Alice Held's Arizona Relocation Guide

Scottsdale Boomerz, committed to creating opportunities that allow baby boomers to maximize their contribution to the society. The college encourages businesses to offer work alternatives, non-profit organizations to design pro-bono opportunities, and communities to capitalize on boomers' talents,and experience. Check out www.boomerzaz.com

At Chandler Public Library, Boomerang Advisory Network is a pre-retired, recently and fully retired community members meeting regularly to get rewired into a life of fulfillment.

Hiring: Seek companies hiring mature workers. The Best Employers: Want to know who are the best employers for mature workers?

AARP keeps a list. Go to www.aarp.org/money/careers/findingajob/ and click on featured employers. Many of the companies listed are nationwide. They also run Mature Worker Career Fairs.

The intent of this site is to provide answers to questions regarding the issues of aging. The site is incorporated by Dr. William Arnold, a faculty member at Arizona State University and Director of Gerontology Program on the main campus.

is a national education organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of mature adults.

Oasis locations:

Scottsdale Fashion Square: 4500 N. Scottsdale Road, (480) 994-1528

Metrocenter Mall (2nd Level): 9700 N. Metro Pkwy East, 602-870-8337

Phoenix Center for Community Arts: 1202 N. 3rd Street, (602) 994-1528

RISE is one of over 200 Institutes for Learning in Retirement in the nation. Learning in retirement provides interaction with peers, one of the most beneficial and enjoyable experiences one can have. Throughout the country, more and more colleges and universities are developing similar programs.

RISE and the West Valley Art Museum, 11400 Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, through grants from the Arizona Humanities Council, have formed a partnership to offer special series of presentations. The programs are presented at the Museum and are free to the public.

Activities Include: SCC Silver Striders on desert walk ... Learning to tap dance ... Speaking Spanish, Computer/Internet Classes ... Drawing and Cooking Classes ... Humanities and Wellness Classes ... the Fitness Center - staffed & equipped with cardiovascular machines, treadmills, bikes, and weight training equipment.

American Savings Educational Council - Take the Retirement Personality Profiler to find out whether your personality is getting on the way of saving money.

GeroWeb - Designed as an online resource for researchers, educators, practitioners, and others interested in aging and older individuals. Global Citizens' volunteer participants for issues of local and global concerns.

Assisted Living Adult Care Consultants screen the Valley's assisted living facilities. The facility should affordably meet your parent's needs, not moving them around. There would be "transfer trauma." Quality of life needs to be addressed. Larger settings tend to be more like communal environment, some seniors prefer more private (more expensive) care. Verify that the facility is licensed with the Arizona Department of Health Services. What is the staff-to-client ratio? A good ratio is 1 to 12 or 1 to 14, not counting the adminstrative personnel. Activities, meal menu, referrals from families who has a parent in the facility.

Governor's Advisory Council on Aging - The mission of the Council is to provide the governor, the legislature, and state agencies with information about issues affecting Arizona's seniors. Governor Janet Napolitano: 602-542-4331

Law & Aging Series - The brochures address various elder law topics designed to educate the public. Brochures available on the following topics: Age discrimination, Durable Powers of Attorney, Estate Planning and Probate, etc.

Seniornet - Nonprofit Seniornet emphasizes computer education and access, enabling 50+ adults to share their knowledge and wisdom.

A nonprofit service of Experience Works, and was developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Created to help older Americans, primarily from rural areas and small communities, with online access or without, to capitalize on the reach and market potential of the Internet.

SCORE - The Service Corps of Retired Executives whose members help small businesses. Working & retired executives donate their time and expertise as business counselors. Three Arizona chapters: Phoenix (602) 745-7250, East Valley (602) 379-3100, and Northern Arizona (520) 778-7438.

Senior Job Bank - The Senior Job Bank web site is free for senior citizens to find part-time, flexible, temporary and full-time jobs. Through the web site, homeowners and businesses deal direct with mature, experienced & reliable workers. Older citizens are the most wasted natural resource. The experience and expertise, developed over many years, does not vanish upon retirement. Seniors can fulfill meaningful, productive, rewarding and tax contributing roles.

