Great Place to Retire Midland
Whether you want to take it easy, become more involved in the community or a combination of both, Midland is an ideal place to spend your retirement years.
Here is a look at some of the activities and services available for retirees in the Midland area.
Volunteering opportunities
Retirees play an important role in a growing city like Midland, and there are plenty of ways to make the community a better place through volunteering. Volunteer opportunities include providing business guidance, being a mentor and offering companionship to those who
need it.
Senior Life Midland, which connects seniors to opportunities, resources and each other, offers programs for people who want to take time to help in the community:
• The Senior Corps Program connects Midland residents 55 and over with people who need a mentor, coach or someone to share their job skills and expertise. After training, these volunteers make a difference in positions that fit their interests.
• The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) connects available senior citizen volunteers with a variety of opportunities, including serving as literacy tutors, helping to build houses and assisting local veterans.
• The Foster Grandparents program brings seniors together with students at Midland Independent School District. The grandparents read stories and help with homework, among other activities.
• In Senior Companions, volunteer senior citizens are matched with residents who need someone to keep them company.
Participatory activities
There are many activities for senior citizens in the Midland area, whether solo, with a companion or part of a group. Here are a few:
• Take a college course: The College Classics program at Midland College is offered as a low-cost, non-credit opportunity for senior citizens. Midland College faculty and community volunteers lead the classes on the main campus of Midland College.
• Visit a senior center: There are multiple senior centers in the community. Senior Life Midland offers two – at Kingsway Mall and in the southeast part of town. Also, Casa de Amigos – a multicultural neighborhood center in southeast Midland – runs a 4,000-square-foot senior center that features educational, social and recreational activities.
• Walk in a nature preserve: The I-20 Wildlife Preserve has 86 acres of › habitat that is essential to the survival of local bird populations, native wildlife and thousands of migratory birds. Because it is located in the West Central Flyway, migrating birds, waterfowl and butterflies are seen throughout the year.
• Improve your gardening skills: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners is an active group of horticulture enthusiasts that teaches classes on landscaping and gardening.
Housing and aging in place
Midland’s housing market has much to offer retirees. Local builders continue to meet the needs of senior adults by creating senior-focused subdivisions and apartment communities. Retirees can choose from single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, apartments and assisted-care facilities.
For Midland residents who need assistance in their homes, Senior Life Midland offers:
• Meals on Wheels: Hot, nutritious meals are delivered to senior citizens who qualify. A special food delivery program could also be available for people with pets, if necessary.
• Handyman: The Handyman program helps seniors who need help with safety upgrades, locks and windows, among other things, in their homes.
• One Day at a Time: The program helps senior citizens who are homebound and/or low-income with daily living needs.
Health care services
Retirees have access to many highly qualified physicians in Midland as well as excellent health care facilities.
Midland Memorial Hospital’s Critical Care Unit received the Silver Beacon Award of Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses as well as numerous awards from the American Heart Association.
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital is one of the top-performing rehabilitation hospitals in the Southwestern United States, delivering comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation services for patients who have suffered strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, heart attacks and more. Encompass is home to the Midland’s Parkinson’s Support Group, Amputee Support Group and Stroke Support Group.
Entertainment opportunities
There is always something going on in Midland, including art shows, music and theatre performances, restaurants and plenty of opportunities for shopping.
Midland has an active theater community, led by Midland Community Theatre and Summer Mummers.
The Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center is the shining star of West Texas. The $81 million facility is owned by the University of Texas of the Permian. It has a main hall that seats about 1,800 people and a recital hall that holds almost 200. There are about 200 performances a year, including country, rock, ballet, Broadway style shows, Christian artists and comedians.
Midland also offers easy access to big city adventure through the Midland International Air & Space Port, a modern facility with a variety of parking options and a building that is easy to navigate. The airport offers more than 20 daily departures with non-stop service to Dallas Fort Worth, Dallas Love Field, Houston Intercontinental, Houston Hobby, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Denver. Currently, the airport is served by Southwest, American and United Express.
With all of these opportunities to make a positive difference in the community, and stay active in a climate that includes plenty of warmth and mild winters, it’s no wonder Midland is an attractive place for retirees.