In Emptiness Imagination is free to playLiveLoveTravel& Be Me

I asked ChatGPT this question:
We are an active, healthy 65-year-oldish couple looking at downsizing to an active adult living community in Canada, the USA or Portugal. What should we look for in the location, communities, care and financial commitment?

Here was ChatGPT’s answer:
Congratulations on your decision to downsize and explore active adult living communities! Here are some factors to consider when looking for a location and community:

1. Location: Consider the location in terms of proximity to family and friends, healthcare facilities, transportation, and recreational opportunities. Depending on your preferences, you may want to look for a community in a suburban or urban area, or in a more rural setting.
2. Community amenities: Look for communities that offer a range of amenities, such as fitness centers, swimming pools, golf courses, social events, and recreational activities. You may also consider whether the community has on-site dining options or access to nearby restaurants and shopping.
3. Care services: Depending on your needs and preferences, you may want to look for communities that offer different levels of care, such as assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing. Consider whether the community has an on-site medical staff, and what type of care is included in your monthly fees.
4. Financial commitment: Active adult living communities typically require an upfront buy-in fee or monthly fees for services and amenities. Make sure to understand the financial commitments and costs associated with each community, and whether the fees are locked in or subject to increase over time.
5. Lifestyle: Consider the overall lifestyle and culture of the community, and whether it aligns with your interests and preferences. Look for communities that offer a sense of community and social engagement, and that have a vibrant and active atmosphere.

When exploring communities in Canada, the USA, or Portugal, make sure to research each country’s laws and regulations around retirement communities and senior care. You may also want to consider factors such as climate, language, and cultural differences when evaluating potential locations. Best of luck in your search!

What do you think of its answer?

Here are my thoughts… (Real human that is aging lol)

1. Location:

I agree with this being #1 as this is where you will want to spend the rest of your healthy life.

I believe where you live should be, or feel like your favourite holiday spot (if it is accessible and has convenient features like shopping, family, friends and access to your favourite hobbies) after all you have worked your whole life and it’s time to take time for yourself and mate.

Now if that is already where you live, then it is about creating your own “Holiday at Home” to AGE in PLACE with accessible, beautiful, and convenient designer elements.

My husband and I have done this to the best of our ability in our little home in Burnaby. We created ‘Maui North‘ in our backyard with tropical plants around our inground cement pool. (By the way, we just emptied, resanded and are now in the process of repainting for the second time with RAMUC Hi-Build Epoxy paint) to view the video for the first time we did this 4 years ago after my 60th Birthday >> CLICK THIS YOUTUBE LINK << be aware a Mermaid shows up at the end lol.

We love our home! It is a great entertainment place and am incredibly grateful for being able to live here. However, after this year of fixing and repainting our fence, fixing and repainting our pool, (okay my hubby does most of the hard stuff – I help as I can) trimming our palm trees, camellias, and hedges and doing our regular spring flower planting our sore bodies are telling us that there will come a time when even our little paradise will become too much to look after.

2. Community Amenities make life more enjoyable.

We have easy access to shopping, (Home Depot and Costco are 2 of our go-to places) as well as the wonderful family Restaurants so close to us when we don’t feel like cooking. Also, 2 years ago I got my Bronze Medallion at the Eileen Dailly Swimming Pool.

3. Our Care Services are so important:

Our Kensington walk-in MediClinic is first rate and our family Doctor Dr. K. Gill is awesome although hard to get into as he is so busy. The Burnaby Hospital and its staff are wonderful in fact the Eye specialist Dr. Denis Bhui is STELLAR! He literally came to our rescue at 8 pm on a Saturday evening to save my husband’s vision from a Retinal tear.

4. Our Financial Commitments:

I am semi-retired and my husband is retired so funds are limited. We are fortunate enough to own our home and have enough money in investments to leave a financial legacy for our children. We have set aside funds to travel to our favourite spots – always near water, preferably the ocean as we still want to see places on our bucket list before we ‘kick the bucket‘ (horrible pun intended lol). We are grateful to be able to travel in our Sprinter Van with our furry family which was partly purchased from inheritance funds.

5. Our Lifestyle:

My hubby and I know we will have to eventually “right size” our home again. However, we are not in agreement as to where that will be. I want to spend my retirement years in an accessible, beautiful, comfortable and low-maintenance home (preferably one that I designed and built) that overlooks the pacific ocean where we can walk our pups. I also want to continue to help people with my ONLINE Interior Design by creating Age in Place – Forever Homes; doing Children’s book narrations; playing with my Grandchildren and making my Sea-Themed Arts & Crafts on Etsy. Sounds perfect to me! My hubby wants to stay in the city

Now, we are looking at the next 10 – 20 years and need to carefully consider what to do, where to live and how all that looks. This is why I am so passionate about ‘age in place‘ and designing ‘forever homes‘. Moving is hard and it gets harder the older we are.

I have and continue to help so many clients make their own homes a place they can live in for as long as their health allows.

Let me know in the comments section what concerns you as you ponder these questions.

Cheers to Glowing Older & Shining Brighter!

Jan Addams
Designer, Author, Treasure Hunter