As people age, their needs for housing may change. This is not simply because the children have moved out and there's too much space; it's also about decreasing mobility, flexibility, and endurance.
Over time, stairs can become an obstacle, large yards may prove exhausting or expensive to maintain, and DIY repairs on the roof or household systems may become an inconvenience or even an impossibility. Senior citizen condominium has developed to meet the challenges of aging. At minimum, the design of these properties helps residents overcome physical limitations, and basic condo association services reduce the burden of upkeep. Some communities offer a continuum of maintenance, social, and medical assistance â up to and including hospice care â for each progressive life stage.
Independant senior living. Senior condos are on the less intensive end of the spectrum, generally denoting spaces designed thoughtfully for older people to live independently. As in traditional condominiums, the unit is the private space and maintenance responsibility of its owner, and the condo association will handle anything related to the exterior and common spaces. Senior living condos may include more accessible floor plans than other complexes, social activities aimed at the peer group, and optional interior maintenance contracts. When frequent medical attention or personal assistance with daily tasks becomes necessary, it may be time to consider professionally staffed living situations such as assisted living condos, memory care facilities, or skilled nursing homes.
Health features. A standard senior living condominium does not usually include any medical services, although some communities may be able to recommend or even partner with providers in various specialties. Moving up to assisted living brings aid with daily tasks like personal care and errands, and also includes help managing medication. More extensive medical needs, or any sort of dementia or cognitive impairment, is usually best handled in a nursing, skilled nursing, or memory care setting, where medical staff are regularly available. In the case of memory care, providers should be able to modify and increase support as the condition progresses.
Convenience features. Chief amongst reasons to consider a senior condominium is its convenience. Giving up many of the chores associated with home ownership, without necessarily having to give up the privacy or freedom, is an attractive proposition, especially after retirement. Knowing that the dwelling is being maintained allows many people the liberty to travel or to pour time into hobbies or volunteer work. Knowing the home is already designed for mobility issues that might lie ahead alleviates future financial uncertainty about retrofitting for accessibility. Communities generally offer at least a few onsite services or entertainment options, and tend to be located near hospitals and shopping outlets.
Social features. Almost any retirement community will offer social programming. These are optional, of course. Seniors who are living independently will often carry on with their previous hobbies or start new ones that are not associated with their living situation. Those seeking a little assistance in meeting people or picking up new activities might expect to find regular craft classes, fitness activities, group travel, or opportunities to share a meal. Many communities will also offer holiday celebrations throughout the year. There are often onsite recreational facilities, from game rooms to pools to driving ranges.
Senior citizen condominium listings. Senior condominiums can be found through the same channels as any other residential property: newspaper classifieds and real estate listings, local and regional real estate magazines, online classified services such as craigslist, and through a realtor. Shoppers who seek more guidance in the selection process may seek a realtor who specializes in a breadth of housing options for older adults, or even specifically in independent living condominiums. Many such professionals have earned the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation. There are also a handful of websites focusing on senior housing, some of which provide directories of communities throughout the United States.