RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

A 'retirement community', or 'active adult community', is a very broad, generic term that covers many varieties of housing for retirees and seniors - especially designed or geared for people who no longer work, or restricted to those over a certain age. It differs from a retirement home which is a single building or small complex where no "common areas" for socializing exist. Many retirement communities are planned for that purpose, and have special facilities catering to the needs and wants of retirees, including clubhouses, golf courses, and on-site medical facilities. Others are "Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities" (NORC), which become retirement oriented due to market forces rather than design. Another term may be used for a predominantly senior citizen community, which residence is unrestricted by age and job affiliation.
There are really three broad categories of retirement communities:

★ 'ACTIVE' communities (all residential units, no longterm healthcare facilities)

★ 'ACTIVE/SUPPORTIVE' communities (a combination of residential and healthcare facilities - also known as "continuing care retirement communities" - CCRC)

★ 'SUPPORTIVE' communities (all longterm healthcare units, like assisted living and nursing care)
Retirement communities are often built in warm climates, and are common in Arizona, Florida and Texas but are increasingly being built in and around major cities in cold climates too.
So far 5 U.S. states that have created 'Certified Retirement Community' programs.^[1] The obvious purpose of these programs is to encourage economic development - retirement, particularly baby boomer retirement - is very big
business. States seek to encourage retirement in their states; keeping existing residents and encouraging out of state residents to move to a new state. Louisiana estimates that the economic impact of a retiree household is the equivalent of 3.7 factory jobs.
The five states that have publicized their certification programs are:
- Texas^[2]
- Louisiana^[3]
- Mississippi^[4]
- Kentucky^[5]
- West Virginia^[6](West Virginia calls its program a "Designated Retirement Community")

Contents

Some USA retirement communities / "active adult" communities

Directory

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Florida

Maryland

New Jersey

Some non-US retirement communities

New Zealand

References

See also

Some USA retirement communities / "active adult" communities

:''If a community does not have its own Wikipedia article, please do not add it or links promoting it.''

Directory

DMOZ^[7] Directory of Senior Living Communities

Arizona

★ Circle City

★ Green Valley

★ Sun City

★ Sun City Grand

★ Sun City West

Arkansas

★ Hot Springs Village

California

★ Leisure World in Seal Beach, California

★ Rossmoor, Walnut Creek, California

Connecticut

★ Heritage Village

Florida

★ Century Village

★ Lehigh Acres

Maryland

★ Leisure World

New Jersey

★ Cedar Glen in Manchester Township

★ Crestwood Village in Manchester Township

★ Holiday City in Berkeley Township

★ Leisure Village in Lakewood Township

★ Leisuretowne in Southampton Township

★ Pine Ridge in Manchester Township

★ Rossmoor, Clearbrook, Concordia, and Whittingham in Monroe Township

Some non-US retirement communities

New Zealand

Selwyn Village,Auckland run by an Anglican Church Trust. This includes self-contained houses and apartments, bed-sits, and hospital.

References

1. Certified Retirement Communities
2. Texas Department of Agriculture - Certified Retirement Community Program
3. Certified Retirement Community Program (Louisiana)
4. Retirement in Mississippi - Certified Retirement Cities
5. Dept. for Aging and Independent Living Retirement Communities
6. Retire in West Virginia
7. DMOZ:Senior Living Directories

See also

★ Age-restricted community