A retirement village is any residential complex predominantly occupied by retired persons aged over 55 years who have entered into a contract owner or operator of the village. Elouera Gardens Christian Retirement Village, Glenhaven Gardens and Lynden Grove are three of approximately 595 retirement villages across NSW, accommodating more than 36,000 residents.
Moving into a Retirement Village is a great option for many people. More than 95 per cent of people who live in retirement villages indicate village life meets or exceeds their expectations. Perhaps you’re at the stage in your life where you want to take things easy, and simply enjoy your retirement without the stress and worry of maintaining your house and Maybe you want a lifestyle change, be closer to friends and family or you desire more free time to do the things you’ve always wanted to.
Imagine living at a place you don’t have to do any home maintenance. As you grow older and become more aware of your health and mobility, living in a retirement village can provide you with a high level of support in a villa or unit that encourages independence as well as the ability to enjoy your social and leisure activities.
Retirement villages offer a positive choice to many thousands of older Australians and we have Retirement Villages in Cherrybrook, Glenhaven and Cardiff Heights near Newcastle which are specifically designed to meet your needs with your safety and comfort in mind. You can feel safe and secure knowing that our villages have 24 hour emergency call systems.
Your retirement years are to be enjoyed and free of burden. So whether you want to downsize your house, meet likeminded people or just simply not have to worry about home maintenance, our retirement villages are perfect for you.
A retirement village doesn’t just provide you with a warm bed and a roof over your head, it presents you with an opportunity to become part of a wonderful community, a place to live that caters to your needs, services and lifestyle choices. How does a retirement village work you might ask? It is wonderful to know what you want out of your retirement, but for retirees in Australia – this is a common query.
Retirement is not a bad thing – in fact, it is an incredible opportunity to join a community and begin the next stage of your life. Many retirees opt to live in villages that are intended for retirees. There are however, a number of things that need to be considered whilst selecting a retirement village.
These villages aim to provide residents with good quality of life, in addition to the appropriate facilities. Making the decision to move to a retirement village can be made after consultation with your adult children, spouses, or residents of the villages under consideration. Most of all it is important to consider your needs & desires.
However, the concept of a Retirement Village is relatively new and you might find it difficult to gather enough information to make an informed choice. Here are some things that you can do to ensure you are making the right decision.
Make a list of things you would like to do.
A significant part of what determines your choice of retirement home or village is going to be the things you plan to do after your retire. For instance, you might love to reinvest your time in fishing after your retirement or a well-equipped library in the nearby vicinity might serve as your favorite activity from the day you retire. Therefore, by not making a list you might end up in a place which neither has a good library nor any option for fishing. You may perhaps be interested in getting involved in organized social activities, yet an unplanned retirement may mean living in retirement village with no option for pursing social causes. As different types of villages offer different forms of services and amusements, it will be easier for you to select your ideal refuge when you have the list with you.
Communicate with already existing residents
It is important to communicate with existing members of the village. Your compatibility with the other residents will determine whether your stay in the village will be a pleasant one or not. Therefore, look for opportunities where you can talk with these members and get an idea about their lifestyle and preferences. For your reference, some retirement villages offer an option to the pre-existing and the new members where they can come in contact with each other and exchange their views. Explore these opportunities in order to find out if there are specific aspects of the village that you might not like and the features that will make you appreciate your choice. Existing members will also inform you about the facilities and amenities that are available and the social issues that create concerns. The more you come in contact with them and question them; the clearer your opinion about the village will be.
Manage Your Expenses
Be prepared to plan how you will meet all future expenses. If you own a large house, you can rent it out to pay for a smaller home in a retirement village. The basic concept of leaving your own house and shifting into a community for retired individuals is to cope with the changes in lifestyle. A person works for approximately 8-9 hours during his professional life, and after retirement he/she often does not have much to do. This sudden change can be dangerous if new engagements are not found. Your retirement policy, provident funds, and income from investment and rental property will be enough to get some extra amenities such as ready to eat meals, laundry, physical therapy, just to name a few. Ask the community administration for details about all charges to be paid by the residents, and check all costs associated with the community.
Keep Your Needs in Mind
Each retirement village will have its own specialties and services. Some villages provide a wide range of facilities such as healthcare, gym, outdoor recreations, indoor recreations, and frequent community gatherings. Some villages provide services similar to the ones offered to a patient admitted to a hospital, such as a full time care taker, food, and laundry. Some cater to independents, where residents only get help in selected aspects of life when they need a hand. To gauge whether your physical and emotional needs can be met by the facility, you will need to make a lot of considerations. It is important to also consider your physical needs when choosing an appropriate home, so remember to check on things such as stairs, flooring, bathroom and kitchen fittings.
Provided that you are sure that you can live comfortably in the community’s environment and that all of your needs are met, it is a certainty that the right retirement community for you is out there.
