The Roanoke Valley is home to more than double the national average of people 50 and over, and those numbers show that the area strives and succeeds to provide a wide variety of options to meet the needs of these special residents. The area's overall quality of life, the lower-than-average cost of living and the temperate climate lure many seniors. The Valley's many retirement options make it easier for seniors to make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives and help them maintain their independence.

There is a wide spectrum of retirement options, programs and services for seniors throughout the Roanoke Valley. Following is a partial listing:

Albemarle Home for Adults: 203 Albemarle Ave., Roanoke, 344-0865, 35 beds.

Alterra Clare Bridge: 1127 Persinger Road, SW, Roanoke, 343-5708, a memory care facility with short-term and long-term options.

Avante at Roanoke: 324 King George Ave. S.W., Roanoke, 345-8139. 130 beds.

The Berkshire Health Care Center: 705 Clearview Drive, Vinton, 982-6691. 180 beds, intermediate and skilled care.

Brandon Oaks: 3804 Brandon Ave., Roanoke, 776-2600. Life-care retirement community, sponsored by Virginia Lutheran Homes Inc. ELCA, and open to all religious faiths. Facilities include a community center, independent living apartments and cottages, assisted living accommodations and a licensed health center.

Burrell Nursing Center: 611 McDowell Ave. N.W., Roanoke, 224-3800. 90 nursing home beds offering specialized care in skilled, ventilator-support and comprehensive rehabilitation services. An affiliate of Carilion Health System.

Cave Creek: 2140 Lee Highway, Troutville, 992-4599. 50-bed licensed residential care and assisted living facility, specializing in care of psychiatric and dementia clients over 50 years of age.

Edinburgh Square: 129 Hershberger Road N.W., Roanoke, 366-1888. 135 independent-living apartments. To qualify, income cannot exceed federally established income limit for the area.

Elm Park Estates: 4230 Elm View Road (across from Tanglewood Mall), Roanoke, 989-2010. Retirement community of 110 apartments.

Fairington Apartments: 4922 Grandin Road, Roanoke, 989-7731. Section 8 government-subsidized facility for persons at least 62, or handicapped or disabled.

Friendship Manor: Main office, 327 Hershberger Road N.W., Roanoke, 265-2100. Complete retirement community with independent living units, a home for adults providing supervised residential care and a convalescent center with skilled and intermediate nursing care. Independent living accommodations: 373 units. Home For Adults: Accommodates 237 people. Convalescent Center: 373 beds.

Hughes Bros. Adult Care Residence: 1101 Orange Ave. N.W., Roanoke, 345-4675. Intimate 14-bed facility providing supervised residential care to ambulatory patients, 18 years or older.

Magnolia Ridge Residential Care and Assisted Living Facility: 1007 Amherst St., Roanoke, 342-8861. Sliding scale based on needs, assisted living facility, 34 units.

Melrose Towers: 31st Street and Melrose Avenue N.W., Roanoke, 983-9281. Independent living apartments for people at least 62, or handicapped or disabled, 212 units.

Morningside Manor: 13th Street and Jamison Avenue S.E., Roanoke, 983-9281. Independent living apartments for people at least 62, or handicapped or disabled, 105 units.

Our Lady of the Valley: 650 N. Jefferson St., Roanoke, 345-5111. Non-profit facility sponsored by Catholic Diocese of Richmond. 85 assisted living apartments and 30 nursing home beds.

Outlook Pointe at Roanoke: 3585 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, 772-7181. 65 assisted living apartments.

The Park - Oak Grove: 4920 Woodmar Drive S.W., Roanoke, 989-9501. Locally owned rental retirement community with 93 apartments. Independent living with assisted living services optional, including medication management and personal care.

Pheasant Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center: 4355 Pheasant Ridge Road, Roanoke, 725-8210. A 58-bed facility providing intermediate care in 10 private rooms, 24 semiprivate rooms.

Raleigh Court Health Care Center: 1527 Grandin Road S.W., Roanoke, 342-9525. 120 beds. 16 beds Medicare certified. Patients must be certified by physician as requiring nursing care.

Richfield Retirement Community: 3615 Main St., Salem, 380-4500. Several types of facilities and levels of care: Ridgecrest Apartments, Independent living for people 62 or older or mobility impaired. Federally subsidized (HUD). Knollwood Apartments, 80 independent-living apartments. Richfield Lake Estates, 9 cottages, a cluster-housing development. T. Stuart Payne Center for Assisted Living, an 82-bed assisted-care facility. The Oaks at Richfield, a 90-bed assisted-care facility. Richfield Nursing Center, 327 beds. Joseph C. Thomas Alzheimer's Center, 84 rooms in six houses connected by a Main Street corridor with shops.

Ridgewood Gardens: 2001 Ridgewood Drive, Salem, 387-4945. 74 assisted living units.

Roanoke United Methodist Home: 1009 Old Country Club Road N.W., 344-6248. A life-care retirement community available to persons of all faiths: Independent apartments: Private entrance. Four one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom. Catered Independence: 27 private rooms/suites for individuals and couples. Assisted living: private and semiprivate rooms. Health care center: Semiprivate rooms in which intermediate care is provided.

Salem Health and Rehabilitation Center: 1945 Roanoke Blvd., Salem, 345-3894. 240 units for sub-acute, DMAS-specialized, skilled nursing care, nursing care.

Shenandoah Homes Retirement Community: 5300 Hawthorne Road N.W., 362-5412. Sponsored by the First Church of God Virginia General Assembly, but all faiths accepted. Two types of facilities are available: Adult care: semiprivate rooms (54 beds) are available with care provided by nursing assistants. Private apartments: efficiency (75) and one-bedroom (45) apartments.

Snyder Nursing Home: 11 N. Broad St., Salem, 389-0160. State-licensed 45-bed facility with licensed nursing staff on duty 24 hours a day.

South Roanoke Nursing Home: 3823 Franklin Road S.W., Roanoke, 344-4325. Skilled and intermediate-care nursing home with 104 beds.

Southern Manor Home for Adults: 3008 Williamson Road N.W., Roanoke, 563-0608. Private, state-licensed adult care facility with 101 beds.

Valley Retirement Home: 1418 10th St. N.W., Roanoke, 563-9153. Home licensed for residential and assisted living care with 42 beds.

Virginia Veterans Care Center: 4550 Shenandoah Ave. N.W., Roanoke, 982-2860. State-licensed 240-bed long-term care facility. Assisted living, Alzheimer's, hospice, intermediate and skilled nursing care.

Woodhaven Nursing Home: U.S. 460 West, Montvale, 947-2207, (800) 794-2037. State licensed 48-bed nursing home. Alzheimer's care, skilled nursing, I.V. therapy, hospice care, rehabilitation therapy, respite care, as well as long-term care.

Adult Care of Roanoke Valley

A program of daytime care and activities for older adults not able to function alone, yet not in need of full-time nursing care. Licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services and certified by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.

VMAC Center, 1970 Roanoke Blvd., Bldg. 76-1, Salem, 540-983-1026.

Liberty Center, 2707 Williamson Road, NE, Roanoke, 540-362-5741

The League of Older Americans (LOA) Area Agency on Aging

This local agency of the Virginia Department for the Aging, helps older people remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. The LOA staff strives to provide seniors in the Roanoke Valley with diverse services for all types of needs. The LOA Area Agency on Aging can be reached at 540-345-0451.

Also available in the Roanoke Valley are a number of Home Health Care organizations and Hospices.