Can anyone point me to a website or source for getting a list of adult 55+ (or could be older) communities in metro NY (including NJ, Westchester etc.) I'm having a devil of a time finding info. Not looking for assisted living, but affordable senior communities with single story housing. Any personal experience/info also greatly appreciated.

There are a couple near Cranbury, NJ. My aunt and unlce live in Concordia which which is single houses.

http://www.retirementhomes.com/North..._Concordia.htm

Mclaurie - Newsday used to post reviews of senior housing on LI every weekend in the "adult living" section - I was just quickly trying to access that but couldn't find it - you might give that a full search. Of course, AFFORDABLE is the key word . . .

If you contact a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers you find someone knowledgable about resources and communities your area. At www.caremanager.org, you can search by zip code.

I think affordable is the issue. My parents were looking - and prices - and monthly fees were outrageous - even for people selling aa house in a good suburb her.

Uncle and aunt found a great deal - but near Clarwater in FL.

Aduchamp, I'd been trying to find info on Concordia. Are your aunt & uncle happy there? Have you visited? Can't seem to find any pricing info online. Are the homes purchased from individuals or from the development? Can't believe there's not more online info.

Thanks to all of you. Still surprised there's not a simple website to use.

Try this Web site:

http://seniorhousing.state.ny.us/

A little further south in NJ, Toms River, Jackson and The Crossing in Englishtown. There are several in LI but I don't know the specifics.

My Aunt and Uncle have lived there for nearly twenty years. Unfortunately they must move to an assisted living community.

We have visited on many occasions. It is a gated community, that appears well maintained. It is in central NJ which once potato farms and now has many professional parks and some traffic on week days.

It is just a few minutes from the NJ Turnpike and about twenty minutes from Princeton, one of the more beautiful towns in NJ.

A college friend lives in the town over and has lived there for 25 years.

It is basic suburban living half way between NYC and Philly.

I will ask my uncle and I will see them very soon it is their 60th anniversary in a few weeks.

Thanks again for the further info. Still happy to hear more. Many of these websites are incomplete.

Aduchamp, would appreciate any further info you can provide. I think assisted living might be a more practical move, but they're not quite ready.

Mclaurie, having gone thru this with my own parents and going thru it now w/ my in-laws, please forgive this bit of unsolicited advice - (which was some of the best I ever got). Plan for 5 years from now - as hard as it is, especially making a move, look to the physical/financial/health needs not where they are now - but where they most likely will be 5 - 10 years from now .. .

Also, the times is running a great blog, "the new old age"
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/:

Here is a direct quote from my uncle regarding Concordia:

There are many units for sale at this time. Prices are good for buyers and lousy for sellers.
The things that I like are ease of life. There is no pressure like living in the city.

There are a ton of these communities in Ocean County, New Jersey especially in and around Toms River. (A good number of my parent's friends from Staten Island have moved down there.)

The Star Ledger newspaper has entire sections devoted to senior living on Sundays. There are complexes in every county. All types - houses, condos, assisted, whatever you want/need. In the Princeton Forrestal Village, there is a nice set up, with condos, individual homes, and the option of assisted, as well.

mp, how do you do that when they want to move NOW? The link you gave me is not working. Maybe my computer though.

if you go to the NY Times site - www.nytimes.com and look at the right hand column about half way down - you will see a listing for blogs and the blog is called "The New Old Age"

Yeah, I know - if we had crystal balls it would be easier. . . and not too be pessimistic but for the most part you can just operate knowing whatever health/mental/financial issues that exist now will be probably downgoing - so with that in mind, you keep in mind transportation,(driving required?) proximity to family/medical support (how long does it take YOU to get to them?) financial issues (long-term care insurance, estate planning, who pays for asisstance when it's needed . . . )

I have a Dad in independent living in a continuing care retirement community and I do volunteer work in an assisted living facility, and I think mp makes a good point but all you really can do is do the best that you can now. Stuff can and will happen and you may have to move your parents (?) in a year or two...or not. If you want to cover your bases for the long-term, a continuing care retirement community with independent living, assisted living, nursing care and a dementia unit is a safe bet. In my experience, the most important thing is proximity to the you or the primary caregiver.