by Victoria Rose Perkins

Created on: February 05, 2008

The arrival of the "Golden Years" can be made even more golden by selecting the right retirement home in advance. Choosing the right retirement home will ensure peace of mind and a new freedom from home-ownership responsibilities.

Once settled in your new surroundings, you can enjoy, on a daily basis, your hobbies and leisure time to the full!

In selecting the right retirement home, a fine way to start is to make a list.

The list will keep you focused and help you decide which retirement housing is right for you and your personal needs.

To be sure, there are retirement homes that offer many different services, amenities, activities and even transportation to various outings, shopping malls, trips to Foxwoods, if you live in New England area.

The key is moving into a retirement home that satisfies your needs as much as possible with the least amount of cumbersome responsibilities!

A few questions to keep in mind:

1) Will you still want to keep or need your personal vehicle?

2) Will you need a continuing-care type retirement home?

3) Location - do you need or desire a warmer climate?

4) Family and friends - you will want to enlist their input.

5) Do you prefer a home that supplies homemaker/dining services?

6) Do you have ongoing medical problems requiring skilled nursing?

7) What about your financial status. Know what you can afford.

8) Will you want a home that supplies medical support?

9) Will you want to bring along your own furniture?

10) Does the facility allow you to bring your pet, if you have one?

Privately owned retirement homes are for seniors who generally can manage and pay for their own care and any services they might want. All retirement homes require a person/s to be 55 years old or older, or disabled.

The best retirement housing offers an apartment with assisted equipment, such as intercom service and handrails in bathtubs.

They have Staff to assist in a medical emergency, a Social Director for activities and many amenities. A place where walking beautiful well-kept grounds, tennis courts, pools and can provide local transportation to local places of interest should be considered.

These facilities, in addition, can offer exercise classes, overnight bus trips and a common dining area. You have a choice to eat in your own apartment or dine with the other residents.

Along with being a "gated-community", the retiree will have a much better sense of feeling secure inside their apartment and outside while walking the premises.

Continuing care retirement housing offers

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