Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 12, 2022 avvya yavvy eniiooravvy S iorn or vvy io iori by Jim Miller How to Choose a 55-Plus Active Adult Community Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for choosing a good active adult housing community? My husband and I, who recently retired, are planning to relocate to an area closer to our grandkids and are interested in buying a house in an age-restricted 55-plus housing community. Active Retirees Dear Active, If you’re contemplating moving into an age-restricted community, fi nding one that’s right for you takes some legwork. While active adult communities generally off er the opportunity for a lower-maintenance lifestyle around similar aged people, they vary enormously. Here’s what you should know. Today’s active adult communities come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, ranging from small city-based apartment complexes, to single-family homes, to sprawling resort-style locations situated on a gated golf course. Most are owned by their occupants, but a growing number are rentals. Typically, at least one occupant of each property must be at least 55. It’s also important to understand that 55-plus active adult communities are not the same as retirement or independent living communities, which are primarily designed for older seniors in their 70s and 80s. Active adult communities do not typically include meals or have a central dining area, but many of them do off er a range of recreational amenities and activities. To help you locate and research active adult communities in the areas you’re interested in, the best resource is 55places.com. This is a comprehensive website that provides ratings, reviews and information on activities and amenities for thousands of communities across the country. Once you fi nd a few you like, here are some questions to ask yourself that can help you choose: What’s our budget? To help you choose the right active adult community you’ll fi rst need to determine what you can aff ord. Consider the home’s purchase price, whether you’ll need a mortgage, how much the property taxes and insurance are, and how much the homeowners’ association or community fees are. These fees, which typically run a few hundred dollars per month, go toward lawn care and possibly snow removal, as well as community areas like a clubhouse or pool. However, some communities may require additional memberships or fees for golf, tennis, classes, or other activities. You also need to consider the area’s cost of living for other things like food, utilities, transportation, health care and taxes. Numbeo. com and BestPlaces.net off er tools to compare the cost from your current location to where you would like to move. And Kiplinger’s has a tax guide for retirees at Kiplinger.com/links/retireetaxmap that lets you fi nd and compare taxes state-by-state. How active is the community? Some communities provide fi tness facilities, swimming pools, tennis courts and more, along with dozens of organized activities, classes and social events. Other communities are much simpler and more laid back with very limited amenities and structured activities. You’ll want to choose a community that has the types of people, facilities, activities and vibe that appeals to you. Will we like the surrounding area? Will the area around your prospective community serve your needs now and in the future? Ideally, this means having easy access to good doctors and hospitals, and a local airport if you plan to travel much. You’ll also want to research how far you’ll be from essential services like grocery stores, banks and pharmacies, as well as dining, shopping, and recreational attractions. Schedule a Visit Once you’ve narrowed your choices, call to make an appointment and visit them. Be sure to allow plenty of time at each community and, if possible, go back to your favorites more than once. Also be sure to ask questions while you are visiting, particularly about the community rules. Some developments will let you stay overnight in a model home for a few nights to get a feel of what it would be like to live there. While you are there, try the amenities and activities, and speak with as many residents as you can. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in “The Lost City” CLIMATE | FROM PAGE 1 lowing an initial grant award of technical assistance from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The Climate Action Plan will drive the City’s response to climate change and improve sustainability by identifying important steps the City should take to address the climate concerns. “This Climate Action Plan will be essential for securing the City’s climate future, reducing our own carbon footprint and preventing the worst impacts of extreme weather on our residents,” said Mayor Christenson. “Climate change poses signifi - cant challenges for Malden and require our full commitment as a City. I am proud that the Climate Action Plan will start off with a strong and inclusive community engagement campaign, so that we hear from residents across the City and across language barriers about how they are impacted and what we can do to help. Thank you MAPC for giving us the tools and support to do this work.” “As an environmental justice community, this grant for a climate action plan is a huge win for Malden,” said Councillor-at-Large and Chair of the EnJ oin us for a “Movie Night in the Park at Rivers Edge” on Wednesday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m.. The movie will be on The Park at Rivers Edge Great Lawn adjacent to 200 River’s Edge Drive in Medford. The Great Lawn section of the park will be transformed into an outdoor movie theatre where residents and visitors of all ages are welcome to gather and enjoy a free movie night featuring Disney’s Enchanted. Enchanted is an American live-action/animated musical fantasy romantic comedy fi lm starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, and Susan Sarandon. A classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day life when an animated princess is exiled into the real world by an evil queen. MPAA Rating PG. The event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by Preotle, Lane & Associates and the Malden Public Library. Attendees should bring their own blankets and chairs for use. There will be free snacks and water provided. Wellington Station is just 0.4 miles from Rivers Edge. Free parking is available at the Rivers Edge Garage. Flyer Movie Night at the Public Library oin us for a fun Summer Movie Night on Wednesday, August 24 from 6-8 p.m. We’re showing the Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum 2022 adventure rom-com about a romance novelist and her book cover model who go to “The Lost City.” Rated PG-13 – 112 minutes. Registration is encouraged. Call us at 781-324-0218 to reserve your spot. munities across the region that are accelerating eff orts to fi ght climate change at the local level,” said MAPC Interim Director of Clean Energy Julie Curti. “This project will provide clear, actionable strategies that drive down emissions and build local resilience. We look forward to continuing our work with the City and the Malden community.” The Climate Action Plan will storm intensity and shifting our homes and vehicles to run on electricity are enormous challenges each individual Maldonian and family faces to adapt to and moderate climate change,” said Ward 6 Councillor Steve Winslow. “I am delighted that the Mayor and the City’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee have secured funding to allow Malden to develop a Climate Action Plan to serve as the road map so we can work together on the bold actions to build a more sustainable future.” “MAPC is very excited to support Malden’s efforts to conduct an inclusive community engagement process and develop an equity-centered Climate Action Roadmap, joining the growing number of combegin this fall, with the first phase – heavily focused on community engagement – concluding in the summer of 2023. The City will establish an Advisory Committee for the plan, which will be made up of Malden residents from environmental justice communities and guide the City’s eff orts to engage with community members about climate issues. Residents are encouraged to ask questions, provide feedback and share concerns during the planning process, which will help guide the City’s response to climate concerns. More information about the Climate Action Plan, including how to apply to be part of the Advisory Committee and when community meetings will be held, will be posted on the City’s website and social media pages. J ergy Effi ciency and Sustainability Commission Carey McDonald. “It will build on the good work of the past few years and address the serious impacts of climate change we are already seeing through worsening storms, runoff and fl ooding, and air quality concerns. We have to do our part to protect our community by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions creating a climate-resilient city.” “Rising sea levels, increased Outdoor Family Movie Night in the Park at River’s Edge
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