Florida Retirement Living

The Sunshine State has many options for its retirees. Choices vary according to individual preferences and budgets. Most Floridians will continue with the lifestyles they are accustomed to by staying in their own home or condo, maybe add some new hobbies and do a bit of traveling. Some may want to down-size or might be looking to move closer to their children and grandchildren. Others check out the many beautiful retirement communities for socialization and to be close to their friends who have already made that choice and are enjoying it.

Retirement communities can offer totally independent living, varying levels of assisted living, or a combination of the two. Continuing Care Retirement Facilities offer life care arrangements with accommodations for independent housing, assisted living and skilled nursing on site.

Retirees who want to continue to work for varied reasons can conduct a self-directed job search, or use the vast network of employment services offered by the state. The Agency for Workforce Innovation administers programs like the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which is a part-time employment program targeting elders, and can be found on the Department of Elders Affairs website.

With the influx of seniors from other states who are looking to move to Florida's warmer climate, where winter temperatures range from an average of 51 degrees F in the north to subtropical in the south, the population of elders (60+) has grown to over twenty three percent of the state's total population. The counties with the highest percentages of seniors age 65 and older are Charlotte (35%), Highlands (33%), Citrus (32%), and Sarasota (31%).

Experts suggest that a potential retiree from out-of-state should travel throughout the state, renting rather than buying for the first year, before making a decision about a permanent residence, be it a house or condominium. Condo living is not for everyone. The trade-off is usually privacy for convenience. By not just researching, but also experiencing the differences in lifestyle, weather and customs, will allow the retiree to find a community that provides opportunities for participating in those leisure interests developed earlier in life or those hobbies he or she may have always wished to develop.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs does provide a Disaster Preparedness Guide for those who are unaccustomed to hurricanes and related weather.

Due to Florida's mild winters seniors spend less on heavy clothing and heating costs. Otherwise, depending on personal taste, standard of living and medical bills, the cost of living in Florida is comparable to other states, with prices generally higher in the southern half of the state.