During one of my mother’s hospitalizations, it became apparent that she would be in no condition to go home, so my Dad and I were faced with deciding on a nursing home.

Unfortunately, we had to decide rather quickly as we got virtually no notice of her discharge.

We managed to visit nearly every nursing home in the area in a record amount of time, and the facilities we saw varied wildly.

One thing I did notice, however is that some of the nicer ones had more activities and amenities than I had access to at home. I was ready to move into a couple of them myself.

Apparently, these luxury hotel-like accommodations in senior living are a trend as seniors are ready to live the good life and be involved in the hustle and bustle of city life with support as their needs change:

Developments like the Bellettini and the Mirabella, which are open to those age 62 and older, are more like five-star hotels than traditional senior living complexes. They include such first class amenities as spas, swimming pools, gyms, personal trainers, room service, chauffeur service, brain fitness programs, travel services and concierge services. Residents who are the first to move in also have a say in the appliances, colors and decoration of their apartments.

People traditionally think of assisted living communities as staid, a bit depressing, and tucked away in the suburbs, but people are living longer and, while they may need assistance, they are still involved with society and enjoy being able to do the things they like to do.

For those that can afford it, these high-end facilities enable people to live the active lifestyles they are used to, with the help they need as they get older.

However, these luxury communities aren’t without criticism, as so many senior citizens live on Social Security alone and people are concerned about the current economy as well as being able to provide for their families after they are gone.

While they aren’t for everyone, people choosing these types of retirement communities are making their own decisions about how they live out their years and how they spend their money.

Read more about Lavish Retirement Living Options.