Looking for the best location to settle in your retirement years? You needn’t go as far as Florida or Arizona to find the perfect home. Instead, Allentown, Pennsylvania should be on your list of ideal destinations. According to U.S. News & World Report, Allentown is among the top 20 best places to retire in America. Located in the Lehigh Valley, the city is absolutely stunning, especially among people who love Victorian homes, Queen Anne charm, and other architectural styles from the past. Allentown also boasts a thriving cultural scene, plenty of museums, excellent restaurants, and seemingly endless outdoor space, which is great news for active seniors. 

As another bonus, Allentown is very affordable for retirees, as the cost of living is much lower than other metropolitan areas in the United States. The state of Pennsylvania is also tax-friendly for retirees, meaning seniors in the Keystone State can keep more of their retirement earnings in their pocket. Pennsylvania doesn't impose taxes on the retirement income of residents older than 59 and a half years of age, income from individual or workplace retirement accounts, or Social Security benefits.

Ready to start looking for the perfect retirement community for you? Read on to learn what you need to know.

What is a Retirement Community?

Retirement communities, also called active adult living or “55-plus” communities, are planned neighborhoods built to accommodate the needs and preferences of retirees who are typically at least 55 years of age. Moving into an active adult living community is a perfect option for retirees who can live on their own mostly independently but would rather not be responsible for the entire spectrum of home and property maintenance and repair. Management staff in active adult living communities usually handles the following maintenance tasks: 

  • Common area maintenance
  • Snow removal
  • Exterior building maintenance
  • Lawn care
  • Sewer maintenance
  • Roof maintenance
  • Pest extermination

Homes in active adult living communities typically have “universal design” principles evident in the layout, meaning they are equipped with senior-friendly amenities that help older adults remain safe as they age in place. These amenities generally include no-step entryways, wider hallways, stair-free floorplans, and walk-in bathtubs with support rails to help prevent bathroom falls.

Spend Time in Your Top Retirement Communities

Once you have a shortlist of potential retirement communities, you’ll want to spend time in each of them to gain a true sense of what your day-to-day life would be like. The available amenities, the social atmosphere, and the friendliness of the people are all factors to consider when deciding if a given retirement community is a good fit for you. Thus, visiting different facilities, checking out shared community spaces, and chatting with current residents will give you both the insight for and the peace of mind about making an informed decision. 

Research Other Senior Living Options in Allentown

55-plus communities can be a perfect fit for many retirees, but, in reality, there are other factors to consider that may ultimately sway you toward choosing another option. If you currently have or think you will in the future have complex health needs or mobility limitations, consider an assisted living facility instead. 

Assisted living facilities are staffed with caring professionals who are specifically trained to help seniors with essential activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, managing medications, and general housework like cooking and cleaning. There are several assisted living facilities in Allentown and the surrounding area from which to choose.

Ready to explore your options in Allentown? Contact Golden Age Moving Solutions today to begin! As long as you have the right professionals by your side, the journey to finding your retirement dream home doesn’t have to be a stressful one. O’Brien’s is fully committed to its company motto - “Courteous and Dependable” - and you can fully count on both during your real estate experience.