Reno: Heathcare and over 55 recommendations? (2014, rental, HOA)

[Look2retiresoon]

My husband and I have narrowed our first choice for retirement to Reno. The outdoor setting is beautiful, and enjoy four seasons. According to “lists,” healthcare quality is rated poorly. I would appreciate any firsthand feedback! I would also welcome any additional feedback on over 55 communities. I have read some posts about inadequate facilities for the amount of residents.
Thanks again!

[Nn2036]

I don't see any difference in quality betweeN Reno and places I lived in the past( Dallas, Philly, Chicago, etc).

If you have very rare disease, you have to research to see if the specialists in Reno can treat the disease. Otherwise, you should be fine.
I am happy with my primary care docs, GI, Cardiology, etc...

[2sleepy]

I haven't lived in Reno since 2014 so maybe things have changed but I did experience some very long waits to see specialists, it took 3 months to see a rheumatologist. And my husband's medicare plan did not have a network ENT for treatment of a salivary gland tumor so they told him he had to drive to San Francisco to see one which is just BS. My honest opinion, Reno doesn't have enough specialists, but I don't think anyone dies because of it.

Personally I avoid 55 + communities because they are HOA's where you pay for the privilege of having HOA nazis drive up and down the street making sure you haven't broken one of the hundreds of rules they have, but that's not unique to Reno, all HOAs suck.

[smegmatite]

If healthcare is your concern look elsewhere... its pretty horrible here to be honest... there are way too many people for the facilities and you have to wait weeks for simple things like MRI's and X-rays

I broke my back in January and it was ridiculous how long they said things were going to take

[owelles]

Originally Posted by Look2retiresoon

My husband and I have narrowed our first choice for retirement to Reno. The outdoor setting is beautiful, and enjoy four seasons. According to “lists,” healthcare quality is rated poorly. I would appreciate any firsthand feedback! I would also welcome any additional feedback on over 55 communities. I have read some posts about inadequate facilities for the amount of residents.
Thanks again!

You're likely to get widely varied opinions on this. From my standpoint, it has been fine. I've had two major procedures in Reno and my wife has had one in the five years we've lived here, and we consider the care we received to be first-rate. There are fewer doctor choices available than in, for example, the Bay Area, but overall, we have been pleasantly surprised by the quality.

[Look2retiresoon]

Thank you so much for your response. It sounds like you’ve had first-hand experience, and I appreciate that. Do you enjoy living in Reno?

[owelles]

Originally Posted by Look2retiresoon

Thank you so much for your response. It sounds like you’ve had first-hand experience, and I appreciate that. Do you enjoy living in Reno?

Reno is too small for some people, it's too big for others, but for us, it's the perfect size. We love it here.

[Gatopescado]

Reno's four seasons:

Wind, with snow
Wind, with pollen
Wind, with heat
Wind, with dead weeds, pollen, possible rain and/or snow

[utsci]

I'll address the "over 55 community" first...I think they are highly over rated and I would not limit my search of property to an HOA. I would still be wary of a mixed housing neighborhood (stick with a more established neighborhood) since many investors are buying rental properties in some of the newer cookie-cutter developments. I also appreciate a varied age population in my neighborhood. If the ability to go to the clubhouse and find 20 activities on any given day is important to you then maybe an over-55 neighborhood is the way to go. Otherwise leave your options open.

Health care...lived here lived here almost 35 years and worked my whole life in health care. There are some specialties that are not well represented in Reno. Rheumatologists and endocrinologists come to mind. You would think there would be more with an aging population and the chronicity/prevalence of diabetes and arthritis. For most other illnesses you can find plenty of treatment options in Reno. But remember that your Medicare can be used anywhere. If I was going to have a heart surgery, I would probably consider Cleveland Clinic no matter where I lived. There are two main hospital systems Renown and St. Marys. Renown has taken advantage of some financial weaknesses of former St. Mary's ownerships and Renown has tons of neighborhood primary care and imaging facilities. St. Marys is building, but nowhere near what Renown has. The doctors associated with either are equal in my opinion. Almost all doctors in town have privileges at both hospitals.

[TaoistDude]

We are having a house built in Reno, and will be moving this summer. As yet, we have no experience with the health care system; our research indicates it is good, if perhaps lacking a large choice for specialists.

We are deliberately buying in a larger 55+ community, having looked at many neighborhoods, homes, and 55+ communities. Mixed neighborhoods are great in many ways, but unless a significant number of residents are also 55+ or retirees, it may be difficult to find neighbors who also have time to be good friends. Younger couples and families are very focused on their peers and different aspects of their lives, and are often not even home during the day. Some 55+ communities are in poor locations (too close to a highway, so noisy), or too small (thus lacking in facilities and potential friends). A larger 55+ community usually has great amenities and facilities, staff-run activities, and far more people in similar life circumstances to relate to. HOA costs can be significant, but you should get great benefits for the cost, including maintenance and landscaping of all public spaces and front yards, security, facilities such as indoor/outdoor pools, club house, extensive gym, and staff-led activities. It could easily cost more to get these things a la carte elsewhere, and having to do yard maintenance on your own is a nuisance (we travel a lot, so having these things taken care of is important). HOA rules can be a pain if you don't like the rules, so read them before you buy.