Today’s seniors want to lead active, engaged lives. A survey of seniors over 75 suggests that 35-44 percent still exercise. Some seniors are more active now than they were in their more youthful days, thanks to more free time and a greater commitment to health. They’re yoga-ing, bicycling, and even skydiving their way into retirement.
With a wide range of activities, affordable home prices, and all the benefits of Atlanta living without all the traffic, Gwinnett County offers the best of both worlds: easy access to the city with the quiet convenience of suburban life. Gwinnett County is also a great fit for nature-loving seniors who want to live longer. This sprawling county offers several rural neighborhoods, lots of fishing, and vast nature trails.
Here’s what you need to know about active senior living in Gwinnett, as well as tips for choosing the right active senior living community for your lifestyle.Active Senior Living
Many seniors see senior living as a quiet place of respite. Today’s senior living communities, however, offer something completely different. They cater to active seniors who want to remain engaged members of their community while making new friends and embracing new hobbies.Every senior living community offers its own culture and roster of activities. Some things you can expect include:
- Gourmet dining in a luxurious setting. Some of the best chefs work in senior living. Working with nutritional consultants, they craft elegant, delicious, and nutritious meals designed to cater to a wide range of dietary needs and restrictions.
- Lots of things to do each day. Senior living communities offer regular activities, such as daily yoga classes, and special events, such as live music or community dances.
- Transportation to your favorite destinations. Senior living communities usually offer shuttle services to the grocery store, doctor’s office, and other errand destinations, as well as community outings to local attractions. You no longer have to worry about driving or hitching a ride.
- Gorgeous, contemporary homes that are flawlessly maintained.
- Beautiful architectural details and stunning landscaping.
- Community meeting and gathering spaces where you can spend time with friends and family or just hang out and read a good book.
- Amenities such as large pools and workout rooms.
This all-inclusive approach to senior living offers everything you need under one roof, as well as clear pricing that ensures you never again have to budget for unexpected expenses.The benefits of senior living include:
- A healthier life. You’ll remain physically active with less effort and have more access to friends, socialization, and learning opportunities. Research consistently links exercise to a longer life and remaining mentally active to a lower risk of dementia.
- Quality meals and exceptional nutrition without all the work. Forget about endless grocery shopping and cooking; we take care of everything. Eat at the equivalent of a fine restaurant for every meal.
- Help when you need it. Living alone can feel isolating and scary. Active senior living ensures there’s always someone nearby if you need help.
- A chance to try new things without a lot of effort. Finding events and planning outings can feel exhausting. It may also be expensive. Active senior living alleviates stress by offering tons to do under one roof.
- New relationships. Our relationships make life worth living. Make new friends. Nurture new romance. Live a life full of love, without having to chase down old friends to schedule lunch dates.
- Independence and freedom. Don’t rely on loved ones for help. Get help when you need it, and consider a community that offers a continuum of care if your needs change.
Activities for Seniors in Gwinnett County
No matter what you love, there’s plenty to do in Gwinnett County. Seniors looking for a great day with their grandkids should try one of the following:
- Tour the Southeastern Railway Museum, or check out one of its special events. The museum hosts numerous summer festivals, including an exhibit of trains and tractors at the end of the summer.
- Check out Legacy Station. This unique toy store offers something to appeal to kids of every age. The back of the store features a massive model train display that takes you on a tour of train stations through all four seasons.
- Get crafty together at abcPottery Art Studio.
- Learn about botany, farm animals, and agriculture at Alegre Farm.
- Jump to your heart’s content at Jumpstreet Indoor Trampoline Park.
- Enjoy a fully indoor amusement park at Tiny Towne.
- Bounce on indoor slides and inflatables or play arcade games at Catch Air Johns Creek.
Want to spend some time in the great outdoors? Gwinnett has you covered there, too. Enjoy one of these great activities:
- Head to Stone Mountain Park. Though it’s technically in Dekalb county by just a hair, this massive park offers something for everyone — endless hiking trails, train rides, a laser show, history education, and more.
- Spend some time golfing at the Country Club of Gwinnett.
- Enjoy hiking or mountain biking on the trails at Tribble Mill Park or take a boat out on the fishing lake.
- Plan a picnic in one of the pavilions at Little Mulberry Park.
- Spend a day enjoying the playground, river, and trails at Jones Bridge Park.
- Enjoy 12 miles of unpaved trail, one mile of paved trail, and the river at Yellow River Park.
If you love arts, culture, or sports, look no further than your own Gwinnett backyard. Here are some great options:
- Go see the Atlanta Stripers, a Minor League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
- Check out the Infinite Energy Center for popular musical and other performing arts acts.
- Attend a performance by the Northeast Atlanta Ballet.
- Get inspired by contemporary art at 2 Smith Art Gallery.
- Enjoy exceptional performances at the Aurora Theatre.
- Take in a kid-friendly performance at New Dawn Theater Company.
- Support youth musical education by attending a performance of the Beethoven Chamber Orchestra.
Gwinnett is just 20 minutes away from Atlanta, one of the greatest cities in the country. Head into the city for numerous activities and attractions, including:
- The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
- The Atlanta Ballet
- The Atlanta Opera
- Dad’s Garage a comedy improv theatre
- The National Center for Civil and Human Rights
- The Carter Center
- The High Museum of Art
Where to Find Additional Activities
As an active, family-friendly community, Gwinnett prides itself on offering a wide range of events and attractions. A number of websites and publications can help you find even more to do. Check out some of the following:
- Explore Gwinnett Events Calendar
- Buford Community Center
- Buford event listings on Eventbrite
- The AJC’s guide to Gwinnett’s hidden gems
- Gwinnett County’s visitors’ guide
- Atlanta Parent Magazine’s Things to Do
- Lawrenceville Event Calendar
Choosing the Senior Living Community That’s Right for You
For many active seniors, the right senior living community makes it easy to adopt new hobbies, make new friends, and live the retirement of your dreams. Independent living communities take an all-in-one approach to senior living, providing gourmet dining, socials, live music, daily classes, and transportation, all under one roof. Many seniors find that they actually save money when they transition to senior living. They no longer have to worry about paying for entertainment or meals out, and they are free of the endless expenses of home ownership.
As you begin your search for the right senior living community, don’t be afraid to be a little selfish. After all, this is the retirement you’ve worked your entire life for. You deserve a community that offers it all. Take some time to think about how you want to spend your retirement. List your top 5-10 priorities, and then rank communities based on how well they fit your criteria.
Consider also the role of long-term health. Although you might be healthy today, there is no way to predict what the future holds. Some independent living communities offer a continuum of care that includes assisted living and memory care. Should your health decline, you can transition to a different neighborhood in the same community to get the help you need.
Finally, visit a few communities to get a feel for community life. There’s no substitute for firsthand experience. Listen to your intuition, ask lots of questions, and meet a few residents. Envision your life at this community. Does it feel like a life you’ll love? If so, you’ve found your new home.
Arbor Terrace Hamilton Mill offers luxury living for active seniors in Gwinnett County. We understand the challenges of retirement, thanks to 30 years spent serving seniors. We’d love to meet you and talk to you about your retirement dreams. To learn more, stop by one of our community events or contact us to schedule a visit.