Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

A retirement community usually provides independent-living housing plus services for older adults. The community typically owns the housing and rents to residents. Accommodations are usually an apartment, townhouse, cottage, or patio home. The community usually handles all grounds keeping and maintenance services. A retirement community usually has a package of services available that includes some (or all) meals in a community dining room, scheduled transportation, security, housekeeping and planned activities. The community may also offer amenities such as a beauty/barber shop, chaplain and religious services and gift shop. Often, a retirement community has other levels of care on site.