Do you live in a senior apartment building?

RubyK

RubyK

Well-known Member
Location
Minnesota USA
I currently own a condominium in a small complex. I have been here 16 years and the newest occupants are younger and some are renters with young children who have not been parented well. Today my daughter and I viewed a new senior building in my neighborhood. The apartments are smaller than my 2 bedroom condo and expensive. I don't know how best to compare what I own now to what I can rent. Can any of you give me some advice on what to look for and what questions to ask from your personal experience? Thanks. 🤔
 

I've written many times about my senior community, don't want to keep repeating myself. It's not just a senior apartment building, though I do own a condo in a hi-rise. But there are regular houses, town houses, etc. here also. Some people own, some rent. The main advantages are the safety (it's gated), the many social activities, etc. It's not just a building, it's really a whole community and life style. There's a free little jitney bus that goes around the whole community, for those who cannot drive. We have two clubhouses and a golf course, two swimming pools, an auditorium, a computer lab. and lots more.

The condo fee pays for grounds maintenance, cleaning of the buildings, some repairs, 24-hour security, and other stuff. There are many condo communities available around here, lots of them newer and fancier than ours. But I like this one and feel at home here. Before you take the plunge, you should investigate senior communities in your area. You might find that you have a lot more options available than just an apartment building.
 
I live in a 'senior only' apartment complex, 8 buildings of 30 apartments .... it's about 10 yrs old.
.... a total community of senior needs and wants.

When you choose to live in a complex for seniors only ... look for what activities and conveniences they offer you for your rental dollars ....
things that you enjoy, and are important to you.
 
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Bonnie said:
When you choose to live in a complex for seniors only ... look for what activities and conveniences they offer you for your rental dollars ....
things that you enjoy, and are important to you.
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Or if you don’t want a pool, fitness room, etc, keep in mind that monthly fees will be much higher.

Read the Condo meeting minutes. Often problems that you won’t know about show up there.

Good luck.
 
RubyK said:
It has nothing to do with kids making noise. Parents don't watch them or even provide toys for them. So they throw rocks, empty the bird bath, hang on branches of young trees, etc.
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Grandkids come to visit at my apartment complex, and can stay overnight, but they don't have much opportunity to do damage to the area.
Elevators and trash chutes seem to be the main attraction to kids visiting.
 
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I live in a senior living apartment. It is an old school that was converted a long time ago to apartments. The rent is based on your income and is subsidized by HUD. My apartment is small, a studio apartment but there are one bedroom ones and about three two-bedrooms.

I like living here but there are some people who whine and complain about things but that is normal. I love my apartment and don't ever want to leave.

No children live here but you can have children visit and spend nights. It is downtown in a small city so there are a lot of things you can do on your own.
 
No, I live in my house, two bedroom ranch, built in 2001 . I "plan" to stay here just as long as I can. I have a lawn guy, and I bought the "clog-proof" gutters, and i am in the market for a cleaning lady ..... lost a good one to romance <grin> As long as i can afford to have things done .... this is where I'll be.
 
Forgot to note ...... Not many kids around here any longer ...... I sort of miss watching them play in the street. I have grown kids on one side , and a cute little kid on the other ..... He alwasy wants to say "hi" hello .... and he will say hi "Won" until I retun his greeting <big grin> Then he goes back to playing. I hope he stays frendly & cute , as he grows.
 
Most of the people who live in my senior apartment building had planned on staying in their own houses too. Some had big properties. Some like me, were married and lost a spouse to divorce or death. Some were not safe living alone any longer. A few women have lived here close to 30 years (one of those recently died).

I thought I would hate it here in a city around a lot of people. I lived very secluded for over twenty years. This was a big change for me. But you have to do what you have to do if you want to live better as you get older. I am fortunate that I love it here and the people who live in my building are really good people. Our building is not noisy at all. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one left here. I will go downstairs and do various things and not see another person all day.
 
katlupe said:
Most of the people who live in my senior apartment building had planned on staying in their own houses too. Some had big properties. Some like me, were married and lost a spouse to divorce or death. Some were not safe living alone any longer. A few women have lived here close to 30 years (one of those recently died).

I thought I would hate it here in a city around a lot of people. I lived very secluded for over twenty years. This was a big change for me. But you have to do what you have to do if you want to live better as you get older. I am fortunate that I love it here and the people who live in my building are really good people. Our building is not noisy at all. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one left here. I will go downstairs and do various things and not see another person all day.
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Funny, what you say about not seeing people when you go out sometimes ... I understand that.
... our heat here keeps people inside in A/C most days now. I can walk around the whole area, and visit the PO cluster boxes in the main building, and walk back 1/2 hour later, and not see a single person. 😆
 
I live in a house and will when I move to Mass shortly.

I stayed with my daughter in her apartment for 2.5 months during Covid. I felt like a caged animal. I hope I never have to live in one for that reason, and because no dog I ever have is small enough.
 
I bought a condo 16 months ago when I divorced my husband. I purposely bought on the top floor in a secure building that has rules against playing in the courtyard, etc which makes it kid unfriendly. We have very few kids.
 
Because we wanted a place with no stairs (almost impossible in Canada) we bought in a senior mobile home park. Our neighbors are quiet. However because DH uses a cpap machine I wear ear plugs. We love it here, but if we can no longer care for it, we will go into an old folks home.
 

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