“These active adults are the largest, wealthiest and fastest-growing segment in the population and they are searching for products, services and programs that are designed specifically for them,” says Lisa Puma, senior director of Marketing of GHA Community Management. Essentially, these individuals are looking for a maintenance-free, activity-filled, and well-managed community where they can begin their transition into retirement.

An option that perfectly complements the lifestyles of these vigorous individuals””while shifting from the common misconceptions surrounding senior housing””are Active Adult Communities, a unique form of housing where individuals move in at the age of 55 or older to enjoy the perks of various amenities. Many communities offer the option of purchasing a home or renting to further accommodate individual financial needs.

As with any other housing option, it is recommended that individuals speak to residents and the management of prospective communities in order to become familiar with their philosophy. It is also important to understand how the management of active adult communities differs from multi-family management.

“Unlike multi-family, active adult communities are unique because they require more complex management to serve the lifestyle of the homeowners,” says Lisa.”The goal is not only to achieve a successful homeowners association, but to build social involvement, exercise, education, stress reduction and a balanced lifestyle.”

GHA Community Management has a specialty division that provides professional management and lifestyle services to meet the needs of active adult communities. This includes services ranging from in-home maintenance to energy and utility management as well as various consulting services, including those for community lifestyle directors and amenity and recreational building design reviews.

Although many do not offer healthcare services, active adult communities are an appealing housing option with their extensive list of amenities and homes that are low maintenance and easily accessible. The communities are typically adjacent to recreational facilities and golf courses, and often include tennis courts and swimming pools among other perks.

With all of these aspects of a community, it is the responsibility of active adult management and key members of the staff to establish a relationship with residents that ensures the different facets of their home suits their needs and overall lifestyle.

According to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), there are 25 million veterans currently alive, and three of every four of those veterans completed their service during a period of war or hostility. Their website notes that “approximately 70 million people are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members, or survivors of veterans.” Countless organizations, associations, and communities serve the large concentration of these veterans and their family members who live in the D.C. metro area.

From independent living to nursing care, there are communities in the D.C. area available to serve the needs of military retirees. Many of these communities cater specifically to retired officers and their spouses. Communities are often located near military hospitals or medical centers, and transportation is often provided. These communities provide a vital service to retired military personnel, and combine lifestyle amenities with readily available services.

In addition to turning to the resources listed below for assistance, veterans should be aware of the benefits available through the VA. Disability Pension benefits include a special benefit for Aid and Attendance. The Aid and Attendance benefit is for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular assistance of another person with activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting. Nursing home patients, assisted living residents, and individuals who are blind are also covered under this benefit.

War veterans with 90 days of active duty and/or their surviving spouses are eligible for this benefit. Beneficiaries must also meet certain medical and financial requirements. In order to qualify, applicants must file appropriate paperwork, receive a medical examination by a physician, meet net worth and net income limitations, and submit information detailing out-of-pocket medical expense costs.

Those deemed eligible for benefits can use the Aid and Attendance benefit to pay for care in their homes, in a nursing home, or in an assisted living community. Veterans and their spouses will receive set monthly payments.
To apply for any of the VA’s wide range of benefits, call 1-800-827-1000 or visit their website at www.va.gov. Other benefits for veterans and their family members include: Education, Home Loan Guaranty, Disability Compensation, Disability Pension, Dependency Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), Medical Care, Burial, and Life Insurance.

Both military and government retirees should investigate all of the benefits, services, and options that are available to them. The adjacent list includes contact information for many of these resources.

Mrs. Alexander, who moved to GHA in September 1998, has been attending classes at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) for over 19 years. Her concept of education includes traditional classrooms, as well as informal settings. She is currently enrolled in her 54th course at NVCC-an honors seminar on British writer Graham Greene.

“I love literature and history courses; I think I have taken every one offered,” said Alexander. Mrs. Alexander finds GHA’s location perfect for her quest for knowledge. “All I have to do is cross the street, and I cannot say enough about the quality of the courses at NVCC.”

A wonderful opportunity for all seniors in the area is the Maturals Program offered at NVCC’s Alexandria Campus. The program, designed for mature adult learners, is free and open to all interested members of the Northern Virginia community. Since 1992, Mrs. Alexander has served on the Maturals Program Advisory Committee, which selects speakers and subjects for the program. “The Maturals Program is celebrating its 20 year anniversary, and we usually have at least ten Goodwin House residents attend the Spring and Fall lectures,” said Alexander.

Mrs. Alexander is such a supporter of education that in July 1997, she made a donation to the Educational Foundation of the NVCC to honor her late husband, who also participated in many classes at NVCC. She was surprised when the college asked if they could name the front courtyard of the Schlesinger Center in honor of her and her late husband, Dr. A. John Alexander.

For six years, from 1997-2002, Mrs. Alexander also funded the A. John Alexander Memorial Scholarship for academic excellence, which was awarded to two Alexandria students graduating from T.C. Williams High School to help them further their college careers.

Education does not stop at the college for Mrs. Alexander. She started a Book Club at Goodwin House Alexandria in April of 1999. The club has read and discussed over 50 books since its inception and is generally attended by 15-20 residents depending on the book.

“Residents enjoy the club because many times they read things that they would normally not pick up. The discussions about the books are very interesting because those participating come from different backgrounds,” Alexander said.

