What’s an active adult community?

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Active adult communities cater to those aged 55 and over, offering maintenance-free living, on-site activities, and proximity to attractions. They come in various designs and offer social, recreational, and educational activities. There are two types: age-restricted and age-targeted. Resort-style communities offer a luxurious experience with pools, golf courses, and more.

An active adult community is aimed at people aged 55 and over. Often described as a viable alternative to single-family ownership, these communities offer residents maintenance-free living, proximity to desirable attractions, and an array of on-site activities and amenities. Each is designed differently and can include single family homes, condominiums, townhouses, multi-family homes, or manufactured housing units.

This type of community is designed to offer senior citizens the opportunity to enjoy active and independent lifestyles while providing easy access to a variety of social, recreational and educational activities. Many offer everything from crafts and movie screenings to tennis and golf. Often, such communities also offer designated dining areas and clubhouses. In an active community of adults, daily life and medical needs are generally not covered. Residents are responsible for their own dietary, medical and laundry needs.

There are two basic types of active adult communities: age-restricted and age-targeted. In the United States, rules created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) govern age-restricted communities. These rules require that at least 80% of households include an individual age 55 or older. Individuals under the age of 55 may live there, but permanent residents must be 19 or older.

An age-targeted community is much like an age-restricted community, but they simply target their marketing materials at individuals who are 55 or older rather than specifically requiring residents to be of a certain age. These communities make use of carefully structured marketing campaigns to attract older individuals with no minor children, rather than young singles or families. While it is true that children do not typically reside in such communities, they are not unwelcome. Many residents have grandchildren who visit frequently.

A popular type of active community for adults is the resort-style or leisure community. Here, residents can expect to enjoy a resort-style experience, complete with pools, golf courses, entertainment, tennis, fitness club and more. Some resort-style communities also offer shopping malls and large ballrooms.




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