After her partner John lost his battle to cancer, Zoe knew she wanted a place to call her own where she was surrounded by a supportive community.
“I was in a three-bedroom home on Magnetic Island, but we began the downsizing process when we moved to Far North Queensland and then back to Townsville to have more services available to us when my partner needed more care,” she said.
She became aware of Bolton Clarke Rowes Bay retirement village and aged care service in Townsville, which overlooks Magnetic Island.
“Rowes Bay seemed like a perfect location for me because the island is straight across from me here and it’s on the beach,” she said.
“Because of a back condition I was able to do less and less. I couldn’t cope with a bigger home, so it’s been a really good transition into a smaller space.”
Moving house is a stressful event in anyone’s life, and when a person moves into retirement living it is not normally straightforward.
Zoe admitted the transition took some adjustment but with additional community spaces around Bolton Clarke Rowes Bay, there is nothing she feels she is missing.
“You do have to think about what you’re bringing and storage, but I’ve got space under my bed and cubed shelving which is great – I don’t need anything bigger,” she said.
“Our studio apartments here are next to what we call The Glasshouse which you can come in and do crafts or sit in the lounge chairs and read, it’s like your own loungeroom.”
Wise words
Zoe urged anyone considering moving into retirement living to come and visit before committing. Talk to residents, listen to their likes and dislikes, check out what is available and decide if it is right for you.
“For me, I can go visit my kids and do more things and I don’t have to worry about maintaining gardens or lawns, so it works really well,” said Zoe.
250,000 older Australians call retirement living home. Take a look at villages.com.au and look at what is available and give a village a call.