Communities with Multiple Generations Can Help Improve Health and Happiness
Naples, FL – When Grace McKnight and her husband, Chris, decided to retire to the west coast of Florida from Morgantown, West Virginia, they were seeking the amenities of a 55+ community, but wanted to be around younger people also. They found that age mix in Ave Maria, the master planned community in Collier County near Naples, and are an example of what many studies prove is a lifestyle that leads to reduced cognitive decline and stronger communities.
A longitudinal study in the Journal of Gerontology (Silverstein & Giarrusso, 2019), for example, demonstrated that older adults who regularly interacted with younger generations showed reduced cognitive decline and decreased rates of dementia. Additional research by Generations United (2021) found that older adults in intergenerational households reported lower rates of depression and higher levels of life satisfaction compared to age-matched peers living alone or in age-segregated settings. In addition, a variety of urban planning studies show communities with higher rates of intergenerational households tend to have stronger social cohesion, neighborhood stability, and civic engagement.
Research in this area is so strong that some states are deliberately creating intergenerational communities with opportunities for different age groups to interact, leading to improved mental health and reduced social isolation. Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) are in place in Maryland and Missouri, among other areas.
At Ave Maria, however, this interaction occurs organically by virtue of the variety of neighborhoods available for buyers, from retirees to young families. The McKnights, who live in the Del Webb Naples active adult community, wanted to retire somewhere that was void of congestion and enabled them to live around many different age groups.
“The minute we drove into Ave, we looked at each other and said, ‘this is our vision for retirement,’” recalled Grace. “Although we live in a retirement neighborhood, it’s fully integrated with the rest of the community and other age groups. Everyone is so welcoming. It doesn’t matter how old you are.”
Grace, a retired Johnson & Johnson executive, and Christopher, a retired radiology technician, moved to the area in 2021, and say they are happier in a multi-generational environment.
“We don’t feel like we’re getting ‘kicked to the curb’ because of our age,” added Grace. “We live around young families and a university where we can attend sporting events. We don’t have to give up the retirement amenities but can step into whatever activity we want with whomever we want.”
The McKnights appreciate the breadth of healthy lifestyle activities available for all ages, from clubs for golf, walking, and tennis to community-wide festivals and live music at the Town Center.
“There’s so much to do here,” emphasized Grace. “We’re excited about what’s planned for the future – carefully planned growth for the benefit of the entire community.”
ABOUT AVE MARIA, FLORIDA
Ave Maria has been named a Top Selling Master Planned Community in the United States, 2015-2024 Community of the Year, the Top Selling Single-Family Home Community in Southwest Florida, a Blue Zones Certified Community, and its active adult community, Del Webb Naples, has been named a Top 20 Places to Retire. Located in southwest Florida, Ave Maria is a self-sustaining town including shopping and dining, employment opportunities, parks and recreation, and is zoned for all A-rated Collier County public schools. At its build out, the town will include up to 11,000 residences, and 1.8 million square feet of retail, office, and business park uses in its 5,000 acres. Ave Maria is located at the intersection of Oil Well and Camp Keais Roads in Eastern Collier County. The main entrance, on Oil Well just west of Camp Keais, leads to the Town Center. Take I-75, exit 111, follow the signs east to Ave Maria, approximately 25 minutes. For more information, please visit Ave Maria Website or call 239-352-3903.
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