I still haven't figured out why we need to move to a "retirement community".
Different strokes for different folks.
I am single and child-free. Around age 75 or so I will move into an affordable CCRC 30 miles from my current home. I currently live in a vibrant university community, and the CCRC is located in another active university community. If there were a similar,
affordable CCRC in my current town I would move in there, but alas there is not. CCRC residents are heavily involved in volunteer activities in the broader community, including in the elementary schools, which appeals to me. The university down the road offers courses to residents through the OLLI program.
The CCRC also offers many classes and activities onsite, as well as hiking and biking clubs, and lots of cultural excursions, etc. You can take it or leave it - no one is forced to participate.
Residents must move into the "independent living" residences of the CCRC to start with, and if additional levels of care are eventually needed, it's all available in one location. No need to move again if there is a need for assisted living services, or memory care services, or god forbid the onset on alzheimer's. It is affiliated with a top-notch local hospital located 5 miles from its location. Some limited health care is available onsite, and if I become more decrepit down the road (!) transportation is provided wherever it is needed.
In the meantime, there is no requirement that residents remain on the grounds of the CCRC - they are still free to roam about in the greater community at any time!
For 30 years I have found all the diversity I need in my university community, and I know the same will be true of the new location. However, I also look forward to living in an age-restricted community when I reach my mid-70's. Grandchildren are permitted to visit for short periods, and that will be delightful - I can look forward to other people's grandchildren arriving, and then look forward just as much to their departure after a suitable interval!
I have very close relationships with some younger relatives (extended family) in my current town, but as I age, and possibly fall into the aforementioned state of decrepitude, I do
not want them to feel in any way responsible for my care. They are the kind of young(er) folks who would voluntarily take on the burden of care for an older relative (I've seen them do it with their in-laws) and that is
not their job. Mind you, I have extracted promises from them to "Come and Visit Me in The Home In My Declining Years" - we laugh about it - but that's as far as it goes!
I have made it clear to them that I will be financially independent, and have all my medical and other needs taken care of in the CCRC community.
I like the idea of writing one check a month, and having everything taken care of. No shoveling, no yard work, no dealing with replacing appliances and cleaning gutters and so on. Heck, I'll be living the Life of Riley when I move in there - better than I live now. I don't have my own pool now, but there's a nice big one at the CCRC. And two dining rooms if I'm too lazy too cook. And an onsite fitness center, so no excuse not to stay fit.
I look at the CCRC as a gift I am giving to myself and to my younger family members. We tend to be very pragmatic and also extremely long-lived. Many family members live into their late 90's, and a couple made it past 100. If I never need the nursing care at the CCRC, that's fine. But I will rest easy knowing it's there in a heartbeat if I do need it, and so will my family members.
