Moving into retirement living, be it a village or lifestyle community, invites a sense of community.
Not everyone wants to be part of a community, but creating a sense of community for yourself as you age has many benefits:
- It meets social needs,
- It meets practical needs,
- It meets emotional needs,
- It protects against selfishness,
- It teaches conflict resolution,
- It provides the opportunity to forgive,
- It challenges us,
- It can support you, and
- It shifts our perspective.
Making the leap into a retirement community is a huge mental step but it can be perfect for a couple, who have retired, and their children have left the family home, or for a person living alone after the loss of a loved one. Also, for those who want to travel, the opportunity to sell the family home and use part of the money for a home in a retirement community, and then head off overseas is possible.
It is not sitting around all day, reading a book, but no-one will care if you do. There could be bowls, line dancing, yoga, bingo, paint and sip, barefoot bowls, ballroom dancing, gardening, trivia quizzes, scam awareness talks, fitness classes, lawns, ten-pin bowling, a day trip, health and wellness classes and swimming and aerobic classes.
Most events are led by residents, with the accent on being a community enjoying themselves.