Advantages of Living in a 55+ Apartment Community

When we’re done raising children and caring for our aging parents, the family house begins to lose its appeal as a source of utility and joy, and, instead, becomes more of a burden on our resources. Resources we can use to live our best retirement years. As we close doors in rooms that are no longer occupied, fix repairs on the never-ending “to-do” list, and look out at the garden that needs our physical labor, we begin to think that it’s time to move. We have many options available to us. We can scale down and buy a smaller home, townhome, or condominium. Or we can lease an apartment in the location of our dreams, that comes with the amenities we desire, and covers all the maintenance issues that bog down homeowners.

There’s a growing community of 55+ apartment complexes that cater to active individuals who no longer want the responsibility of homeownership. These complexes range from simple studio and one-bedroom units with no amenities to luxury units in complexes with all the amenities of a resort. And everything in between.

Three advantages of choosing a 55+ apartment include the peace of mind that comes with maintenance being someone else’s responsibility, the flexibility of choosing a location, and the myriad of amenities that comes with living in a community that caters to your lifestyle.

With apartment living, there are no more sleepless nights spent worrying about emergency and routine repairs and their related costs. Apartment complexes are tailor-made to provide both routine and emergency maintenance to the whole property. You’re no longer responsible for fixing the roof or repairing the leaky pipes. Also gone is the responsibility of mowing the lawn, weeding, planting the flower beds, and shoveling the walkways and driveways of winter snow. Some complexes even offer covered walkways, attached garages, and convenient elevators.

An apartment catering to a 55+ crowd will often have additional safety features incorporated into the living area’s design. These include handrails in the bathrooms strategically located near the toilets and in the showers. The flooring inside the units is usually equipped with high-quality low-pile carpet and easy-clean tile or laminate flooring that makes the space inviting and comfortable. There are limited steps and stairs in 55+ apartments and the surrounding complex. No more tripping over a raised entry or climbing stairs to a second level. Some apartments have walk-in closets with built-in organizers and strategic lighting that keeps your wardrobe organized and accessible. The kitchens in the units are set up with one-touch faucets, soft-close cupboards, plenty of light, and dishwashers. Of course, having a private washer and dryer inside your unit makes laundry day less of a hassle.

You may have attached to your rental a private patio or balcony space for your enjoyment. A secluded outdoor space that’s large enough to accommodate a small sitting area and container garden makes checking e-mail or having your morning coffee a more pleasant experience.

Outside of your unit, the public walkways are constructed with materials that keep you safe from slipping when they are wet from the weather or sprinklers. Some outdoor walkways are covered to protect you from the elements as you make your way to the community clubhouse, fitness center, dog park, sports facilities, or mailroom.

Apartment communities are conveniently located near shopping, medical centers, and transportation hubs. Imagine being able to pop down to the shops for a bag of groceries. Or down to the local café for a cup of coffee with friends and neighbors. Having your doctor’s office and pharmacy nearby makes keeping your routine health care easy to incorporate into your new lifestyle. Having easy access to public transportation opens the world to travel possibilities that you’ve been meaning to explore when you had more time.

Apartments that are built for the enjoyment of active older adults tend to have amenities that keep you healthy and engaged with your neighbors. These communities may have central lobbies that are basic in design and décor or may rival those of 5-Star hotels.

The lobbies can be designed for easy maintenance and only offer the most basic of services such as a bulletin board near the mailbox bank and a community room with a seating area and a couple of all-purpose tables. Or they may be designed with panoramic windows to enjoy the best views of the surrounding landscape. Some may have a central fireplace and club chairs that invite the residents to cozy up with a book and a glass of wine. The lobbies may be fully staffed with a concierge and activity director to help you plan how you may want to spend your free time. Either way, there is a benefit in having a lobby for picking up your mail and checking out what’s going on in the community.

For outdoor entertainment, 55+ active adult apartments will usually offer a heated pool and hot tub area. Swimming laps or doing group water aerobics is easy when the pool is at your doorstep. And having someone else responsible for its upkeep and maintenance takes a load off your mind while the buoyancy of the water takes a load off your knees.

Basketball is another sport that keeps older adults active. Having the courts on-premises makes getting to practice and tournaments convenient, no matter what the weather. When the courts aren’t being used for basketball, they’re perfect for dance classes, yoga, and group aerobics. Some communities use indoor basketball courts for pickleball too.

Pickleball is an excellent exercise for active older adults since both beginners and advanced players can enjoy its health benefits no matter their level of fitness. Pickleball courts can be either dedicated to the sport or modified to use an outdoor or indoor recreation space. Once again, the apartment community is now responsible for maintaining, setting up, and storing the equipment needed to enjoy the sport.

Raised garden beds are also popular in 55+ apartment communities. Having a community garden gives residents the benefit of tending to their preferred choice of fruit, vegetables, flowers, and herbs. There’s plenty of gardening knowledge shared between residents as they tend to their own garden plots. It’s a pleasant surprise to share in the abundance and variety of produce these active adult apartment community garden plots produce. Sharing the harvest and recipes leads to long-lasting friendships and a greater appreciation of our neighbors. Once again, the apartment complex is responsible for the upkeep and utilities needed, so residents have more time to enjoy the gardening process without having to worry about maintenance.

Active older adults have many lifestyle choices available to them. One of the easiest of their time and energy is to choose to live in an apartment community that’s built and managed to specifically suit their tastes and needs. Whether you’re looking for a smaller living space with the most basic of amenities, or a more spacious apartment design with resort-style activities, living in an apartment provides plenty of opportunities to make friends and share in the joy of having fun at your doorstep without the headache of maintenance. Apartments built for the 55+ population also benefit from living nearby shopping, professional services, and major transportation hubs. Between the safety and convenience of the 55+ active adult apartment community, there are plenty of reasons to consider this as your best option when you’re ready to downsize from the family home.