Los Angeles 55+ Communities

California is a wonderful place to retire and Los Angeles has some amazing places to spend your golden years. However, what exactly is a 55+ community and why would you want to spend your time there? There are plenty of great reasons to spend your free time in an independent living community, and one of them is getting to enjoy all of the amenities they offer that allow you live the lifestyle that you choose.

Now that you have more time to relax and enjoy your hobbies, you want to make sure everything about your life helps accomplish those goals. A 55+ community can give you the opportunity to live in a place with people who share your same interests as well as take care of services like home repairs, cooking, and transportation.

Los Angeles is home to some of SeniorAdvisor’s 2016 Best Senior Living Awards like Olympic Board and Care, Sunshine Heights, and Oasis Senior Living. So, it’s easy to find a place that has excellent ratings and everything you want.

The Cost Of Living In A Los Angeles 55+ Community

California is notorious for the high cost of living and that can affect where you decide to settle during your retirement. You will probably end up paying more than you would for an average rent, but it will be less than a nursing home because you don’t have to worry about added medical costs.

In December 2015, a typical 1-bedroom rent in Los Angeles was about $2,000 and a 2-bedroom was about $2,640. In contrast, an independent living community will be more expensive due to the extra services you will be receiving.

SeniorAdvisor makes it easy for you to find details about 55+ communities in Los Angeles. You can make cost comparisons and see rankings of top communities based on independent and unbiased reviews.

Paying For Your New Community

Now that you know the cost of living in a 55+ community in Los Angeles, you probably want to know how you can pay for it. You are going to have to pay for it with your own money as in most cases Medicaid or VA benefits won’t cover these expenses. The good news is that you can afford these facilities with some careful financial planning.

If you receive Social Security benefits, those can be used to cover the expenses. If you are planning to sell your home, then any profit you will gain can also be utilized. Retirement savings are also a key financial resource, which will also enable you to choose the best community.

If you’re ready to retire from your full-time job but not quite ready to stop working altogether, you can consider getting a part-time job to help pay for your costs. You can also talk with the director of the facility you’re interested in and see if they have any financing programs you can join, or if you can negotiate a different rate by not receiving some of the services they offer.

Qualities To Look For In A 55+ Community

This is the fun part of looking for a retirement community because you get to design your new lifestyle. This is one of the biggest benefits of moving to a 55+ community because they can allow you to pick and choose the things you want to do with your free time.

The most important thing to do as you begin your search is to make a list of things that are important to you as well as the budget you want to stick within. Decide what kind of living situation makes you happiest. If you like having your own home, then you will want to look for a community that allows you to live in an individual home. If you are a social butterfly and would like to have easy access to your friends and activities, search for an apartment building where everything is centrally located.

When you’re considering your budget, make sure to include things like utilities and food. Some places might include those in their monthly cost, but sometimes you will have to pay extra. If you have a pet, make sure that you choose a pet-friendly facility. Fortunately, the city of Los Angeles has many pet-friendly facilities to choose from. Also, look into the rules and regulations for each place because some facilities might not allow overnight guests or children under a certain age to visit.

Los Angeles has so many things to offer from the beach to Hollywood tours. You can find retirement centers that do day excursions to places like the California Science Center or The Getty Center. You can also choose a facility that has a lot of activities occurring on-site. Some places will offer a variety of classes such as cooking, music, art and foreign languages.

If you’re more laid back, most places will have a swimming pool or even spa offerings like massages and facials. Some Los Angeles communities have their own golf course and you can spend the day out on the green. A 55+ community can also take care of all of your needs as far as transportation, salon visits, and medical check-ups.