Independent / Retirement Living in California
Retired Californians mostly are active, robust individuals who intend to keep on living their life as they did while working and raising their families, just more so. Now they have time to start a new vocation, build on their natural abilities, try out new hobbies, plan and take trips and look forward to many more active years. The kids have flown the nest, college is finally paid off and the grandkids are becoming more independent and don’t need to be babysat anymore. They are retirees/boomers not seniors yet –most are very healthy and want to keep it that way. The middle part of their life has just started – 60+ is now the 45 from a generation ago.
Some decide to stay in their own home, which they upgrade or remodel for more comfort or security. Many check Find California Retirement out reverse mortgages or other refinance programs. Others can’t wait to down size, they are tired of having to keep up the big yard and house and a 55+ community with a smaller home and yard or a condo is what they look forward to. The club house with the pool and activity center, the parties, and the trips with like-minded people appeals to them. And then there are the travelers who purchase a motor-home, or plane tickets to places they have always wanted to see and experience. This is also the generation that enjoys belonging to service clubs and churches and many are dedicated volunteers.
Others are looking for a life-style that caters to the retiree whose objective is personal security – in beautiful surroundings, socialization and where pampering is on the amenity list – a Retirement Community. There are a multitude of options to choose from. Some offer single, small houses in a gated community, others apartments within a large building where housekeeping, linen changes, 2 or 3 meals prepared by a chef each day, outings, travel, exercise, recreation, transportation and many other services - that are either included in the rent or are available for a reasonable fee. Care in a free-standing Retirement Community is not offered, since they are not licensed as a Residential Care Facility. Some retirement communities will contract with in-home-care companies to come in and tend to some care needs if needed.
Some Continuing Care Communities offer retirement apartments with all the amenities, plus the guarantee to receive long-term care later in life, if needed on the same campus. The residential care part on that campus is licensed. Many of those communities are buy-ins.