Senior Living - Soup to nuts, absolutely every senior resource at your fingertips.

Baby Boomers

Boomerz Boomerz is a joint project between the Scottsdale community (our partners) and The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust www.pipertrust.org.

The original impetus for the project issued from Civic Ventures www.civicventures.org/ a think tank and incubator, generating ideas and inventing programs to help society achieve the greatest return on experience.

Arizona Seniors - Locate services and products for seniors. Arizona Senior Citizens' Law Project - Provides legal information and assistance. (602) 252-6710

The Scottsdale Public Library announces the beginning of an innovative volunteer program--ReVentures, designed specifically to address the modern needs of individuals in the "boomers" age group, those born between 1946 and 1964. The program enables boomers to utilize their professional skill sets in unique ways throughout the Library system. "We want people to use their life skills in productive and inspirational ways" explained Kathy Coster, ReVentures project manager and Library Manager for Innovation. The program is being managed for the first year by the Maricopa County VolunteerCenter. For more information about the program, please contact Kathy Coster at 480-312-2040 or kcoster@scottsdaleaz.gov or Frank Mittin, of the VolunteerCenter of Maricopa County at 602-263-9736.

Employment: AARP Web site has a link to employers who are open to hiring job seekers ages 50 and older. www.aarp.org/featuredemployers. Local AARP office (602) 841-0403. Or, Maricopa Workforce Connection is available for assistance: 480-497-0350.

Arizona Senior Olympics It's all about fitness. It’s about providing an INCENTIVE for people over the age of fifty to begin and maintain a fitness program.

Arizona Women's Golf Association Promoting & maintain the best interests, true spirit of the game of golf among women in Arizona.

The Blue Thong Society is a social club for women over 50, like the older Red Hat Society. Its membership as "the kind of women who surf or scuba dive," allowing that in Arizona they more likely will be hikers or bikers. Blue Thong is about individualism.
"You won't see us dressing alike. Blue Thong is in your mind. You don't have to wear it," according to Linda Pollack, Scottsdale ringleader, "Being raised in the 1960s and '70s, we have different values, we have a different commitment to society. We're the women who tried to break the glass ceiling." The Blue Thong Scottsdale chapter will be open to younger women, "for mentoring purposes," and it will choose projects "to help society." A run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is on the table, as is outreach to women's shelters and groups that help at-risk girls.

Arizona Women in International Trade Copenhagen (Denmark), Johannesburg (South Africa), Monterrey (Mexico), Brussels (Belgium) and Cairo (Egypt) now part of the growing list of world-wide chapters of OWIT. Members doing business in all facets of international trade, including finance, public relations, freight forwarding, international law, government, agriculture, sales and marketing, consulting, import/export, logistics and transportation.

Elderhostel - An educational & travel organization for adults 55 and over. Offers exceptional learning opportunities at remarkable values in the world. Learning is a lifelong process, and the world is the classroom

Grandma's age: Little Johnny asked his grandma how old she was. Grandma answered:"39 and holding." Johnny thought for a moment, and said: "how old would you be if you let go?"

FirstGov For Seniors - FirstGov for Seniors is maintained by SSA. A clearinghouse for data on senior issues; consumer protection, legislation & retirement planning. Links to federal agencies on everything from the food and Drug Administration to National Zoo.

50 Plus - Our Mission is to provide a longer and more independent lifestyle by expanding awareness and involvement in health and fitness activities.

Grand Times - "Serving Savvy Seniors Since 1995." Unique, controversial, entertaining, informative weekly Internet magazine for seniors.

Mesa Life Options (MLO) is an initiative designed to ease baby boomers into a life stage where they can explore new opportunities, be active in their communities, and rediscover who they are.

Tempe Connections Launched in 2005 to create a comprehensive one-stop resource that connects baby boomers and other young seniors with information, services, and programs with a focus upon life planning, lifelong learning and new careers, wellness, civic engagement, social connections, and other areas of interest.

Senior Planet - Ultimate networking and links to grandparenting, health, leisure and travel, finance, etc.

