Seniors Discover Connections and New Adventures in Charlottesville
With its temperate climate‚ diverse cultural offerings and outdoor opportunities‚ Charlottesville is known as a great place for people of all ages to put down roots.
But the city has attracted national attention recently as a fabulous place to spend one’s golden years – and that doesn’t mean rocking placidly on the porch.
More than ever before‚ today’s retired population is looking for ways to remain active and involved in the community‚ says Peter Thompson‚ executive director of Senior Center Inc. in Charlottesville.
“The person looking to relocate after career and family wind down tends to be looking for an active lifestyle‚” Thompson says. “We have indoor and outdoor recreation. We have great cultural opportunities and world-class health care. We have great opportunities for lifelong learning and staying connected through community service and creative opportunities. These are the key ingredients for successful aging.”
At Senior Center Inc.‚ members take hikes‚ play racquetball‚ and practice yoga and tai chi. They learn Web-site design‚ travel across the country and abroad‚ and avail themselves of a new program‚ “The Next Chapter‚” that provides direction and connections for people over 50 who are going through life transitions.
With more than 80 varied programs and 2‚200-plus members‚ this senior center bucks the rocking-chair stereotype in a big way.
“Today’s retiree has decades of bonus years‚” Thompson says. “You may retire in your 60s and live another 20 to 30 more years. That’s a great opportunity to try new adventures.”
About 30‚000 people over age 65 live in Charlottesville and five surrounding counties. Those 85 and older comprise the area’s fastest-growing age group. By 2030‚ the number of people over 65 is expected to double‚ according to figures from the Jefferson Area Board for Aging‚ or JABA.
Many folks are moving to Charlottesville after carefully researching its “age-friendly” merits‚ including matters related to transportation‚ health care‚ land use‚ retirement and intergenerational programs.
Those qualities helped propel Charlottesville to No. 7 in the 2005 book Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the U.S.A and Canada‚ and onto Where to Retire magazine’s top-100 list. The Charlottesville region also was among seven national recipients of Livable Communities for All Ages awards presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2005.
All such developments are bound to contribute to the growing senior population here.
Gordon Walker‚ chief executive officer of the nonprofit JABA‚ says the influx of older residents is a boon to the community. “We have seen a 30 percent increase in the number of retiree volunteers in the past five years‚” he says‚ adding that retirees account for a sizable percentage of the people who donate to nonprofit organizations.
In addition‚ “the retirees who choose to relocate are usually very well schooled and tend to be middle or upper income‚ so their purchasing power is valued‚” he says. Furthermore‚ their demand on the health-care system raises the level of medical services for all residents.
“Over the last couple of years‚ our community has increasingly recognized the merit in laying out the red carpet for retirees‚” Walker says. “There is a commitment to making Charlottesville a great place to age.”
