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Retirement, Virginia
Style
They
are affectionately known as “halfbacks,” according
to a recent article in Money magazine — retirees
who move from cold northern states to sunny Florida,
only to come halfway back up the coast in search of
a more moderate climate, a change in seasons and a better
quality of life.
Apparently
they are finding that in the Commonwealth, as boomers
converge on Virginia in record numbers, seeking to live
out their golden years in the serenity of the Shenandoah
mountains, in the historic ambience of Suffolk, in genteel
Richmond or enjoying the sun and surf of Virginia Beach.
These are but a few of the prime locations where retirement
communities have been developed to meet the growing
needs of our aging and affluent population.
Census
figures show that as the overall U.S. population continues
to age, a growing number of retirees will make their
way to the Old Dominion. In 2000 about 775,000 people
over 65 called Virginia home, and that number will swell
to 905,000 by 2010 and exceed 1.3 million by 2020.
This
growing demographic will require affordable and accessible
housing, along with a host of senior-related services.
And to meet this demand, visionary developers and service
providers are laying the groundwork today.
LYNCHBURG
Halfway between Charlottesville and Roanoke is Lynchburg,
a picturesque community nestled in the eastern foothills
of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area has an extensive
history, beginning with its founding on the James River
in the 1760s by John Lynch as “Lynch’s Ferry.”
Eventually, Lynchburg developed a bustling tobacco trade
that made it one of the wealthiest cities in the nation.
Remnants
of this golden age can be seen in the grand architecture
of some of the city’s original neighborhoods. The
beautiful scenery and distinct small-town milieu have
made Lynchburg a prime retirement location in Virginia.
The Summit is one such retirement community and stands
out as a prime example of Virginia retirement living
at its best. Situated in the Wyndhurst residential community,
The Summit offers a variety of facilities, from independent-living
apartments to a full-service nursing home. The property
also boasts an 8.5-acre lake and an abundance of common
areas. Many residents have come to The Summit from within
a 25-mile radius, citing the moderate climate, the low
cost of living and the beautiful scenery.
RICHMOND
Richmond has a unique southern charm and graciousness.
For many long-time residents, growing up along “The
James” has endeared them to this region and instilled
in them a desire to stay. For that reason, the thought
of retiring in the Richmond area makes perfect sense
to many natives. Two of the more popular communities
in the state’s capital are The Hermitage at Cedarfield
and Carriage Hill. Both communities offer a variety
of living accommodations and medical assistance, and
are centrally located both within the Richmond area
and in the state, offering easy access to the mountains,
the beaches and the Washington, D.C., area. The Cedarfield
is located in Richmond’s historic “West End”
district. Many of its residents were born and raised
nearby and say they could not imagine leaving lifelong
friends and family members in the area. In fact, one
of the prime reasons cited for staying in Richmond was
to be close to their grown children and grandchildren.
And these communities are not just for living out your
golden years. One of the Carriage Hill residents we
spoke with had been a resident for more than 30 years,
staying close to old friends throughout the state, while
making new ones in the community.
ROANOKE
Whether you like hiking in the majestic Jefferson National
Forest or boating on beautiful Smith Mountain Lake,
the Roanoke Valley offers many ways to enjoy the great
outdoors. In addition, Roanoke has a good dose of small-town
charm combined with a moderate climate, all four seasons
and some of the finest medical facilities available.
Recently voted one of the “Top Eight Best Places
to Retire” by Money magazine, Roanoke is being
recognized as an undiscovered jewel in western Virginia.
One
retirement community attracting attention is the Roanoke
United Methodist Home, part of Virginia United Methodist
Homes, Inc. The sentiment most often echoed by the residents
is that they feel at home at the facility. One resident’s
family recently remarked, “Granddad has been in
the home for three years and he recently said, ‘When
you went looking for a place for me to move, you picked
the right place.’ What a burden was lifted to hear
those words.”
SUFFOLK
Historic Suffolk is located in Virginia’s Hampton
Roads region, 20 miles west of Norfolk and 90 miles
east of Richmond. Dating back to 1608, the city combines
an old world charm with 21st century amenities. The
main reason retirees choose Suffolk, according to Angela
Green, senior marketing counselor at Lake Prince Center,
is that it is “a community that fits their needs.”
