Well, you’ve started researching retirement communities. There are a lot of things that need to be considered when you begin looking. So, where do you start? U.S. News posted an article about “13 Factors to Consider when Choosing a Place to Retire.” Let’s start there:

1. Make sure you can afford it. Look at all of the factors of the cost of living: state income tax, homeowners insurance. These things can vary greatly from state to state.

2. Investigate the demographics. Knowing the community that you will be moving into is key. You want to make sure that you are going to be able to find like-minded people to spend time with.

3. Talk to people like you in the areas you’re considering. Find friends of friends or college alumni in the area, or talk to people you meet when you visit.

4. Check on the availability of good medical care and the cost of insurance. It’s good to locate hospitals in the area and know what the retirement community itself provides. At Meth-Wick, we have our own Home & Health services that come to you.

5. Think about how you’ll spend your time and whether you can do it in the new location. Think of the activities you enjoy and make sure that you are able to continue those activities in your new community.

6. Distance from family. How close or how far do you want to be from your children/grandchildren? If you cannot afford to travel to see them often, a retirement community close to them should be your main focus.

7. Consider whether you’ll be happier in a single-family house, condo or mobile home. Meth-Wick has a variety of housing and service options for people looking to downsize but still live an independent life. Think of what kind of space you will need to keep up with your lifestyle.

8. Evaluate planned senior communities vs. all-ages communities. This determines the type of social interactions you have within the community. If you are looking to move somewhere new, one of the advantages of a planned retirement community is that these activities are planned for you and allow you to meet new people much easier. Check out all of the activities Meth-Wick provides it residents on our Facebook page.

9. Make sure your home will accommodate your needs as you age. Are you able to live in a single family home with stairs 20 years from now? If you need a wheelchair down the road, will your new home be able to accommodate? Remember that planning for retirement is just that, a plan. You need to look into the future and what could happen and make your decisions that way.

10. Look at transportation options. What types of transportation are available in the area? Do you have access to transportation for business, personal and social needs? Could you easily get to the grocery store and pharmacy if you needed to?

11. If you go overseas, know the rules and the laws. Just as the cost of living changes from state to state, the laws of living change when you leave the country. “Some countries don’t allow foreigners to buy properties. Others require certain income levels for legal residency. It is not as easy to legally immigrate to another country as it looks.”

12. Consider that you may have to move again. Many retirement communities, like Meth-Wick, offer a continuum of services, so if you have to move from a home to an apartment style of living, you can still stay in the same community and you will not have to start the research process over again.

13. Take all those lists of top retirement spots with a grain of salt. You want to find a retirement community that is right for you. You have your own set of criteria. Be sure to evaluate all your options as you decide what retirement community feels right for you.