# I didn't realize there were certified Retirement Communities. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669 "2016-08-22T20:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/1 "2016-08-22T20:35:50Z")
Still a decade away from retiring but we may move from the city to a smaller town. The baby boomers are ahead of us as usual. This article estimates 76 million baby boomers will be retiring. A lot of programs are starting to accommodate them. I’ve always been a decade behind that generation. 😃 Getting their sloppy seconds. Some states have programs that designate certain small towns as certified Retirement Communities. Seems like a good start for anyone beginning the search for somewhere to relocate and retire. [http://www.topretirements.com/communities/certified\_retirement\_communities.html](http://www.topretirements.com/communities/certified_retirement_communities.html) > [@](#): > > The good news for baby boomers is that the states are doing big part of your vetting process for you. Since they have an application process and established criteria, any town that gets the certification is guaranteed to be welcoming and have a minimum level of facilities. [http://www.topretirements.com/communities/certified\_retirement\_communities.html](http://www.topretirements.com/communities/certified_retirement_communities.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/2 "2016-08-22T21:07:22Z")
How have you missed this commercial [http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/joe-namath-doing-retirement-home-commercials-related-time-181346476.html](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/joe-namath-doing-retirement-home-commercials-related-time-181346476.html) There are several 55+ communities where I used to live. What surprised me was how big some of the houses were. You’d think retired people would want to downsize a little. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/3 "2016-08-22T21:37:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Some states have programs that designate certain small towns as certified Retirement Communities. It may be an easy way to designate the appropriate exceptions from age discrimination concerns. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/4 "2016-08-22T22:17:46Z")
Medical care is a big concern after retirement. It’s important that a small town has reasonably close access to a bigger city. My hometown for example has really gone downhill. They were a regional medical center with good doctors. A lot of those doctor left and weren’t replaced. Any specialized treatment requires appointments in Little Rock. A 2 hour drive away. They use medivac helicopter flights in emergencies to get patients to Little Rock. That’s why I won’t be retiring and moving back to my hometown. It’s just not suitable and doesn’t offer what we need. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/5 "2016-08-22T22:24:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Medical care is a big concern after retirement. It’s important that a small town has reasonably close access to a bigger city. > > My hometown for example has really gone downhill. They were a regional medical center with good doctors. A lot of those doctor left and weren’t replaced. Any specialized treatment requires appointments in Little Rock. A 2 hour drive away. They use medivac helicopter flights in emergencies to get patients to Little Rock. > > That’s why I won’t be retiring and moving back to my hometown. It’s just not suitable and doesn’t offer what we need. Cool story bruh. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/6 "2016-08-24T09:09:47Z")
Notice that the States with these “programs” are all Hell-Holes nobody with two or more functioning brain cells would even consider? Hey y’all - come on down to Mississippi - we got some real nice places for old people with steady incomes! Ummm, I’ll just take my chances somewhere at least a few points above absolute last in dozens of metrics, thanks… ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/7 "2016-08-24T14:39:05Z")
Certification requirements differ from state to state, and not every state has a certification process. This is more of a marketing program than a quality assurance program. I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in some city or community being “certified”. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-realize-there-were-certified-retirement-communities/763669/8 "2016-08-25T14:46:46Z")
Not just retirement communities. When I was driving around southern Va./Tenn./W. Va. recently, I noticed a plethora of signs announcing that this or that road was a certified technology corridor. Presumably the respective state will give out tax breaks to any “technology” company interested in locating there. I didn’t see any evidence that anyone has taken them up on the offer. It probably was worth a few votes in some past local election though.