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This may be a silly question. BIL is in a 55+ community but we are moving him closer to an independent living community. The only upside I see is that it is a lot closer to us. He really needs assisted living but would never agree to that. I'm not the ones making the decisions, I'm just watching this mess unfold.

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My husband (96) and I (89) live in a 55+ manufactured housing community. We own our home, which was purchased outright 13 years ago, but the company owns the land it sits on. Although it may not be the "ideal" arrangement, it's affordable and lot rent increases are limited to 5%/year by state law. We live in a pricey area and affording market rate housing would be difficult. We are both retired from long careers in the nonprofit sector. Moving for affordability was never in the cards for us because family members are nearby, as are most of our healthcare professionals, pharmacy, veterinarian, grocery store, etc.

No care services are included, so if/when we can no longer manage on our own, we will likely need to consider other arrangements. In the meanwhile, it works for us. We have a housecleaner every other week and seasonal yard maintenance.
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Reply to ElizabethAR37
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I live in a 55+ community. It is for adults who are active, athletic (or not), interested in learning new skills or keeping up old ones, making friends, having like-minded people to travel with, etc. etc. You don't move here and stay in a recliner forever. You engage, you enjoy, and you live your best life for as long as you can. Facilities are specially equipped so that those with hearing loss can beam in audio through their own hearing aids. Veterans are honored often and meaningfully. We have lots of imported entertainment but also that of talented community residents. It's fun!

Until, of course, it isn't, due to your own health reasons or those of your spouse or parents.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Little did I think when I wrote my response here on July 23 that today I would be putting in an offer on a house in a 55+ community!
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Reply to graygrammie
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Where I am (south central PA), 55+ communities are for people who want to own their own home and they pay an HOA fee for things like lawn mowing and snow removal on their property, as well as access to a clubhouse, pool, fitness equipment, on-site restaurant(s), etc. My sister, in Maryland, is in the process of moving from one 55+ community to another, so obviously they are happy with their living arrangments. Homes are sold by realtors.

An Independent Living Community will most likely be part of a Life Plan Community (formerly referred to Continuing Care Retirement Communities). You buy in to the community, you pretty much contract yourself to be there the rest of your life. If you want to move out of the community, there will probably be some loss of investment. These communities usually provide everything from Independent Living to Assisted Living to Nursing Home and Memory Care. You buy in at the IL level and then you can progress to other levels as needed. If you went from IL to AL, they will refer to the IL residence as "vacated" and will then offer it as available to the next person that wants to buy in. Realtors are not involved, it all stays within the company that runs the community. There are many amenities available in terms of dining, physical activity, enrichment, etc.

I had thought about a LifePlan Community for many years but now my sister has me considering a 55+ community.
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lkdrymom Jul 31, 2026
That does sound a lot like where he will move to in PA. His 55+ place in South Jersey has really gone downhill so he is on board to move.
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Both require being independent in ADL's and getting around with or without using assistive devices (walker, cane, wheelchair, independent use of bathroom, etc. Either may or may not provide dining services. If people need any care, they must pay for it privately in addition the cost of the living unit itself. Some may have call buttons for problems such as falls, but the most they would do is call EMS.
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Reply to Sandra2424
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The main requirement for a 55+ is keeping the community 80 percent old people. Independent living and the rest usually fall under licensing requirements fur more staff involvement. At the mostly IL my dh worked for, vendors would alert staff if there hadn’t been movement in their unit for a day. If they hadn’t told front desk they’d be on vacation, they could expect maintenance to be called to come in to make sure they were still breathing.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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Fawnby Jul 30, 2026
In my 55+ community, we have a lot of residents under 55. That’s because only one household member must be 55 or over. I have a friend whose spouse is 62 but friend was 39 when they moved in. We also have some over 100. What we don’t have is permanent residents who are children. At holidays and during school vacations, they visit and use the amenities. Then they leave and it’s back to normal. It’s a pretty good plan. People love living here.
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