Nursing Home; two taboo words that often evoke feelings of fear and loneliness.  A place where the elderly are placed and for the most part forgotten, except for occasional visits from family, youth groups, and/or individuals seeking community service hours. Thanks to recent increase and popularity of retirement communities, the dark, fearsome days of nursing homes are coming to a close.  

Aging is a process that should not happen alone.  A retirement community is a source of housing specifically designed for older individuals who no longer work, yet have a great desire for socializing.  Although occupants are able to enjoy their privacy in their own home, they also reap the benefit of a “commons area” where they can socialize and stay active with others.  Although all retirement communities are not the same, many often boast of swimming pools, boating, trails, golf courses, clubhouses, arts and crafts rooms and clubs.  They are a safe zone for many retirees, allowing them to live out the rest of their lives in comfort at their own pace.

When looking for a community, one will often find them broken into two categories; active or active/supportive.  This is because retirement communities also tend to individuals who are in need of medical assistance and care, but do not want the hospital atmosphere of a nursing home.  Where active communities are simply residential units, active/supportive are a combination of residential units and healthcare facilities.  Thus, farewell to nursing home fears, and hello to living out the remainder of life happily.