Factors Contributing to the Mobility of Retirees

A group of retirees is studied based on the social phenomenological theory of aging. The research characterizes factors that influenced retirees’ decisions to reside in a rural retirement area offering few amenities. Differences in life satisfaction among retirees are also assessed.Responses from 274 retirees in Lake Topaz, Nevada were collected using an eight page questionnaire. The results indicate that the majority of these respondents migrated from urban areas in southern California. They are married, healthy, moderately well-educated, and have retirement incomes of $10,000 to $20,000 per year. Residents who migrated in search of a better quality of life and lower levels of congestion seem satisfied with the Lake Topaz area. Only one of the factors that would cause retirees to move away significantly affected mobility intention: the need to manage family property. Respondents who are now satisfied with their lives intend to stay in the area for the foreseeable future.The most distinctive characteristics of the sample are that the retired residents of Lake Topaz are a highly homogeneous group, and their concerns seem to be short term. When responses to factors that would cause retirees to move away are analyzed, retirees show little concern for the limited access to services in the area. Since over half plan to live there for the rest of their lives, this suggests that retirees are not anticipating their need for community services. Unless this community and others like it plan for the future, they may lose residents or be unable to meet their residents’ needs. The proposition that people move to improve quality of life is supported. Only near-term quality of life seems to be important to the respondents.The results of this study detail the characteristics of the residents in Lake Topaz. Potential problems are identified and many of the characteristics of the residents are known. This information could help community planners and other professionals develop long-range plans which anticipate and meet the needs of aging retirees in remote, rural retirement communities such as Lake Topaz

Business · Demographic economics · Economics · Geography · Plan (archaeology · Quality of life (healthcare · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Topaz · Medicine · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Psychology · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies · Gerontology