Retiring from work in no way means retiring from life. As recently as 2008 a Consumer Affairs article examined the trends of the newly emerging retirement generation, and found that a large portion of this demographic is looking for a rural area that offers an active lifestyle as well as the traditional tranquility and slow pace of retirement.
While Florida and Arizona continue to rank at the top of the list of retirement destinations, some non-traditional retirement locales, such as North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, are becoming favorite spots as well, according to Pulte Homes’ annual baby boomer survey.
Many are looking for the same thing. They want a small-town ambiance, safety from crime, and a simpler, hassle-free life. In Virginia, the Northern Neck – surrounded by Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries – has drawn an influx of retirees and boomers who have purchased second homes, with an eye toward retirement.
And those who move to this area are not exactly looking to sit on the front porch all day. Most are seeking some form of community involvement, whether it’s a second career or volunteer work.
The four counties of the Northern Neck – Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland – are all in the process of moving from an extraction-based and agricultural economy (forestry, fishing, and farming) to one that is more service-oriented, with Lancaster County leading the pack.
The influx of retirees to the Northern Neck has created a new demand for services and amenities. In fact, the 2009 Northern Neck Housing Study cites Retirement Services as replacing Forestry as one of the top three local economic drivers in the region since 2000.
Two modern hospitals serve the area – Riverside Hospital in Tappahannock, which opened a new Urgent Care Center in late 2009 – and Rappahannock General Hospital in Kilmarnock. Private physician practices continue to grow, and there are several Richmond-based doctors that keep weekly appointments at offices in Kilmarnock and Tappahannock. And Westmoreland County is home to a cancer center.
While there are retirement homes and assisted living communities in the Northern Neck, the region doesn’t have any more than you’d find in a typical rural area. Most retirees choose to live in their own homes.
Home Instead Senior Care is a perfect complement to the services needed by these transplanted residents, while at the same time creating employment opportunities for an economically underserved area.
For more information, simply call our Tappahannock senior home care office at 804. 443.4885.