Senior Women's Travel - Target audience: 50+ woman with special travel needs. Women with a large cultural appetite, who love to shop and eat. If you're a "want it all" traveler -- flexible, low key and energetic at the same time -- join us.

"Silver Surfers" - USA Today reports the use of the internet up by "Silver Surfers." These consumers, 55-64, use e-mail, check investments, purchase, and arrange for travel. The interest in tracking the investments online is much higher than that of the average adult, according to the Mediamark Research Inc. About half of all U.S. adults, about 101 million, now regularly use the Web according to Mediamark.

My mom talked dad into attending one of those marriage seminars on communication being given at the high school.

“It’s very important to know what’s important to her,” the instructor lectured, “for example, can you describe her favorite flower?” Dad leaned over and said, "It's Pillsbury's All Purpose isn't it?"

Eldernet - Created and maintained by a Boston attorney specializing in elder law. Primarily links to other sites that address health, housing, financial & housing issues.

Wired Seniors - Gives Seniors a "Web of Your Own" and serves as the Main Hub of the many Seniors Related Web Sites Just like any other network, a wide variety of Seniors Oriented information and programs available to all.

Wired Patrol - Your one-stop, wired or wireless solution for anything that you need help with online.

Woman Sage - Mission is to connect 50+ pioneer women. Posting a message to the forum may connect one with a new friend.

Women's Sports Pages - An index of links to women's and girls' sports pages around the web.

WomenWatch - The UN Internet Gateway on the advancement and empowerment of women.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) membership is over 650,000 in Arizona. In addition to the State Office of AARP, there are about 250 AARP volunteers working in Arizona. The office has a conference room with a TV, VCR and overhead projector available for meetings, and a reference library for research

The AARP Legal Services Network: (LSN) is a member benefit providing access to attorneys across the country who reduce their fees for AARP members & their spouses.

Foundation for Senior Living - Wide variety of local senior housing and health support services, referrals for caregivers. (602) 285-1800

Lovin' Life News Serving its dynamic readership – the 50+ market in Phoenix Metropolitan area. Upcoming events and activities !

NAIC - Central source for a variety of information on aging, including program and policy-related materials for consumers, and practitioners and demographic, statistical data on the health, economic, and social conditions of older Americans.

Arizona Woman magazine networking: Arizona Woman has been a leader in bringing the best in business together for 19 years.

the Resilience Solutions Group. Studying resilience, the capability of people bouncing back from adversity, says John Hall, professor of public affairs.

AgeNet: An information and referral network to "Bridge the Distance" between aging parents and adult children by providing information about products & services important to improving the quality of life.

AirStar Arizona Transportation Services - Provides three major service categories: Assisted Medical Services on a Commercial Flight, Aero-Medical Private Flights and Companion Flights. There are some major differences in the type of acuity that can fly on each of these flights.

American Geriatrics Society (AGS) - Promotes independence and quality of life for older people, including the chronically ill & disabled. AGS provides leadership to health care professionals and the public in patient care, research, plus public policy.

Area Agency on Aging - The Area Agency serves as the central information & resource center for finding services and assistance for older adults throughout Maricopa County and offers many programs to assist people in meeting their needs. The Area Agency on Aging manages two 24-hour information & assistance telephone lines.
(602) 264-4357

Arizona Center on Aging - These centers function as a national resource for the education and training of health and social service personnel, the development and testing of model services, interdisciplinary research and the provision of information and technical assistance on term care issues. The center is now funded by the State of Arizona.

Arthritis in Arizona - Arthiritis Foundation: 777 East Missouri Ave., Ste 119, Phoenix, AZ (602) 264-7679

The Attorney General's Senior Service Center - Updated regularly and includes:
General Information about Arizona laws related to future incapacity and the forms with instructions. Developed and maintained by Attorney General of Arizona.

IBM and the Phoenix-based Molecular Profiling Institute are joining forces to speed up cancer diagnosis and treatment while making the diagnosis more accurate. The specialty bioscience laboratory already uses genetic information to help diagnose cancer patients. But using IBM's high-performance computing, the results should go much further. Instead of looking at 200-500 genes, they will be able to look at 1000 genes with IBM's help according to Dr. Robert Penny, president and CEO of Molecular Profiling. The institute is a spin-off of the Translational Genomics Institute and the International Genomics Consortium, and it is the first for-profit venture to emerge from the efforts of the City and Arizona State University to promote biosciences.

