Research Paper on:
Comparative Analysis of Retirement Communities

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
In many ways, it is as if the starting gun to a marathon had sounded, as developers scramble to find the precise combination of architecture and amenities that will attract  the largest generation in American history to their particular retirement development. Retirement community developers are predicting that this market is for a "dramatic sea change" as Boomers redefine aging and  retirement (Gardner, 2001). For example, 58 percent of the Boomers express interest in the concept of staring a new career when they retire, and two-thirds want more novelty and  change in their lives (Gardner, 2001). The following discussion will examine the latest trends in retirement communities, contrasting the different features offered, which reveals an important aspect of this process  - namely that retirement, more then ever, requires extensive financial planning. Interestingly, the more money that couples have at their disposal, the higher they rate the importance of having a  comfortable retirement as a financial goal (Anonymous, 1999). The affluent are concerned about retirement in that they want to retire without having to slower their standard of living. Also,  the aging population are seeking an active lifestyle that contradicts traditional paradigms. Where do people go to retire? Surprisingly, as many as 86 percent of those polled assert that  they want to stay where they are (Kunstler, 2001). Statistics show that 70 percent of all seniors spend their lives where they were living at the age of sixty  (Kunstler, 2001). However, everyone connected with retirement communities are predicting that these statistics could easily change as the Boomers move into retirement age. Gardner (2001) reports how a how 400  plus architects, developers, builders and interior-design specialists gathered in Phoenix to consider how to appeal to this group. It is interesting that the conference took place in Arizona, because it