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Housing issues affect everyone in Connecticut, from those who are searching for a safe place to live, to those who may find it increasingly difficult to afford a place they already call home.WNPR is covering Connecticut's housing and homelessness issues in a series that examines how residents are handling the challenges they face. We look at the trends that matter most right now, and tell stories that help bring the issues to light.

For Many Baby Boomers, Livin' Large Means Moving To The City

Their parents may have spent their golden years in vast 55 and older retirement communities, or remote cookie-cutter housing developments in the suburbs. But more and more, baby boomers are deciding that's definitely not for them.

They want to live in walkable, vibrant neighborhoods where there's a mix of young and old, lots of dining options, and plenty of culture.

For many empty nesters that means selling the oversized home where they raised their kids and taking up residence in downtown high-rises where everyone knows their name.

Today, we talk to those who have traded-in the suburbs for city life and have few, if any, regrets. They may not have backyard gardens, but they don't have raking or shoveling to do either. And when there's a snowstorm, they never worry about losing their electricity.

We also hear from an expert on livable communities and a retirement coach who specializes in advising the one in five older Americans who don't have family members to take care of them in their later years. How should they be preparing for the future so they don't end up lonely or isolated?

How are you plotting out your retirement years? We want you to tell us about your plans too.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

GUESTS:

READING LIST:

Curbed.com: Aging baby boomers still want it all, including luxe urban apartment living - "8 out of 10 baby boomers who live in a city want to remain in the city when they are 80-plus years old. ... They want a home that offers access to high-quality health care, a connection to public transportation, neighborhood walkability, and proximity to family."

AARP: Why Walkable Communities Are the Best Communities for Older Adults - "Too many (older Americans) ... assume that a good retirement or empty nest home requires ensconcing themselves in an age-restricted residential-only community a short drive from the mall."

The Washington Post: 'Elder orphans,' without kids or spouses, face old age alone - "One quarter of the group said they feared losing their housing; 23 percent reported not having enough money to meet basic needs ... . Some 40 percent of people admitted to depression."

RESOURCES:

AARP: Community Challenge Grants - "The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress in support of residents of all ages."

AARP: Walk Audit Tool Kit - "Too many communities in the United States are designed exclusively or almost exclusively for automobile travel."

Chion Wolf, Lydia Brown, Carmen Baskauf, and Carlos Mejia contributed to this show.

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