Are you undecided about whether a retirement community—such as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) or a “life plan” community—is the right choice, or whether staying in your current home is a better fit for your retirement years? If so, this article will help you weigh the evidence.
Many surveys show that 80 to 90 percent of older adults say they want to “age in place,” meaning remain in their current home as long as possible. With today’s services, technology, and home-care options, aging in place is a realistic and satisfying path for many people.
At the same time, recent research indicates that people who actually move into retirement communities often experience higher levels of wellbeing, better health outcomes, and a stronger sense of belonging than peers who remain at home. A large study conducted in the United Kingdom (U.K.) supports these findings.
Increased sense of wellbeing in a retirement community
ProMatura International, a provider of data and customer insights for senior housing, and the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO) led the largest U.K. study of its kind. The research surveyed 2,799 residents from 81 retirement communities operated by 15 providers, along with 1,111 older adults who were considering a move but had not yet relocated.
The study found that, compared with older adults who were still living at home but considering a move, those who had already moved into a retirement community tended to:
- Maintain better health for longer
- Remain more active
- Report less loneliness
- Feel greater security
- Enjoy life more
While the publicly available summary does not fully detail the study’s methodology, the reported results point to clear differences in outcomes between residents and non-residents.
Other notable findings include:
- 90 percent of residents said they moved at the right time in their lives; just 4 percent wished they had waited longer.
- On average, respondents had lived in their retirement community for 4.5 years, and nearly three-quarters reported that their health stayed the same or improved during that time.
- 89 percent of residents reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with community life.
- Residents were two to five times more likely than non-residents to participate in social events, try new activities, meet with friends, dine with others, exercise, and spend time with family more often than they had in the past.
- 93 percent of residents felt a safety net existed if something went wrong, compared with 40 percent of non-residents.
The quality of life factor
These results suggest an important distinction between what many people expect from aging in place and what retirement community life can actually deliver. In particular, the study highlighted differences in happiness and enjoyment of life.
A much larger share of residents reported they had “often enjoyed life” in the past week compared with non-residents (70 percent versus 48 percent). More than half (55 percent) of residents said their quality of life was higher than it had been a year earlier—four times the proportion among non-residents. Conversely, over a third (36 percent) of non-residents reported a decline in their quality of life during the previous year.
Shared findings about retirement community life
Although this research was conducted in the U.K., similar trends appear in U.S. studies. For example, the five-year AgeWell Study in the United States, led by Mather LifeWays in partnership with Northwestern University, found comparable improvements in health and wellbeing among residents of CCRCs and other life-plan communities.
If you are debating whether to move to a retirement community, studies like these indicate the move can be a positive decision that supports both physical and mental wellbeing, while providing a stronger sense of safety and social connection.
That said, many new residents describe an initial transition period that can require emotional adjustment. Over time, as they establish routines and form relationships, most report meaningful improvement in quality of life. For many people, the social opportunities, activities, and on-site supports available in retirement communities contribute to lasting gains in health, happiness, and overall wellbeing.