With a warm, sunny climate, a vast array of recreational opportunities and numerous housing options, Southern Nevada is becoming an increasingly popular retirement destination. More than 22 percent of Las Vegas’ population is made up of individuals aged 55 and older. Studies show that today’s retirees are healthy, active individuals who are looking for exciting, fun-filled golden years. What better place to make that happen than right here in Las Vegas?
While the majority of Las Vegas’ recreational amenities can be enjoyed by adults of all ages, there are a vast number of activities, events, services and residential amenities that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of seniors and retirees.
The diverse and active lifestyle of Southern Nevada’s senior population is reflected in the many types of senior living communities located across the region. Living arrangements run the gamut from active adult and independent living communities to assisted-living housing and continuing care retirement facilities. With baby boomers hitting retirement age and more and more people retiring, active adult communities are becoming popular across the country. These communities offer seniors amenities such as golf courses, community centers, fitness facilities, cyber cafés and performing arts theaters.
Located in North Las Vegas, Ardiente is an exclusive active adult community developed by Centex Homes. Homebuyers can select from eight different floor plans, each designed to fit a variety of lifestyles and needs. Ardiente is comprised of 780 homes and features walking trails linking six different parks. The community, which features a 24-hour guard-gated entry to the state-of-the-art 13,000-square-foot clubhouse and pool area, is minutes away from the excitement of the Strip, while only steps away from the mountains and desert.
In North Las Vegas, the Cantura community offers Santa Rosa, a single-story neighborhood with easy access to shopping, dining, downtown and the Strip. Homes range in size from 1,664 to 1,895 square feet. Also within the Cantura community is The Ranches, an expansive single-story neighborhood conveniently located near I-15, I-215, parks and shopping. There is no age restriction in Cantura.
Grand Court Las Vegas understands that assisted living is not just about assisting residents with their physical needs … it’s about supporting every aspect of a fulfilling lifestyle. From the physical to the emotional, to the social and intellectual, the staff wants residents to enjoy purposeful daily living.
Grand Court Las Vegas offers numerous attractive amenities, including:
Summerlin’s newest exclusive active adult village is Montechiaro by Westmark Homes. Located on 52 acres at the southwest corner of Flamingo Road and Town Center Drive, this midrise neighborhood offers three attached luxury housing options that range from 1,200 to 2,900 square feet. The Mediterranean-inspired buildings are situated around a 35,000-square-foot clubhouse. The design of the clubhouse currently features a conference room, business center, arts and crafts room, multipurpose ballroom, gallery, coffee and snack bar, catering kitchen, card and billiard rooms, an exercise facility, aerobic/Pilates studio, steam/sauna rooms, a wellness center and an indoor pool.
With easy access to I-215, Siena, an active adult community located in one of the villages of Summerlin, is home to fine golf courses, restaurants, community centers and health and fitness facilities. Siena homes range from the villas, which are 1,000 to 1,400 square feet, to single-family homes from 1,500 to 3,200 square feet. Golf course homes are also available. At least one member of a Siena household must be 50 or older.
Sun City Summerlin was the first senior community of its kind in Southern Nevada. Located high above the valley in the heart of the Summerlin master-planned community, area amenities include golf courses, fine restaurants, community centers, clubhouses, tennis courts, entertainment and daily activities for everyone. Residents enjoy a very active lifestyle, surrounded by awe-inspiring mountains and city views. Homes range from duplex properties of 1,200 to 1,800 square feet to single-family homes ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. Custom homes are also available on the golf course.
Terra Bella, Westmark Homes’ premier active adult gated condominium community, is nestled in the master-planned development of Anthem in Henderson. The property features Tuscan-inspired, three-story buildings surround by landscaped interior courtyards. The single-level condominium homes range in size from 1,428 to 2,207 square feet with either two or three bedrooms or two or 2.5 bath configurations. The community center boasts a resort-style pool and spa, a fitness center, a clubhouse and a large outdoor lanai, complete with fireplace, so that residents can enjoy wonderful
Las Vegas evenings year-round. The majority of the condominium homes in this community enjoy a view of the mountains or the famous Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas is home to a wide variety of care facilities, offering numerous options for seniors and their families.
Among the many senior housing options available, independent living provides the greatest versatility and freedom. Independent living for seniors refers to residence in a compact, easy-to-maintain, private apartment or house within a community of seniors. Any housing arrangement designed exclusively for seniors may be classified as an independent living community.
Independent living is for people who want to live on their own, but who do not wish to maintain a home. These facilities provide a great amount of social interaction and offer residents a community that is both safe and flexible. Amenities may differ from community to community, but planned activities, community services and dining options are standard in most independent living facilities.
Independent living facilities differ from other types of communities in that residents must be able to perform all daily aspects of living without assistance or monitoring. Ideal candidates for this type of facility should be healthy, able to communicate with independent health care professionals without the help of on-site staff, and must desire an active community environment.
Assisted living communities are for people who need assistance with daily living activities. These activities may range from transportation, daily meals, physician visits and recreational activities to laundry services, dressing and bathing assistance, housekeeping and medication assistance.
While residents in assisted living centers are not able to live entirely by themselves, the centers allow them to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. While assisted living is not an alternative to a nursing home, it is an intermediate level of long-term care appropriate for many seniors.