And it is easy to see why retirees choose Lake Prince
Center. Centrally located on 172 acres of shoreline
along Lake Prince, the Center offers easy access to
a wide range of cultural and sporting events, upscale
shopping and excellent medical facilities. Lake Prince
Center is a full-service retirement community with accommodations
for total independent living, in cottages or apartments,
as well as supportive services for assisted living.
VIRGINIA
BEACH
Offering an abundance of sand, surf, golf and shopping,
Virginia Beach has long been one of the Commonwealth’s
premiere tourist destinations. And being the largest
city in Virginia, it also offers a modern transportation
infrastructure, state-of-the-art medical facilities
and some of the finest cultural offerings in the state.
Taking advantage of all this is the Atlantic Shores
retirement community on the shore of Red Wing Lake,
where it offers a variety of senior living accommodations
in a unique hometown setting. One thing that sets Atlantic
Shores apart from most communities is its “equity
ownership” concept. Similar to a regular residential
community, residents purchase their properties, choosing
between convenient low-maintenance apartments or villas.
There is a full-service Wellness Clinic on site for
all residents, with services offered on a monthly fee
basis. With more than 500 one- and two-bedroom private
villas and apartments to choose from, Atlantic Shores
can offer the beach retirement living many of us dream
of.
Retirement
Living
There are two basic types of retirement housing that
have proliferated in the last decade, offering a more
palatable alternative to the traditional nursing home.
The
first type is your basic retirement community, first
popularized in Florida and Arizona. These are commonly
referred to as “adult-only” communities, and
feature a mix of single-story homes, town homes and
condominiums. They traditionally offer easy access,
a variety of amenities, like a pool and community clubhouse
and are age-restricted. These communities offer centralized
social functions, common meeting areas and are ideal
for elderly couples and retired singles who can live
comfortably on their own.
The
second type of retirement housing that is also increasing
in popularity is known as “assisted living.”
This type of housing offers maximum freedom to the occupant,
while providing a level of non-obtrusive care. Skilled
nurses and physical therapists offer medical care in
a warm and friendly environment. The facility is often
tastefully decorated and gives the retiree a sense of
being at home, rather than in a hospital. One of the
benefits of an assisted-living facility is that it offers
peace of mind to family members concerned that an elderly
relative cannot live on his or her own.
Retirement
Services
Another area poised for dramatic growth will be in the
delivery of specialized senior-related services. Just
about every service industry in Virginia is preparing
for the surge. One area growing in popularity is transitional
services for the elderly, which try to make the move
to a retirement community as hassle-free as possible.
These services include facility selection, assistance
with moving personal belongings, coordination of the
disposal of unwanted furniture and even the decoration
of the new living space.
The
whole area of financial services will definitely benefit
from the retiree surge as more people approaching retirement
try to get their financial house in order. Tax and estate
planning will also be in demand as retirees plan for
the distribution of their wealth once they are gone.
And invariably, if you worked all your life and managed
to put some money away, it’s now time for your
money to start working for you, and retirees will take
a more active interest in their investments.
Healthcare
and personal nursing services will become more popular
as the aging population will be able to afford a better
quality of life through modern medicine. Not only is
the population getting older, but we are all living
longer, and this will ultimately lead to greater demand
for organizations that provide 24-hour, on-call service
for any health-related need. These caregivers provide
medical advice, review doctors’ reports and check
prescriptions for possible adverse side effects. This
burgeoning industry even has its own organization, called
the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care
Managers, to provide guidelines for care and standards
for those in the profession.
Finally,
a rather generic industry, known as client services,
is beginning to pop up. These companies typically handle
all types of personal affairs, acting as a liaison with
attorneys, accountants and estate planners. They provide
only a service and since they are not selling anything,
they tend to offer an objective opinion on a wide range
of matters. This was once a luxury that only the very
wealthy could afford, but now it is becoming more mainstream
as seniors retire with greater wealth.
One
downside to all these new services is the potential
for fraud and abuse. In fact, there are people who specifically
prey on the elderly. Before hiring someone you should
check their references, check with the Better Business
Bureau and contact area agencies on aging, which can
provide you with additional information and legitimate
referrals in your area.
Return to Virginia Business - September 2002
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