This month, RetireAustralia launched its innovative Care Experience, designed to provide an opportunity to sample village life before moving in.
RetireAustralia’s General Manager for Care, Brigid London, said clarity and certainty are more important than ever before in retirement living.
“Our Care Experience offers the chance to stay in a fully-furnished care apartment and enjoy all the benefits of village life for a 28-day period,” Brigid said.
“During this time, domestic care, including meals, cleaning and linen laundry is taken care of, and residents have full access to the village’s facilities and activities.
“We are confident that, over the course of four weeks, our guests will get a sense of the supportive environment of village life and gauge whether it is right for them.”
Riverina Gums Retirement Village resident Dorothy Board has lived at the village for five months after trying village life under RetireAustralia’s pilot ‘Try Before You Buy’ program.
“I get my washing done and bed made, and the meals are good – I like the fish and chips on Fridays especially,” Dorothy said.
“The staff are friendly and attentive, and all the people are very nice.”
Fellow resident Doris Hill made a similar move, and has subsequently been at the village for 18 months.
“I don’t like moving, but my daughter thought it was a good idea to try here,” Doris said.
“I tried the program, and by the time I had moved into my apartment, I had met people and settled in.”
Val Coad has been a resident of Tarragal Manor for five weeks after sampling village life, and has been enjoying the social atmosphere since.
“I play 500, do the exercise class every morning, and I have some ideas about starting art and meditation classes,” Val said.
“People really care about you here, and the staff are lovely.”
RetireAustralia’s Care Experience is now available in 11 of its 27 villages – five in New South Wales and six in South Australia.
