What is life like in a retirement community?

Making the decision to move into a retirement community is usually difficult for retirees and their families; it’s a big change and many people still have a negative impression of retirement residences. They don’t realize what a great quality of life they could enjoy there.

In fact, today’s retirement communities address the same needs we all have no matter how old we are—caring relationships, fun things to do, interesting ideas to discuss and a stimulating environment to live in.



Life in a retirement community

To find out how the other half lives, it helps to hear residents talk about their own experiences—including the doubts and fears they had before they made the move.

Ruth Michaelis, a resident of Erin Mills Lodge in Mississauga, Ontario is blunt when asked what it was like to move. “It’s a good move, but a hard move. I didn’t think I’d like it,” she says.

Change is always difficult but before you can tackle it you have to understand and take control of your emotions. It will only cause you more stress if you try to ignore how you feel. You need to recognize and work through your feelings first. Then you will have the clarity you need to move on.

Ruth admits that she wasn’t caring for herself very well at home and she knows she’s better off now. “It’s better to be someplace where there’s always someone to help me,” she says. And she loves her new social life. “We play cards, we exercise. I’m getting into more things like book club and art classes. I wouldn’t be doing these things if I was still living at home. It’s so good to interact with other people.”

If you don’t have the opportunity to meet someone like Ruth, you can also watch videos of seniors talking about their lives in retirement communities and why they are so happy with the choice they’ve made.

Tools to make your move

But how do you find a great retirement community like Ruth’s? How do you choose? They all look great when you visit them but they offer so many different services and amenities that it can be confusing to remember who offered what.

And the evaluation process can be so laborious and time consuming. You need a tool to evaluate each community so that you can compare them easily and find the right one to suit your needs.

Comfort Life’s e-book: “The Ultimate Retirement Tour Checklist” is a free, workbook you can download here.



It features over 150 carefully selected questions that you may not think of while touring a retirement residence.

Questions cover such important areas as:

?                Location, Building and Suite Details

?                Current Residents and Families

?                Services & Amenities

?                Food and Dining

?                Health Care, Wellness & Medical

?                Costs & Payments

There is also space to write down the name, address and contact information for each residence you visit, an area for your own notes and a list of additional resources you may find helpful.

Print off a checklist for each retirement residence you tour. Then compare them to find the one that suits you best.

Another great idea is to get the advice of people who work in the retirement industry.  Comfort Life Magazine recently interviewed some industry experts about how to choose a retirement community. They offer helpful insights to retirees looking to make a move. Good luck!