A Haven For Retirees
An agreeable climate, the availability of first-class medical services and opportunities for enjoying an array of cultural, recreational and leisure-time activities are factors that make Savannah, Georgia's First City, a much-sought-after haven for retirees.
But that's not all.
Because it's a 274-year-old city whose residents revere families with long histories, Savannah is a place that values older people.
Proof of that claim can be found in the existence of Senior Citizens Inc., a nonprofit organization that's been in operation in Savannah since 1959. This agency, which runs an adult day-care center and provides assistance to seniors so they can remain in their homes, is funded by state and federal grants and receives support from local governments, the United Way and private donations. It's also the site of Club 55 (236-0363), an activity center for seniors and one of three large-scale local programs offering a variety of services geared toward keeping older adults healthy, socially active and well-informed.
The others are Smart Senior (352-4405), a program operated by the St. Joseph's/Candler Health System, and GenerationOne (350-7587), which is sponsored by Memorial Health University Medical Center. Both programs provide seniors with medical screenings, health and educational seminars and other benefits.
Programs such as these are likely to grow in significance because the Savannah area promises to become grayer as the 21st century progresses. Statistics show the percentage of residents 55 and older gradually creeping upward — from 21.5 percent in 1992 to about 26 percent in 2005. The region in recent years has been “discovered” by retirees, as evidenced by the proliferation of retirement communities created in the area since the mid-1990s.
Home-owning seniors living in Chatham County received a boost in 2000 when voters approved a local referendum aimed at preventing longtime residents from being taxed out of their dwellings. The legislation freezes residential property assessments by automatically raising homestead exemptions to match increases in values for as long as a resident owns his or her home.
Because of its hospitable climate, Savannah offers retirees the availability of outdoor activities such as golfing, playing tennis and boating on just about any day of the year. Seniors can also benefit from a growing appreciation of the arts taking place here, and those seeking to continue their education can pursue degrees and non-credit courses at area colleges. Tuition at state colleges and universities is free for those 65 and older.
The spiritual side of seniors will also find nurturing in Savannah, where there is an abundance of houses of worship covering a wide spectrum of faiths.
