RETIREMENT FACILITIES IN CHATTANOOGATERRACE AT MOUNTAIN CREEK1005 Mountain Creek Rd.Chattanooga, Tn. 37405423-822-2914MARY & MARTHA'S PERSONAL CARE616 Mohawk St.Rossville, Ga. 30741706-866-7454ROSEWOOD ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE14 Fort Town Drive, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742706-866-4443ROSE OF SHARON'S SENIOR VILLACall 423-822-7673 or go to www.sharonseniorservices.com for more information.MORNING POINTEGo to www.morningpointe.com or call 423-296-0097 or 877-776-4683.ALEXIAN BROTHERS SENIOR MINISTRIESCall 423-875-6110 or go to www.alexianbrothers.net.
Lillian Samuel has a brain aneurysm that prevents her from living home alone and driving, so she reluctantly sold her condo and moved into a Morning Pointe retirement facility.
Now she is glad she did. "We get out and have fun," said Samuel.
The 87-year-old widow and mother is among thousands of seniors in the Chattanooga area. U.S. News and World Report ranked the city as one of the top 10 places in the country this year to retire for less than $75 a day.
Relatively warm weather, low cost of living, recreational activities and pretty scenery are among the most commonly cited attractants to the area.
Of the more than 170,136 people in Chattanooga, about 15 percent or 25,009, are seniors age 65 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Morning Pointe, a private pay retirement facility that has vacancies, is one of several retirement homes in Chattanooga. Samuel said she likes her home at the facility because she's made friends, the food is good and they have planned outings at least twice a month, more frequently when the weather is good. She is also on Morning Pointe's welcoming committee and leads residents in creating arts and crafts.
CNN Money listed Chattanooga as 21st among its list of 25 best places to retire in the country in 2009. The website lauded the city for making the most of its environment, including the Tennessee River and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The area offers camping, fishing, whitewater rafting and hang gliding. There is also golf, hiking and scenic walking trails.
Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries offers a variety of care for seniors, from those who have Alzheimer's disease and may need more intensive care to those who are completely independent. Marketing Director Kim Goodwin said Alexian Brothers is the largest senior health care provider in the Chattanooga.
Other sites include Rose of Sharon's Senior Villa, which is funded by TennCare, has vacancies and helps residents get government living assistance.
"A lot of assisted living facilities are so expensive that people can't afford it," said Sharon Kelly, owner of Sharon's Senior Services. "We give people who have low incomes an outlet instead of them having to go directly into a nursing home."
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or call 423-757-6431.