Community Information and Referral - 602-263-8856.
When you don't know where to call for an emergency or assistance, this referral is there for 24 hours a day.

National Assn. of Professional Geriatric Care Managers can refer family caregivers to geriatric care managers closest to a relative 1-520-881-8008.

Family Caregiver Alliance - Online information to caregivers nationally. An active support group, but must be registered to participate.

Hospitals offering wellness programs for seniors:

Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems

Chris Town Wellness Connection - (602) 995-9355

Arrowhead Wellness Connection - (623) 486-2105

Joy Wellness Connection - (623) 561-2000, Ext. 229

Paradise Valley Hospital - (800) 265-8624

Lutheran Healthcare Network - (480) 461-2222

Phoenix Memorial Health System

Waddel Institute for Longer Life - (602) 824-3670

Mercy Healthcare Arizona

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center - (602) 406-3000

Thunderbird Samaritan Medical Center - (602) 588-5555

The Maryvale Hospital Medical Center - (623) 848-5128

Sun Health - (623) 876-5700

Eldercare Locator provides information and referrals to local area agencies on aging.

Kivel Retirement Center - Kivel strives to provide a community that supports & upholds the dignity and autonomy of the elderly.

SeniorClix - An information and e-commerce site focusing on the seniors, family members & caregivers, and the senior services network.

National Institute on Aging - Information about NIA's research programs, training opportunities, available resources, and more.

Senior Discounts Free newsletter and listings of 135,000 business locations giving discounts to the seniors. Some businesses give discounts already to people older than 62, or starting from age 65.

Native Nations Institute Part of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, a research and outreach unit of The University of Arizona, organized under the Vice Presidency for Research and Graduate Studies.

Active Adult Communities

Northwest Valley
The first active adult community in the Valley was created by Del Webb and was completed building in 1960, creating a northwest Sun City community. In order to purchase a home in Sun City, at least one member of the family must be 55 or older. No one younger than 18 is allowed, except for visits. Sun City is the largest retirement community in U.S.A. Del Webb Corp. built two more communities in the northwest Valley: Sun City West in the late 1970s and Sun City Grand in 1996.

A couple of statistics: Population is just over 38,000, and median age is 75. The Sun City Ambassadors, a volunteer group, runs the Sun City Visitors Center, 9903 W. Bell Road. "There are more than 350 civic, service, church, charitable, cultural, recreational and travel groups. There are 11 golf courses with over 30 miles of fairway probably the largest golf complex anywhere. There are also swimming pools, bowling alleys, exercise tracks, weight rooms, lawn bowling, racquetball, tennis, square dancing, ballroom dancing, fishing on a private lake."

Sun City West
The first homes were completed in 1978. Like its neighbor, Sun City West is self-contained, with dozens of shops, banks, restaurants, several golf courses, four recreation centers and a hospital. At least one member of a household be 55 or older. Because it's a relatively newer community, though, its median age tends to be about five years younger than in Sun City. Many of the more expensive homes are built facing a golf course. The community lists almost 100 organizations, from the Agriculture Club to the Yoga Club and jazz dancing, water therapy, bicycling and other sports for recreation. Also, the community has nine golf courses, seven of which are owned by the residents. One is a public course, and another is part of a private country club.

Amenities include an Olympic-size swimming pool at each of the centers as well as tennis, bowling, billiards, racquetball, miniature golf, fitness rooms, slow-pitch softball and horseshoes. Social halls host various kinds of dancing, bingo and other weekly activities. In the arts and crafts rooms one can work at ceramics, stained glass, painting, woodworking, etc.

Sun City Grand
Del Webb Corp. started Sun City Grand in the city of Surprise in 1996. Just west of Sun City West it will have 9,800 homes. The overall look is a '90s one, with upgrades on amenities and lots of Southwestern architectural style: red-tiled roofs and neutral tones of stucco. The community buildings are a terra cotta with copper and turquoise accents.

