Lingering effects of the recession continue to drag on retirees here to varying degrees, forcing some to put off moving into retirement communities, others to cut back on their expenses, and still others to re-enter the job market, some people who work with Spokane-area retirees say.

Ann Byers, executive director of the 160-unit Harbor Crest Retirement community, at 3117 E. Chaser Lane on Spokane's South Hill, says a greater percentage of new residents are coming to Harbor Crest because of need, rather than choice. That usually means that because of age or medical condition, they need some degree of assisted living, Byers says.

Demand for independent-living units has slowed down because people interested in them usually have to sell their homes, which they are reluctant to do in a depressed market, she says.

Even the cottages, which have a waiting list, tend to remain open longer when there's a vacancy than they would have a few years ago, because it takes longer for the prospective residents to sell their homes so they can afford the cottage move.

Marcella Farrington, 89, who has lived at Harbor Crest for four years, says she's moving to a smaller apartment there because of economic conditions.

Farrington, former office manager for Farrington Interiors, which was named for her late husband, William, says her income is based on Social Security and investments, but due to weak market performance, the principal on her investments might be depleted in another two years.

She says she'll have to cut back on social events outside of the retirement home.

"I will think twice before going to the casino again," Farrington says.

She says she'll also be selective about going to restaurants with other residents.

"I'm going to make some changes," Farrington says. "I won't be living on quite the same level."

Edie Fogelquist, 96, says most of her income is derived from stock holdings, which are managed by a brokerage.

"I don't worry about it," says Fogelquist, a four-year Harbor Crest resident. "Some years, the income is good and taxes are higher, and some years it's not so much."

She says she doesn't have many expenses outside of the retirement home.

"I'm wearing clothes I've had for 20 or 30 or 40 years," Fogelquist says.

Looking for work

Steve Reiter, director of the Spokane office of AARP Foundation's senior community services employment program, says a growing number of retirees are looking for work because they can't live on their retirement funds alone.

The senior community services program subsidizes service-based training by placing people with income less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level at nonprofit organizations and public agencies "where they can do community service while they find a real job," Reiter says.

Paid community service work, such as at day-care centers, senior centers, schools, and hospitals, is intended to serve as a bridge to unsubsidized employment, he says.

The program here currently serves about 100 seniors and has a waiting list of 200 more, Reiter says.

Despite the growing demand, funding cuts have forced the program to reduce the number of people it serves. The program's current annual budget here is $800,000, down from $1.8 million when economic stimulus funds were available.

Reiter says he knows of several retirees who are looking for work to help pay for prescriptions and other medical expenses not covered by Medicare.

"We see people all the time who have to return to work," he says. "I don't think it has leveled off. I think it continues to grow."

Nationally, it takes longer for older workers to find jobs than it does for younger workers, Reiter says.

Nick Beamer, director of Spokane-based Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington, says some retirement-aged people have decided to work longer because their 401(k) retirement plans haven't recovered the value they lost during the recession.

The No. 1 concern that Beamer hears from retirees and retirement-aged workers, though, is about access to affordable health care.

"Some people have returned to work or have decided to continue working to retain health care benefits," he says.

Some retirees are turning their thermostats down in the heating season to save on energy costs, Beamer adds. Many are driving less to save money on fuel, he says.

"But that results in less socialization," Beamer says. "Creating more isolation doesn't help maintain quality of life."

Consolidating expenses

While retirement homes are out of financial reach for some, the service-and-amenities inclusive nature of them could actually save on expenses for certain people, says Alan Curryer, president and CEO, of Rockwood Retirement Communities.

"Retirement communities provide some opportunities to combat the increased cost of living," Curryer says. They typically provide a range of services in addition to meal plans and utilities that retirees otherwise would have to buy on their own, he says.

One such service is transportation to shopping sites and medical services, Curryer says. "Some seniors at Rockwood have stopped driving because of the transportation that's provided."

Residents there also can save on health club expenses, he says.

"Retirement communities like ours have exercise equipment and pools," Curryer says.

Rockwood also provides activities and recreational opportunities that can save on entertainment costs, he says.

That said, retirement-home residents aren't immune to inflation; Rockwood has raised its rates an average of 3.2 percent during each of the past two years.

Curryer says the number of residents at Rockwood's South Hill campus has remained close to level.

"Our occupancy rate has stayed pretty good," he says. "We're seeing a steady flow of new residents despite the economy."

Planned new construction, though, hinges on presales, which have been slow, Curryer says.

"The economy is challenging us in that respect," he says.

Rockwood plans to erect a 10-story, 93-unit apartment tower, to be called the Summit as part of a $78 million expansion and remodel project on its campus at 2903 E. 25th.

Curryer says some people might be reluctant about buying into the planned facility because of depressed home values.

"They are still hoping the market will come back, and we're trying to educate them about potential opportunities to save money by living in a retirement community," he says.

Christa Richardson, director of the Corbin Senior Activity Center, at 827 W. Cleveland, says she's hearing from retirees that they are staying in their homes and waiting for their value to increase so they can afford to move into a retirement home.

"If they sell at depressed prices, they will have nothing to live on later," Richardson says.

Interest in the center's international tour program, though, is on the upswing, she says.

"Initially, tours dropped off extensively," she says. "Now they are coming back, because some people who are getting older feel they have to go now or never."

A group of 15 Corbin Center members traveled on a tour of China recently. Another 13 people are planning to go to Germany in September, Richardson says.

"Those tours wouldn't have happened last year," she says.

The center currently has about 1,000 members, a number that is declining slowly, Richardson says.