Most people naturally want to remain in their home, however most dwellings are not built for the needs of ageing people in mind.

Retirement living can reinvigorate a person’s life and help the person maintain their health and wellbeing with age.

Here are eight benefits that retirement living provide:

Connection

Retirement villages are specially designed for older people to help address loneliness and support a happy and healthy retirement.

Look for a retirement village community that suits, that provides regular opportunities for residents to interact through on-site recreational facilities, community centres and social activities.

Purpose

Stimulating the mind and body is paramount in retirement living, whether it is yoga, gardening, playing bowls, card nights, bingo, making things in the Men’s Shed, wine or beer making, golf days or knitting for family and/or charities.   

Retirement villages offer many opportunities for residents to interact and connect, without living in each other’s pockets, through on-site recreational facilities, community rooms and social activities. Most villages offer an activity calendar where you can get involved in as much or as little as you like.

Check out the activity calendar before signing any contract.

Active Lifestyle

Many retirement villages promote an active lifestyle and offer a range of physical activities within the village. Most have access to facilities such as swimming pools indoor and outdoors, golf courses, bowling greens and on-site gyms.

There is less garden and household maintenance required in an independent living unit, which allows more time and opportunities to explore new interests.

It is advisable to ask about the clubs that operate within a retirement community but expect to be told that if something different interests you, it can be arranged.

Quality of life

In a national survey by villages.com.au, 52% of retirement village residents said their happiness increased after moving into a retirement village. The survey also found that:

  • 27% of people said their physical health improved,
  • 40% said their mental health improved, and
  • 37% felt more financially secure after they moved into a retirement village.

Active ageing

Before signing a contract to enter retirement living, ensure awareness of health and wellness programs is available.

Many retirement villages offer activities to support active ageing, such as:

  • Health and wellness programs, such as yoga and walking groups
  • Sporting activities, such as swimming, golf and lawn bowls
  • Social events, such as cards, knitting, cooking, dancing, book clubs, men’s shed groups and other opportunities for social connection
  • Accessible and age-friendly design features such as flat walking surfaces, ramps, handrails, sensor lights, innovative technology and emergency response systems.

Reassurance of support when needed

It is advisable to ask but more and more retirement living facilities allow access to home care services to help. If an assessment is need to access Home Care Packages, the village manager will be keen to help.

Equally, more retirement villages are co-located with residential aged care homes, so if a person or their partner’s health needs change, there’s the availability of 24/7 support when needed.

Safety and security

Feeling safe and secure as people age becomes of paramount concern. Purpose-built retirement living facilities provide high levels of safety and security, which makes for better health.

Many retirement villages have a range of security features including gates and fences, cameras, and sensor lights. There is also have quick access to emergency services if a resident ever requires them.

Financial safety

With many homes in capital cities well north of $2 million, selling the family home can release a lot of money.

When signing a contract to enter a retirement village, a person should be aware of the total cost of retirement living and find that there is a fair amount of money left. The latest PwC Property Council Retirement Census found the average price of a national average two-bedroom independent living unit ILU sale price is approximately 52% per cent of the median house price within the same postcode.

Always seek financial advice before making decisions. A financial adviser can review your financial assets, discuss any financial risks and answer any questions you may have.

Reassurance of support when needed

It is advisable to ask but more and more retirement villages allow access to home care services to help. If an assessment is need to access Home Care Packages, the village manager will be keen to help.

Equally, more retirement villages are co-located with residential aged care homes, so if a person or their partner’s health needs change, there’s the availability of 24/7 support when needed.