough to fit a wheelchair? Is it a one or two-story house? Could you add grab bars to the walls of the bathroom later down the line? Moving to a 55+ Community should provide you with a convenient and comfortable place to live even twenty years down the line.
8. How much maintenance do I want to be responsible for? When it comes to dealing with the moisture-sucking heat of Las Vegas’ summer, maintaining a beautiful lawn requires a huge amount of effort, time, and resources. Not only do Active Senior Living Communities offer a lot in terms of amenities and activities, but they also take the stress off you regarding exterior maintenance. In keeping with their promise of a comfortable and convenient lifestyle for seniors, most 55+ Communities offer low or zero maintenance lawn care taken care of by the HOA.
9. What size neighborhood do I want? Another thing to consider when moving to an Active Senior Living Community is the size of the neighborhood. Are you looking for a small, cozy neighborhood with few neighbors? Or do you want to find a larger place with lots of people and expansive grounds for walking around? Getting the right house to live in is important; it’s just as important to find a neighborhood that suits your needs and gives you the kind of lifestyle you’re looking for in a 55+ Community.
10. Do I want an agent? Finding a trustworthy real estate agent that knows the local housing market is a huge advantage when trying to find the right Active Senior Living Community for the best price. An experienced agent will work with you to locate the perfect home in a 55+ community within your budget. Their expertise is invaluable for assessing property value and saving the most money possible on a new home.
Sources
1Ertel, K. A., Glymour, M. M., & Berkman, L. F. (2008). Effects of social integration on preserving memory function in a nationally representative US elderly population. American journal of public health, 98(7), 1215–1220. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.113654
2What is Independent Living and How Much Should it Cost? – Assisted Living Today. (2019). Retrieved from https://assistedlivingtoday.com/p/independent-living/
3Emrath, P., & Liu, H. F. (2007, August 13). The Age-Qualified Active Adult Housing Market. Retrieved from https://www.nahbclassic.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=80711&fromGSA=1
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