Senior Communities

Senior communities are a phenomena which has developed in recent decades, and senior communities are far more common in well-to-do suburban environments than in rural and small town environments. In small communities in rural areas, for example, the closest thing to a senior community might be a small apartment house designed for lower income seniors. In wealthy suburban areas, however, senior communities can offer protected, even luxurious living.

In earlier times, before Social Security, senior communities as such were unheard of. Most seniors other than the wealthy lived with parents or relatives, or in small homes paid for during working years. Senior communities developed as more seniors lived longer, had better health and had better retirement incomes. While there are some limited accommodations designed especially for seniors in most areas of the country, true senior communities exist primarily in urban and suburban areas. In some areas, senior communities are simply neighborhoods where homes are owned or rented primarily by seniors rather than young people with small children.

Senior communities in the sense of total senior communities exist in many suburban areas. In some cases such senior communities may be a large apartment or condominium complex where rentals or purchases are limited to seniors. In some of these senior communities there may be some security, such as security guards and special entry precautions. Certain apartments may also be designed for seniors with minor disabilities or limited mobility.

Major senior communities designed for well-to-do retired persons or simply older citizens are gated and secured communities which are almost like small cities. Such senior communities offer a wide variety of accommodations and conveniences to its owners or renters. Expensive senior communities may offer shopping areas, restaurants, exercise and health facilities, movie theatres and even gambling areas, all within a secure, gated senior community area. Many of these senior communities offer condominiums for sale only, rather than any rental units. These high-end senior communities contain luxurious accommodations, often as large as a small home. Although occupation by younger persons is not prohibited, they are by and large strictly senior communities. The particular attractions for seniors in such senior communities are the combination of safety and convenience. The protection is important to seniors as is the availability of all types of services and amenities without the necessity to travel outside the senior community.

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