Recommend a good place for independent older people (70+) in NOVA

[Anonymous]

Would appreciate any and all ideas. My parents would like to relocate to the DC area from another part of the country. They are in their 70s, so at an age when they should think about maybe eventually needing to be in a retirement facility, but for now they're in good health and live fully independently. They're looking in VA because they say "taxes are too high in Maryland." I'm not sure that's a good enough reason to rule MD out entirely, but I'm going with their wishes.

Can anyone recommend towns or communities that cater to older people? My family and I live in NW DC (around Palisades) so they would like to be no more than one hour from that part of DC. Areas with a relatively slow, relaxed pace, would be preferred. I'm sure this is an unrealistic fantasy but ideally they would live somewhere where they could walk a few places (like to get groceries and have a coffee).

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[Anonymous]

Try the Jefferson in Arlington.

http://www.sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/the-jefferson/overview.aspx

You can live completely independently there, and add services (like eating in the dining room) as desired. It's definitely not a slow or relaxed area, but the location is terrific for an active older couple--lots to walk to, including the metro a block away.

[Anonymous]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo

Not The Jefferson. They are about to be hit with a huge special assessment to do massive work.

Depending on the price range they want, there are many nice condos in Falls Church City, Arlington, and Alexandria where they can live and enjoy walking to many things.

[Anonymous]

Landsdown near Ashburn.

[Anonymous]

Hunter's Park in Cherrydale (Arlington, VA)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nooooooooooooooooooooooo

Not The Jefferson. They are about to be hit with a huge special assessment to do massive work.

Depending on the price range they want, there are many nice condos in Falls Church City, Arlington, and Alexandria where they can live and enjoy walking to many things.

OP here. Thanks. Are these condos within retirement type communities, and if so, how do they find them? Are there any websites that list retirement type condo communities? Or should they just have a realtor help them?

[Anonymous]

The McLean house. My MIL lives there - lots of older people in the building and also nice amenities. However, they do have a pool and 4 elevators so condo fees are very high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nooooooooooooooooooooooo

Not The Jefferson. They are about to be hit with a huge special assessment to do massive work.

Depending on the price range they want, there are many nice condos in Falls Church City, Arlington, and Alexandria where they can live and enjoy walking to many things.

OP here. Thanks. Are these condos within retirement type communities, and if so, how do they find them? Are there any websites that list retirement type condo communities? Or should they just have a realtor help them?

If possible don't live here until you're ready to die, 4K condo fee would deter any independent living adult

Do you have a budget?

Alta vista condo has a ton of older folks but not retirement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would appreciate any and all ideas. My parents would like to relocate to the DC area from another part of the country. They are in their 70s, so at an age when they should think about maybe eventually needing to be in a retirement facility, but for now they're in good health and live fully independently. They're looking in VA because they say "taxes are too high in Maryland." I'm not sure that's a good enough reason to rule MD out entirely, but I'm going with their wishes.

Can anyone recommend towns or communities that cater to older people? My family and I live in NW DC (around Palisades) so they would like to be no more than one hour from that part of DC. Areas with a relatively slow, relaxed pace, would be preferred. I'm sure this is an unrealistic fantasy but ideally they would live somewhere where they could walk a few places (like to get groceries and have a coffee).

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

How close to DC do they want to be? Because I don't think places right nearby are going to be slow and relaxed.

[Anonymous]

How about a condo in old town? There are a lot of walkable restaurants and parks and after rush hour ends things are pretty slow.

[Anonymous]

In Arlington there's Tower Villas in Virginia Square and the Chatham on George Mason and 50. Both have 24 hour concierge, bigger units, and lots of old people. I owned in one and moved my parents into the other. TV is better situated, but the units are more expensive. The Hyde Park in Ballston is probably also similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Arlington there's Tower Villas in Virginia Square and the Chatham on George Mason and 50. Both have 24 hour concierge, bigger units, and lots of old people. I owned in one and moved my parents into the other. TV is better situated, but the units are more expensive. The Hyde Park in Ballston is probably also similar.

My MIL lives in the Chatham and it does skew old, but there are no washer dryers in the units. The condo fee is also fairly high.

[Anonymous]

Greenspring.
It's on the Springfield/Alexandria border

[Anonymous]

Ashby ponds in Ashburn. Along with Green Springs, it's an Erikson retirement community. Ashby ponds is newer and nicer, but Greensprings is closer in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ashby ponds in Ashburn. Along with Green Springs, it's an Erikson retirement community. Ashby ponds is newer and nicer, but Greensprings is closer in.

Ashby ponds is very nice , but it is in the middle of nothing. Nothing within walking distance. Nada.

OP, keep in mind that "an hour" from DC means very different things at different times of the day, and also is actually a huge distance in the event of problems. When my MIL broke her hip, her home 30 miles west of DC suddenly seemed much too far away. DH had to drive out during rush hour after work, day after day, and attending any medical appointments with her meant taking off at least a half day of work because of the travel time. After that, we lobbied hard to get her to move closer to us. Now she lives just a few miles away and it is so much easier. DH can stop by over lunch hour if she needs anything. Our teenagers can visit more frequently, too, which she really likes.