Retirement communities

The term "retirement community" includes a wide range of housing arrangements for every stage of retirement — from gated communities with detached homes and condos to nursing facilities and hospice. You will need to decide what is best for you at each stage of retirement, taking into account your basic living, health care and accessibility needs.

Remember that the one benefit of each of these arrangements is that you will be instantly immersed in a community of people your own age with whom you can interact. Many retirement communities also offer organized daily activities as well as food preparation services and some level of health care attention.