Ventana Lakes
The community by Lennar Homes located near 99th Avenue and Beardsley Road, near the city of Peoria. These are all single-family homes. The community has manmade lakes and 26 acres of links. The clubhouse has many activities for the 55-and-older residents.

Westbrook Village
Westbrook Village by UDC Homes includes about 3,800 single-family homes. It's an active-adult community open to those 40 and older. No children are allowed as permanent residents. Amenities include two championship golf courses, a golf club and two recreation centers with swimming, tennis, and arts and crafts classes

Southeast Valley

Sun Lakes Resort Community
In the southeast Valley, Robson Communities built Sun Lakes in the 1970s. Sun Lakes is on the opposite end of the Valley from the Sun Cities, and is 10 minutes away from the new Chandler Fashion Center with over a 150 stores, including Nordstrom's, Dillards, Robinson-May, Sears, PF Chang's Bistro, the Cheesecake Factory at the corner of Chandler Blvd and the 101. Other stores in this intersection are The Great Indoors, Razmataz, and about 50 other stores and restaurants.

There is the 55-plus concept as in the Sun Cities but with a feeling that seniors are "getting away from it all" even more so. Sun Lakes is about 20 miles from downtown Phoenix, due to its proximity to Interstate 10. For recreation, there is: Bingo, bocce ball, bell choirs, rock hounding, fishing, travel groups, support groups, pinochle, ballroom dancing, rug weaving, and huge amount of activities. Sun Lakes developer Ed Robson planned an active-adult community with a "youthful spirit." Its 3,500 acres are organized around the five country clubs, called Sun Lakes, Cottonwood, Palo Verde, Ironwood and the new homes and models at Oakwood. Some streets are circular, with the golf courses and lakes as the focal points. Although Chandler and regional shopping malls are close to Sun Lakes, the residents can shop within the community. Supermarkets, banks, professional offices, a health center and specialty shops are at the major intersections.

SunBird Resort Community
Robson Communities' smaller version of Sun Lakes, a few miles to the east. SunBird is a 1,600-home community existing on 320 acres with golf, tennis, swimming and other recreation outlets. Community gatherings and hobby groups all fall into the formula of active adult living in Sun Lakes, but on a smaller scale.

Arizona Traditions
Continental Homes, one of the Valley's builders, is completing an 1,800-home, active-adult community in Surprise, on Bell Road about 5 miles west of Grand Avenue. It's a gated community with an 18-hole golf course and a community center. There is swimming and tennis, and also a computer room, woodworking shop, crafts classes and a fitness center.

Solera
An active adult community for folks 55+ in Chandler, AZ, McQueen and Riggs roads in Chandler. 740 single-family homes, with easy access to a 14,000-square-foot recreation center that offers two swimming pools, a spa and tennis courts. The golf course is semiprivate, with Solera residents getting preferred tee times.

Farnsworth Development Co.
Farnsworth has built four 55-plus communities in Mesa. Dreamland is near University Drive and Recker Road. Dreamland Villa covers 800 acres with over 3,000 homes. Sunland Village is near Broadway and Greenfield roads; Sunland Village East is near Baseline and Sossaman roads; and the newest, Sunland Springs Village, is near Baseline and Signal Butte roads.

Leisure World
One of the more established active-adult communities, Leisure World in Mesa consists of 2,600 homes and 4,500 residents. Two large recreation centers, two 18-hole golf courses, security gates, a 24-hour mobile patrol and minibuses that shuttle to nearby shopping centers.

Southwest Valley

Pebble Creek Resort Community
The West Valley's 55-plus community about 20 miles west of downtown Phoenix via I-10. It's 2 miles north of I-10 from the Pebble Creek Parkway exit. Phase I, has about 2,000 single-family homes, and Phase II is expected include more than 4,000 single-family homes. An 18-hole golf course winds through the development, and two more courses for Phase II. There is a country club, a restaurant, swimming, tennis, and an arts and crafts building.

***According to the National Association of Home Builders, the fastest growing segment of the housing market is age 50-plus. People 55 and older bought nearly a fifth of the 1.1 million new homes sold in the nation in the year 2003. ***


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