Choosing a retirement living community in which to live out one's golden years can be a confusing and anxiety-ridden experience.
With costs skyrocketing and vacancies often at a premium, a match between wants and needs can often be elusive.
To help seniors in making the right selection, "Forbes" magazine recently did a rundown of the "12 Rules To Live By When Buying Into a Retirement Community.
" Following is a recap of a few of the most important of these recommendations with additional insight from a retirement living community expert.

1. "Acclimate before you relocate.
   " Maybe you've always had this romantic notion of spending your retirement in warm, sunny Miami, Florida or Phoenix, Arizona, but you've lived your whole life in cold, snowy Cleveland.
   In that case, you may discover that year-round warmth and lack of snow aren't really to your liking.
   Consider trying on a retirement living community for size before committing to a particular one.
   Short-term renting or leasing can save you from getting stuck somewhere that doesn't agree with you thanks to an expensive outright long-term agreement.
   
2. "Check out the medical care.
   " You wouldn't agree to major surgery without a second opinion and a thorough investigation of the surgeon performing the operation, would you? Then why would you say yes to a community, where access to quality medical care will likely become important down the road if it isn't already now? "Forbes" recommends you ask these specific questions: "Does the (retirement living) community provide medical services? If there are no on-site health care facilities, how far must you travel? Does the community provide in-home health services, or are local physicians willing to make house calls?"
3. "Scrutinize the activity calendar.
   " You might think that a retirement living community will be booming with social activity, but that may not be the case.
   Since one of the perks of retirement is being able to do with your time what you want, clarify those wants in advance.
   If certain activities are a must in your golden years, make sure the retirement living community either provides them or offers easy access to them.
   
4. "Don't forget the big city.
   " This could be considered an extension of the previous recommendation in that big cities generally have more in the way to offer seniors than small towns and suburbs can.
   Some of the perks of big city life include amenities like "health care services, mass transit, and a wealth of activities and social opportunities" right outside your doorstep.
   

A recent article in "The Spokesman-Review" declared that "Seniors, boomers discover independence in retirement communities.
" The newspaper specifically cited such retirement living community benefits as not having to perform yard work or call the plumber "for every drip and leak" as well as "more freedom and less commitment to a large home.
" It then went on to stress that gone are the days of retirement living communities meaning a loss of independence.
Indeed, today they are "all about gaining independence and a better quality of life and security.
" By doing your due diligence and asking all the right questions upfront, you can ensure that's precisely what you get out of your retirement living community.