After a certain point in your life, you’ll begin to envision a worry-free, convenient, and comfortable lifestyle. What qualities do you look for in a senior living community? Big-city conveniences in a small-town setting? Endless cultural options? Are there major highways nearby?
Many retirees choose new cities to begin the next chapter of their lives. If this describes you, consider retiring in Roanoke, VA. With so many advantages to offer, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to make the move!
Plenty of Recreation
Beautiful regions around Roanoke boast a list of attractions including hiking trails, greenways, and numerous places for people to enjoy the great Mother Nature. The Roanoke Valley, located in the heart of America’s iconic Blue Ridge Mountains, provides panoramic views of the majestic peaks as well as easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. That is not all. Roanoke’s recreation department strives to provide free or low-cost recreational trips, group hikes, and excursions to promote an active and rich culture.
Become Involved
There are numerous ways to remain or become involved in the community after leaving the workforce. Volunteering is an excellent way to give back and assist fellow Roanoke Valley residents.
Nursing facilities, Hospitals, schools, and museums are all great places for volunteers. Not every city provides such easy access to so many educational opportunities.Libraries offer programs for seniors, including computer literacy courses, volunteer opportunities, and book clubs. In addition to the library, Roanoke has an excellent adult learning environment at Hollins. University, Roanoke College, Ferrum College, and the Roanoke Higher Education Center are all located in Roanoke, Virginia.
Other options for volunteering include the Local Office on Aging, the Council of Community Services, local school systems, and others. Other worthwhile volunteer opportunities include the Salvation Army, the Rescue Mission, the Angels of Assisi, and the St. Francis House.
Great Weather
Roanoke’s temperate climate is ideal for retirees who want to avoid the cold winters and the scorching summers. We get snow, but the winters are mild, and the summers are tolerable.
We’re Here to Help
The local area and the state of Virginia provide many resources for elderly loved ones, ranging from retirement planning to care centers and wellness programs to financial services:
- Carilion Health System Senior Services provides access to Carilion services throughout Southwest Virginia, as well as the Carilion Center for Healthy Aging (540-981-7653) and the VIVA Senior Membership Program (540-266-6000). https://www.carillonclinic.org.
- The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a non-profit membership organization for people over the age of 50 that provides valuable information, services, and advocacy to its members. 707 E. Main St., Suite 910, Richmond, VA 23219. 866-542-8164 (Virginia office); https://www.aarp.org.
- Experience Works assists low-income seniors in obtaining job training in their communities. National: 866-397-9757; https://www.experienceworks.org.
- Adult Care Center of the Roanoke Valley provides day health services for physically and cognitively impaired adults. Its structured program includes recreational and leisure activities, dietary lunches and snacks, and daily living assistance. https://www.accrv.org/; 540-362-5741.
- Adult services provided by Family Service of Roanoke Valley include in-home care assistance, counseling, and personal affairs management. 540-563-5316; https://fsrv.org.
- Administration on Aging – The United States Department of Health and Human Services provides online retirement and financial planning resources at https://aoa.dhhs.gov.
