Finding Unusual or Unique Options for Retirement Homes

Most people already have pre-formed ideas about what retirement is going to look like. In many cases, joining a retirement community can sound pretty unappealing, which is one reason why people are reluctant to do so.

But, growing old doesn’t mean that you have to sit around, play bingo and watch TV.

Instead, there are some fascinating choices out there, including some more unique retirement options. In fact, these options for retirement offer a good reminder that life offers us a range of choices. Sometimes the best solution is to take a look at what’s on offer and figure out what is going to work best for your situation and your needs.

With that in mind, we’re using this post as a way to highlight some of the more unusual retirement options out there.

In many ways, we’re just covering the tip of the iceberg, as there are a lot of other choices out there. However, we hope that the information here will inspire you to think creatively about retirement and consider alternatives to traditional retirement communities.

Picking Unique Retirement Options for Artists

The Burbank Senior Artist Colony is one example of a retirement home with a difference. This is a rental retirement community where the emphasis is on independence and on inspiration.

The community doesn’t require members to be artists but it’s a good option for finding like-minded people and amenities that actively encourage people to get involved in art. Indeed, this can also be a good option for non-artists, as it may get you involved in the area.

Burbank is the most well-known example of a community like this but it’s likely that there are other retirement options out there that are also designed for artists.

A second example of this is NoHo Senior Arts Colony, which has a similar focus and also tries to make its apartments innovative and highly suitable for creative people.

University-Based Communities

Another interesting type of retirement community is one that is integrated into a college campus. This approach is growing in popularity and is especially relevant for people who want to continue to learn and self-improve as they age. Some estimates suggest that there are currently around 50 of these communities throughout the United States and there may well be more in the future.

An extreme example of this is Lasell Village. In this case, seniors have access to classes taught in the community itself and also have the option of taking courses with traditional students. Indeed, all of the main buildings contain a classroom, which makes the process of learning easy,

One of the appeals of this particular retirement community is that it offers a formal and individualized learning program that highlights the needs of seniors.

Population-Centered Retirement Options

There is also a range of retirement communities that are focused on specific groups of people. With this type of community, you may be more likely to find people similar to your or others who have a familiar background.

For example, there is a community in Florida, which specifically caters for Indian-Americans. Likewise, there are communities for gay and lesbian residents and a community that focuses on Chinese-Americans.

One slightly unusual example of this approach is Nalcrest. This particular retirement community is specifically targeted at postal workers. The community itself is union funded, which means that is can be less expensive than many other alternative options.

Communities for specific groups may seem a little discriminatory but the idea is that these communities provide a way to highlight the specific values and cultural norms of the group of people. In most cases, anyone can live at the community but the cultural aspects of the communities will mean that they appeal to some groups more than others.

For example, Aegis Gardens is targeted at Chinese-Americans and includes staff that speak English and a range of Chinese dialects, along with activities including Tai Chi, mahjong and calligraphy lessons.

Activity- or Passion-Based Communities

There are also a number of communities out there that focus on specific passions. For example, one such community is Lake Weir Living. This community isn’t specifically for retirement but it is a good retirement option.

The community is ‘toy friendly’ and focuses on providing customized houses and few restrictions, which allows the use of ‘toys’ like RVs, motorcycles, boats and the like. This approach makes the community especially appealing for people who are thrill-seekers and means that the community has fewer restrictions than most other retirement communities.

At the same time, this can be a good place to find like-minded people, especially as the community does attract retirees.

Another example of this approach is Escapees CARE. This community is targeted at RV owners and is a facility where people can obtain professional help on an as-needed basis. This means that people can park RVs at the community for a month or two after surgery or something similar, without being compelled to stay for longer than they want to.

Generally speaking, payment for Escapees CARE works on a monthly basis, for which people get full care during that time. However, it is worth noting that the program is specific for people with RVs, as there is no accommodation provided.

This particular approach is likely to appeal to RV enthusiasts but also to anyone nervous about the idea of a retirement community. Certainly, it offers more freedom than you normally see in a retirement home and it can act as a good way to delay the need for assisted living or a nursing home.

This approach also works well in situations where people are only likely to need support for a short period of time, particularly for people who already use an RV regularly.

There are other examples of this too, such as retirement communities that specialize in wellness and even a proposed nudist retirement community.

Choosing Retirement Options

All of these alternatives can offer unusual or unique retirement options, which is especially good if you are looking for something that’s a little bit different. However, it’s also important to be careful in your choice and to research carefully.

One particularly important thing to consider is that many of these communities are fairly insular. So, you end up spending a lot of time with people who may be very similar to you. This lack of diversity can sometimes be a challenge and can mean that you miss out on experiences.

At the same time, similar challenges exist in communities that are focused on specific activities. For example, living in an artist’s community might not be appealing in the long-term if you just have a passing interest in art. The same is true for retirement communities that are focused around RVs or thrill seeking in general.

As such, it’s important to consider how the community might feel to you after you have been there a while. Likewise, think about the implications of any health issues, especially any that affect your mobility. In some cases, this may influence your decision as well.

Certainly, there is no shortage of options for retirement, ranging from the traditional options for retirement to options that are much more unusual.