Four tech gadgets giving seniors superpowers to age in place
It is always advisable to ask what technology is available in retirement living, be it a village or independent living units. Ageing in place is taking on new connotations as technology redefines boundaries. Devices are being made that aid independence, safety and connectedness. There is…
What are the real costs of retirement living?
Retirement living is attractive, with many villages at full or near-full occupancy. However, the one question we often receive about entering a retirement village is for help to understand the financial details. There are a number of fees and costs to consider and it is…
The Lifestyle Years: what are they?
In a new report, demographer Bernard Salt said there has been a shift in the nation’s workforce, with more people aged over 55 opting to work “longer but lighter”. More Australian pre-retirees are choosing to stay in the workplace for longer to stay active and…
What are the laws on Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in each state?
Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) has now been legalised in all States across Australia, with legislation in New South Wales coming into effect from the end of November this year. It is not yet legal in the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory, although legislation…
Good news: more people 65yrs+ can access a pension.
The good news is that the Federal Government is ensuring that more people aged 67 and above can access the Age Pension. But the confusion and complexity around means testing has to be confronted before more money flows your way. The Age Pension increased on…
Retirement anxiety: how to overcome it
The anxiety that can come with retirement is very real. Adults, 60 years of age and older, are more likely to experience physical symptoms of anxiety than younger people. Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and Gen X (1969 to 1979) have never experienced…
How to be aware of cyber scams
This month marks Cyber Security Awareness Month, with this year’s theme: “Be cyber wise – don’t compromise”. The campaign urges people to: One cybercrime was reported every seven minutes in the 2021-2022 financial year, a 13% increase from the previous 12 months, according to the…
Hey big spenders: look who is peeling off those $100 notes
The retirement living sector rightly boasts about its affordability – the average two-bedroom unit in a village is $516,000 and there are many operators who charge less. However, increasingly there are apartments being priced over $1 million and at Palm Lake Group’s flagship development, Pake…
This is why eligible people should apply for a Seniors Card
Each State and Territory operates a Seniors Card and they not only save the holder a lot of money but open the door to a range of social activities. To show how valuable a Seniors Card is, South Australian Seniors Card holders have collectively saved…
Fewer retirement villages are offering capital gains – but it’s far from bad news
73% of retirement village operators surveyed in the 2022 PwC Property Council Retirement Census did not offer residents an opportunity to share in any capital gains or capital losses, more than triple the number in 2017. The number of retirement villages no longer offering capitals…