“I love to learn and try to encourage many others to take advantage of the many wonderful opportunities around us. There are also many other residents who have proactively continued their education, and I hope after people read this, there will be even more,” said Alexander. For more information about programs sponsored by Northern Virginia Community College, check the NVCC website at www.nvcc.com.

Article written by Colleen Ryan Mallon. For more information on other lifelong learning programs in the area, see the article on the University of Retirement.

More and more active adults are seeking educational opportunities in retirement. From learning vacations to the full campus lifestyle, retirees are making the world their classroom and learning their life. For these individuals, retirement is not about relaxing or rest homes, it is a learning opportunity. They form the inaugural class of the rapidly growing “University of Retirement.” The University of Retirement does not have a single campus or strict degree requirements, and it is not symbolized by an imposing building or an endearing mascot. The University of Retirement Living is a way of life.

In recent years, educational opportunities in retirement have expanded from the routine health and wellness classes offered at the local senior center to include a wide array of intellectually and physically stimulating offerings. From poetry to history and from physics to geology, seniors can find classes specifically tailored to their interests and ability levels. Physical fitness classes ranging from Tai Chi to Spinning help older adults keep their bodies fit as well.

The philosophy of lifelong learning was crafted by retirees themselves, who are increasingly aware of the importance of remaining physically, mentally, and socially active. Many lifelong learning institutes and senior education programs were organized in response to the lack of these vital opportunities in local communities. As each new program emerges, colleges, universities, retirement living service providers, and local governments are taking notice and taking action to provide these same types of services to their populations.

Elderhostel, the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults 55 and over, was among the first organizations to respond to the lack of educational opportunities for American over age 55. According to their website, the not-for-profit organization now serves almost 200,000 program attendees and offers nearly 10,000 programs ever year in more than 90 countries.

The growth of Elderhostel coincided with the grassroots development of college-affiliated and community-driven lifelong learning institutes. These institutes were conceptualized and conceived by alumni and community activists. Many of these same institutes are now affiliated with Elderhostel and offer on-campus programs and learning and travel opportunities. For a list of lifelong learning institutes affiliated with Elderhostel and/or a list of programs in your community, visit their website at www.elderhostel.org.

The Elderhostel programs and institutes are well known, but they only account for a fraction of the lifelong learning and continuing education programs available in this area. For a comprehensive list of the wide array of programs, institutes, and other educational opportunities available in the D.C. Metropolitan region, please see the chart.

The enormous growth of continuing education programs has not gone unnoticed by the retirement living industry. As the Baby Boomers age, the industry is faced with the challenge of providing more than just care. Baby Boomers, a large majority of them college educated, are demanding more opportunities in retirement. They want more than bingo and sittercise; they want to be challenged, to learn, and to continue to grow. In direct response to this demand, retirement communities affiliated with universities are being developed across the country.

These communities are connected with their affiliated university to varying degrees-from on-campus communities with class requirements to loose affiliates that provide access to university amenities to residents. An industry standard for defining these communities is yet to be developed, which makes charting the growth of these types of communities difficult. In “Advanced Education,” Alvin Sanoff explains, “There is no precise count [of retirement communities linked to universities] available-estimates range from a few dozen to about 80-and they vary in the amenities they offer and how they are set up financially.”

In an attempt to help quantify what these communities are and what they can offer retirees and universities, Andrew Carle, Director of the Program in Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University, has coined the term “University Based Retirement Communities” (UBRC’s). Carle explains that such communities have direct links to universities and are located either on-campus or very close to university grounds. Residents of UBRC’s are given access to university educational and social opportunities, often including university facilities, amenities, and sporting events. The university also maintains teaching, education, employment, volunteering, and other opportunities for students and faculty within the community.

For retirees, this association is incredibly beneficial because it provides convenient opportunities for continued education and intergenerational activities. Many of these communities are marketed to university alums and retiring faculty, who have nostalgic ties to the university. This, Carle notes, is also beneficial to the operators of the retirement community because they tap into “a unique brand loyalty that was established up to 50 years in advance of purchase and will never end as long as the university exists.”

According to Carle, a typical UBRC includes a mix of independent living units (in the form of houses, townhouses, or apartments), as well as assisted living, skilled nursing, and often Alzheimer’s services – which are consolidated within a core health care center. Entrance fees and monthly costs vary widely. Examples of communities meeting Carle’s criteria for a UBRC include: Oak Hammock (University of Florida), The Village at Penn State (Penn State University), Lasell Village (Lasell College), Classic Residence by Hyatt (Stanford University), Kendal at Oberlin (Oberlin College), Green Hills (Iowa State University), and Longview (Ithaca College). Dozens of other UBRC’s are currently under development or review, including one at George Mason University.

The continued development and improvement of UBRC’s signals a shift in the retirement living industry in response to the demands of today’s active retirees. Lounging by the ocean or whiling away the hours on a golf course is still a common retirement dream; however, the unprecedented growth in continuing education and lifelong learning programs and the more recent development of UBRC’s demonstrates an increasing desire for something more.

This new breed of retiree wants more than relaxation. They seek challenges, new experiences, and the rewards that come from accomplishment. An emerging population of highly-motivated, older adults is busy building a new model of retirement living-one that can most accurately be called the University of Retirement. And the last thing they want is “no more books”