Retirement spot deal breakers
It can be difficult to tell if a retirement spot will meet all of your needs until you live there. And your retirement needs will change as you get older and require more services. Here are some signs that a retirement locale won’t be a good fit as you age.
Few health care facilities
It’s a good idea to live near places with major medical care facilities and doctors who specialize in geriatric care, so you can effectively deal with any new health problems that arise in retirement. Also check out local options for in-home care or assisted living in case you ever need those services.
A car-dependent area
Many retirees eventually reach a point when they cannot or no longer want to drive. When this happens, a reliable bus or train system or a van or taxi service specifically for seniors can make it easy and affordable to get around. In areas without these services, it can be difficult and expensive to get to doctor’s appointments or the grocery store.
Where no one knows your name
Living near family members in retirement can provide much-needed companionship and help with household chores and errands. Retirement is more challenging when you don’t have children or grandchildren who can look in on you from time to time. A good social network of family and friends makes it much easier to find the services you need or even just someone to talk to.
High-cost communities
Don’t buy a retirement home you can barely afford because it will leave little room in your budget to cope with other costs. While it may seem desirable to play golf or ski every day in a luxury retirement village, don’t take up an expensive lifestyle if you can’t truly afford it.
Constant heat and humidity
Many people want to escape winter in retirement, but you might trade in your snow shovel for sweltering summers and a huge air conditioning bill. Before moving to a new place, make several visits to ensure you can tolerate all the seasons.
Lack of amenities
While some hobbies, such as gardening or woodworking, can be done from almost anywhere, others are dependent on being in a specific place. If you want to fill your retirement years with swimming, fishing or hiking, make sure any retirement destination you consider has the facilities or natural resources you desire.
Few job opportunities
You might decide to go back to work in retirement to improve your finances or for the social and community benefits of having a job. In this case, you don’t want to move to a place with a poor economy and few job opportunities, just in case you ever need to seek re-employment.
Frequent crime
You don’t want to spend your retirement years worrying about robberies or your personal safety. Check out the crime rate and the types of crimes committed in any retirement community you are considering.
Too many stairs
Make sure any retirement home you consider has features that will allow you to live safely in that house. Key features to look for include a single-story home with few stairs, grab bars and other shower safety features, laundry services on the same floor you live on and accessible shelves and storage space you don’t need to climb on a chair to reach.
An untested area
Don’t buy a retirement home in a place where you haven’t rented first. Renting for the first year can help you get a feel for the place, and it allows you to easily move on if you discover that the locale isn’t a good fit. Get to know the area and make sure that it will meet all of your retirement needs before investing in a home.
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10 Retirement Spots to Avoid originally appeared on usnews.com