Many assisted living facilities also have centers for medical care; however, these centers may not be as intensive as the care available in nursing homes. Services for the early stages of Alzheimer’s are also available at many assisted living communities. Most assisted living facilities provide services and personal care in a group environment and promote active and healthy lifestyles for residents.
Ideal candidates for this type of community are not able to live independently, but do not require medical care. Typically, assisted living facilities are the first step when everyday care is needed. It is crucial to note that assisted living residents can be young or old, affluent or low income, frail or disabled. Often this type of facility is home to patients requiring assistance after a traumatic event or period of hospital rehabilitation.
A skilled nursing facility, also known as a nursing home, employs registered nurses who help provide 24-hour care to people who can no longer care for themselves due to physical, emotional or mental conditions. A licensed physician supervises each patient’s care and a nurse or other medical professional is almost always on the premises. Most nursing homes have two basic types of services: skilled medical care and custodial care.
Skilled medical care includes such activities as a speech therapist helping a patient learn to speak after a stroke, a physical therapist helping to correct strength problems or a registered nurse changing a dressing after a major surgery. Skilled medical care includes services of trained professionals that are needed for a limited period of time following an injury or illness.
Custodial care refers to care provided on a daily basis with what are considered the “activities of living.” Activities in custodial care include bathing, eating, grooming and dressing. People who are able to recover from a disabling injury or illness may temporarily need custodial care as they are getting back the strength and balance necessary to be independent again. However, custodial care can be a long-term need for those who are losing the ability to function and require help to live life.
It is often hard to distinguish between skilled nursing facilities and assisted living centers. The major difference is the level of health care that is provided at each facility. Skilled nursing facilities offer a much broader spectrum of medical services to residents and include more specialized health care professionals, including therapists, gerontologists and Alzheimer’s and cancer authorities.
The combination of assisted living facilities with independent living residences and nursing homes is known as a “continuing care retirement community” (CCRC). Continuing care communities provide a full range of services similar to assisted living communities, but they also have the added benefit of providing varying levels of care to accommodate residents’ changing health needs.
A continuing care retirement community provides independent living residents with the privacy of their own spacious apartment, a community of friends and neighbors, as well as an extensive list of services and amenities so they can enjoy their retirement. A special benefit of a CCRC is the guarantee of on-site health care, including assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing. For example, you or your loved one may start off in the independent living section of such a community, move on to assisted living when more help is required with daily activities and eventually, transition into a nursing home when a higher level of care is required.
Nonprofit organizations sponsor many continuing care retirement communities. These nonprofit agencies may set up communities that cater to affinity groups, such as religious organizations, fraternal orders and ethnic groups. Other CCRCs are not affiliated with any particular group. Examples of affinity group living are retirement communities set up for Episcopalians, Christians, Baptists, Quakers, golfers or Masons.
Virtually all seniors in today’s vibrant aging community are good candidates for this type of facility. CCRCs are unique in their ability to be home to those who need special attention and those who are able to live completely independently. This type of environment is especially advantageous for those who require different levels of care within their marital relationship. For example, one spouse might require complete care and the other may only require daily help, but both can live together on the same property without fear of separation.
Alzheimer’s care communities are special units or free-standing communities designed to care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that attacks the brain, impairing one’s memory, mental processing ability and behavior. Special on-site care is provided to residents 24 hours a day. While these communities are for early-stage Alzheimer’s patients, alternative senior assisted care centers may be appropriate for residents. Long-term insurance or personal monies usually fund the care in these communities.
After becoming familiar with the different options available to the aging population, it is important to conduct an inventory of your own personal desires. Some important considerations:
Once a decision about a community has been made, review the conditions and ask questions if you do not understand. Ensure every detail is clearly spelled out in writing. If you don’t feel comfortable in the facility, it’s probably not the best option. Pay close attention to what is going on around you and how you feel in the environment. Many reputable facilities will invite you or your loved one to a trial visit to help in the decision-making process.
The growing baby boomer population is active and longs for stimulating activities and a sense of adventure. Studies conducted by numerous adult communities have found that high-impact activities such as kayaking, hang gliding, hiking, river rafting, sports flying, tennis and hot air ballooning are becoming increasingly popular among the over-55 crowd. The active adult community is shifting lifestyle priorities and putting a much greater emphasis on living in places that offer fitness centers, special events and group outings. Las Vegas is the prefect setting for active adults who long for adventure and entertainment. The combination of gaming opportunities, outdoor escapes and recreational options makes it a perfect choice for adults of all ages.
The Certified Senior Advisors (CSA) designation indicates that professional service providers have supplemented their individual professional licenses, credentials and education with knowledge about aging and working with seniors. According to the Society of Certified Senior Advisors, a Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA) is a professional who has received a comprehensive education in the health, financial and social issues facing seniors. CSA candidates must pass a challenging national exam to prove their knowledge of the issues affecting seniors. While most CSAs already have expertise in a professional discipline, it is only after they pass the exam and agree to live up to high ethical and professional standards that they may use the CSA designation.
The Society of Certified Senior Advisors is
the world’s largest membership organization that educates and certifies professionals who serve seniors. Founded in 1997, doctors, attorneys, gerontologists, accountants, financial planners and other experts came together because they believed there was a need for standardized education for professionals who work with seniors.
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