Retirement living
Discover why the Valley is a retirement destination
By Jo-an Holstein

Metro Phoenix has long been considered an ideal retirement spot; and for many good reasons. There's the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert, sun-filled days, spectacular sunsets, bountiful recreational opportunities and a host of facilities, services and housing options tailored to retirees and their needs.

For example, metro Phoenix has more than 190 of the state's 300 golf courses, according to the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. Healthcare facilities are plentiful across the Valley as are senior centers, with the City of Phoenix alone offering 19. Equally abundant are money-saving offers provided by local businesses for those 65 and older, along with rewarding volunteer opportunities.

"Whatever you interest are, we have an opportunity to help you get to know your community and help it, too," said Amy Jovonovich, communications coordinator for the Volunteer Center of Maricopa County, which referred more than 32,000 volunteers to more than 950 nonprofit organizations across the Valley in 2000.

Location also is a draw for retirees. While it offers all the amenities of a major city, the Valley of the Sun also provides close access to everything from the bright lights of Las Vegas and house boating on Lake Powell, to enjoying the mountain air of Flagstaff and the wonder of the Grand Canyon.

Given all this, it's no surprise that the Arizona Department of Economic Security projects that Maricopa County's population of people age 65 and older will nearly double over the next two decades. Braced to meet the needs of this growing senior population, metro Phoenix offers every imaginable retirement living option, including senior apartments, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, mobile home parks and some of the nation's best retirement communities.

"There are a couple major reasons why active adult choose Phoenix: year-round activities, climate and, in particular, the strong active adult community offerings," says Paul Bessler, vice president of research for Del Webb Corporation. A leading builder of active adult communities for people 55 and older, Del Webb has sold more than 1,000 homes a year at its Sun City Grand retirement community since its opening in October 1996, making it one of the best-selling master-planned communities in the state. Located in Surprise in the Northwest Valley, Sun City Grand was included on Where to Retire magazine's list.

Representing nearly every area of metro Phoenix, other local master-planned developments making the magazine's list were: PebbleCreek Resort Community in Goodyear, which is in the Southwest Valley; Tonto Verde in Rio Verde, located in the Northeast Valley; Grayhawk and Troon North, both in Scottsdale; and Sun Lakes Resort Community in Sun Lakes, located in the Southeast Valley.

Regardless of which part of the Valley they call home, metro Phoenix's retirement communities typically feature a full slate of amenities, including multimillion-dollar clubhouses, recreation centers, fitness facilities as well as golf courses, pools and tennis courts. The end result is resort-style living combined with community clubs, classes and social activities to foster the camaraderie many retirees seek.

Phoenix AZ Relocation Guide article - AZ Central