New Retirement Communities

Here's a look at some of the expectations you can have in your newly built home in one of these innovative new retirement communities. Consider the following:

• Choose your own floor plan. As with most new developments, new retirement communities allow you to choose the floor plan of your suite. In fact, the variety of floor plans available may be the deal-breaker for you, as you consider the differences between one retirement residence or another. Learn more about choosing the right floor plan.
• Customizations. In many cases, you'll be able to customize aspects of your home. 
• Optimum accessibility. Units in these new retirement communities will be built with typical up-to-date accessibility features including handrails, elevators, ramps, and many other features that make homes and grounds ideal for anyone with accessibility needs.
• State-of-the-art call bells and other communication technology.
• Community. Social exclusion or a lack of peer support is a problem for many people as they get older. Not so, in a retirement community where everyone is similar in age, has been raised with the same shared values and has shared experiences of the past.
• A variety of care options ranging from independent living to assisted living. For couples with varying needs, today's retirement homes offer an ideal solution. If one partner requires extended care while another is still very independent, there are many retirement communities that are ideally suited to meet these varying requirements. 
• All new facilities, ranging from brand new facilities in your suite to new innovations in communal areas, such as up-to-date dining room design, the latest in onsite features like fitness centres and hair salons, and so much more.

How much staff do they plan to have onsite and what will some of the described roles be? For example, some homes have a gourmet chef on site who cooks the nightly meals. Other roles may include a concierge, a recreation director, etc.

What is the fee structure going to be and what exactly are you going to be paying monthly? You do not want any surprises so make sure you understand what fees will be charged and what the policy is concerning increases in amenities' fees and other rates.

What is the area and neighbourhood like? Are you looking for parkland, shopping, proximity to public transit?

What is the reputation of the builder? Specifically, does the builder have solid backing? Has the builder successfully completed many other projects or projects of a similar scale?

Choosing a retirement home is often a long, involved process that may include several family members; over the years, Comfort Life has offered a wide collection of advice on choosing a retirement home. Even though you will not be touring the retirement residence, it may still be valuable to you to bring our Retirement Home Checklist with you as you talk to the selling agent, so you can know some of the right questions to ask.

Before you choose any community, read retirement residence reviews to find the best place for you.

Choosing a floor plan

Many people moving into a retirement home suite may not have chosen a floor plan in their lives, ever. Take advantage of this opportunity! Here's a way to customize your living space like never before.

The variety of floor plans available may be a critical difference between several retirement home choices in your list. Quite often, within a specific retirement residence, your choices will be restricted to selections based on size, number of bedrooms or other significant differences. However, between different residences, there may be significant difference in variety available. Make sure you have a look at all the floor plans for all the residences in your area before you finally decide on a new retirement home to move into.

Here are some things to consider as you look at floor plans for retirement suites.

1. Consider how your furniture will fit. Chances are that you will have downsized a lot already, but make sure that the furniture you do have will be a proper fit with the floor plan you have in mind.
2. Which floor plan best reflects your personality? Do you like or need a lot of room?
3. Number of bedrooms? You may have not considered this, but there may be value in having more than one bedroom.
4. What feeling do you get as you look at different suites or model units? Ideally, the community has at least one model you can walk through, though it will not likely make all the floor plan options available. In any case, make sure you tour what is available, so you get an idea what works for you.
5. Amenities vs. space: what's more important? Does the plan's space budget meet your financial budget? In general, your money goes toward either features or space, and many people focus on space. However, you may want to focus on features you really care about, and compromise on overall space as a means of getting what you want for the price you want.
6. Consider how the layout affects socializing, family and visitors.

When you are selling your home, you need to choose the right realtor, of course. Many seniors are unaware of the fact that there are many agents who specialize in working with older clients. As Sherri Moro, an Oakville, Ontario real estate agent, notes, "the sale process with seniors has its own unique set of issues that must be addressed." It's especially ideal to find an agent trained under the designation of Accredited Senior Agent.

Chris Newell of ASA explains, that "the Accredited Senior Agent course is 100% Canadian, in content, in tools provided to ASA's, and in instruction. There are members in Ontario, BC and Quebec." The ASA designation means the agent has training specifically in Canadian taxation and legal issues, etc. Members are focused on a role as counselors as much as selling agents, and "must be of good character, have many years of experience and not only take a prescribed course but pass an examination in order to achieve this prestigious professional designation."

Adam Linden is a Toronto realtor who specializes in helping seniors and emphasizes that these agents understand that families and seniors often work together on this decision. It's also important to note that these agents are networked with other agents who have this specialization. Linden focuses on creating a market plan and emphasizes the importance of listening to the realtor's advice about setting the price. "Pricing a property within the recommended range will bring in around 75-80 percent of prospective buyers. Even in a hot market, pricing the property too far above market value will limit showings." Learn more about finding the right agent, and what seniors need to know about selling your home.

Relocation and moving help for seniors

There are other areas of specialisation in helping seniors and their families as they move into a retirement home. Selling your family home is a major process, of course. Over the years, people will have accumulated a lot and may have difficulty deciding how to part with it. During the process of considering the move into a retirement home, consider the value of a Certified Relocation and Transition Specialist who can help make the move as smooth as possible. Learn more.

People have told us how they embrace the idea of moving into a brand new community and (in their words, not ours) "going out in style." Marian was one Greater Toronto Area resident who bought into a newly built retirement home with her husband, purchasing a two-bedroom suite centrally located in the city. She told us, "we're here until the end, that was the idea we had in mind when we bought this... I'm a big city person, and I love being able to just jump on the subway downtown to catch whatever's going on down there. This is where I want to be."

We wanted to move into a home we could live in for the rest of our lives. This is the one.