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A recent survey by Bankrate.com ranked Utah as the fourth-best state in the nation for retirement. Among the factors that determined the ranking were quality of life, cost of living, health care quality, crime rate and tax burden. Whether you are recently retired or still working, thinking about where you want to live as retirement approaches is extremely important.
Over the last few years, active adult (55+) communities have become increasingly popular among retirees because they provide an opportunity to reside near people in the same stage of life and offer a low-maintenance lifestyle.
Here are four benefits of retiring in an active adult community:
1. Low-maintenance lifestyle
Get rid of the lawn mower and snow shovel. After all, you’ve earned it. Active adult communities are designed to give you less work and more free time during retirement. The lock and leave convenience of knowing that the exterior maintenance of your home is taken care of is optimal whether you travel a lot or you just don’t want to take care of it anymore.
While services can vary, most communities offer a variety of services to reduce the time spent on property maintenance.
2. Stay healthy
Staying active and social in retirement are important aspects of healthy aging. It can be quite the adjustment to no longer go to the office every day, but it is important to find a routine.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, retirees should spend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. Look for an active-adult community that offers access to a fitness facility, a walkable community, and opportunities to try new activities for exercise like kayaking on a nearby lake or joining a walking group.
3. Homes designed for you
Not all homes are created equal. Daybreak in South Jordan offers a variety of home options expertly designed to tailor to the needs of residents age 55+. Garden Park has homes starting in the mid $100s offering large gathering spaces, wide hallways and doors, custom interior design options and private outdoor patio space. And don’t even worry about climbing the stairs to go to bed; main-floor master bedrooms are available in all home plan collections.
For more information about the Daybreak community or Garden Park, call 801-446-9022.
4. Stay connected
The feeling of loneliness is very common after retirement. The key to preventing depression during retirement involves staying busy and finding opportunities for social engagement. Active-adult communities offer a variety of programmed activities and opportunities to stay busy, as well as opportunities to meet your neighbors who are at a similar station in life.
Residents can join various clubs like gardening, walking, book club, ballroom dance and more. And the best part: they are all located close to home.
Other things to consider
Now with less work and more free time, active adults need to be connected in other ways. Communities close to shops and restaurants, health care, TRAX and natural playgrounds for evening retreats or walking trails (i.e. Garden Park has an inlet from Oquirrh Lake for kayaking or canoeing) add to the quality of life.
Take a look at the 50 best places to retire at Where to Retire magazine.
