What would you like to know about living in a retirement village? Here, we answer the most commonly asked questions.

What is a retirement village?

Retirement villages are residential communities designed for people who are generally over the age of 65 and retired from full-time work. However, plenty of residents continue to work or volunteer part-time while enjoying village life.

How do retirement villages differ from aged care?

While retirement villages are designed for active and independent retirees, aged care facilities cater for those who need full-time care and can no longer live independently. Most aged care facilities focus on clinical-based care for older Australians who are unable to live independently in their own homes. People in retirement villages still enjoy the benefits and privacy of having their own home, without the worry of day-to-day property maintenance or gardening which are taken care of by village staff.

Residents in retirement villages also have access to a range of village facilities and are surrounded by like-minded people who engage in a wide range of social activities and events.

Moving into aged care is rarely a choice: it often occurs following a significant health incident or when it’s considered necessary for one’s health and safety. In contrast, moving into a retirement village should be a choice at a time in an individual’s life where they can benefit from all that retirement village living has offers.

Are retirement villages the same as land lease communities?

Also known as ‘over 55s lifestyle communities’, ‘manufactured home estates’ and ‘resort communities’, land lease communities are residential communities for older residents and offer many of the same benefits. They may look similar from the outside, but there are fundamental differences. For instance, land lease communities are legislated under the same laws as manufactured homes parks and caravan parks, so if the operator ceases to exist, your right to remain in your home isn’t protected. On the flipside, your right to live in your home is protected in a retirement village, which operates under the Retirement Villages Act. For more information, see our article: Different retirement living options explained.

What’s it like to live in a retirement village?

Good question! Retirement villages are hubs of activity with ample opportunity for social connection. They also have plenty of space allowing for privacy and living life on your own terms. Facilities will vary by village, but you could have access to amenities like a swimming pool, community centre, library and hairdresser. You can read what some residents think about village life, or find out more about retirement living by checking out some real stories about village life.

Will I own my house?

The Verge at Burleigh G.C., our brand new retirement community on the Gold Coast, will operate on a leasehold ownership agreement, which means RetireAustralia owns the land and the units, while you acquire the right to reside in your home for the duration of a long-term lease, generally 99 years. Your tenancy is secure for as long as you want to stay. The upshot of this is that you won’t need to pay stamp duty, which is generally one of the biggest upfront costs when buying a property.

How much will it cost?

To increase financial certainty, the contract for The Verge is as clear and transparent as possible. We specify, upfront, which costs you’ll need to pay, and what they cover. Here’s a quick breakdown of the fees you’ll need to pay over the duration of your stay in our leasehold retirement village on the Gold Coast – The Verge at Burleigh G.C.

Entry payment

Your entry payment gives you the right to reside in your new home and is typically 70-80% of the local median housing price.

You will not have to pay stamp duty on your unit, leaving you with extra money in your pocket to enjoy while you’re settling in.

Monthly service fees

These cover our operating costs, as well as council and water rates, building insurance, home and garden maintenance, upkeep of shared facilities, and support staff such as your Village Manager. By law, retirement village operators cannot profit from services charges, and these fees are regulated by the Queensland Retirement Villages Act.

Deferred Management Fee (DMF)*

When it comes time to leave The Verge at Burleigh G.C., you’ll receive an exit entitlement, which is the purchase price minus the DMF. This fee is capped at 25% of your entry price and is stepped during your first five years in the village. There are no further increases after this period, no matter how long you stay.

By charging this on exit – rather than incorporating it into the purchase price – you’ll not only free up your cashflow but find that your move into the village is much more affordable.

What age do I have to be?

RetireAustralia villages are designed for people over the age of 65.

Can I live in a retirement village on a pension?

Absolutely. Many of our residents receive an age pension. Your eligibility largely depends on the size of the entry payment you make when you move into the village – also known as an entry contribution (EC), compared to the extra allowable amount (EAA). The government compares these figures to determine if you’re considered a home owner. If the entry payment is less than the EAA, you may be eligible for rent assistance. See the federal government’s ‘Social Security Guide’ for more information.

Can I rent in a retirement village?

We don’t currently offer the option to rent, but if affordability is a concern for you, please give us a call. We can talk you through our most cost-effective communities and see if we can find a home that suits your budget.

What happens if my care needs change?

If your needs change, you can rest easy knowing you can access care and support if you need it. At The Verge, you will be able to receive flexible care and support in your home from RetireAustralia’s Home Care team or a provider of your choice.

Our Home Care services makes life a little easier and gives you peace of mind that, should your needs change, you can continue to stay safely in your own home for longer. Our care team can help with household chores, meal preparation, showering, dressing, and medication support, to name a few. Care is tailored to your individual needs and funded privately or through access to an approved government funded Home Care Package (HCP).

Can visitors stay with me?

Absolutely! This is your home and we want you to treat it as such. We encourage family and friends to visit and stay overnight if that suits. It varies by village, but guests can stay between two weeks and 30 days without requiring approval. Simply let your Village Manager know so we can keep an eye out for your guest(s) and treat them as part of the RetireAustralia family.

Can my pet live with me?

The Verge at Burleigh G.C. is a pet-friendly village, so you can bring your best friend with you, whether you have a small dog, cat or bird.

Why live with Retire Australia?

You’ll be looked after by an experienced team
We know retirement living, and we understand the needs of older Australians.

Your wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do
We are passionate about providing an exceptional standard of living for our residents.

You’ll love the service you receive
We’re always striving to better serve the people who reside in our communities.

You’ll feel at home
We create welcoming communities through homelike design that make your experience comfortable and inviting.

Find out what you’re missing out on at The Verge at Burleigh G.C. – visit us, meet our team and tour our sales suite.

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Residents at Noyea Riverside Retirement Village are such champions of sustainable living that they recently advocated for the expansion of their on-site dam.

Following a recent upgrade, the dam now holds 650,000 litres, or an additional two months’ water supply. This allows the community to be self-sufficient in maintaining their extensive gardens without any town water, quite a feat given the village grounds span 20 acres on the banks of the Albert River!

Village Manager Darren Adams says the residents at Noyea Riverside are very environmentally aware and mindful of their own water use. “The Body Corporate made the decision to expand the dam, to shore up our water capacity, maintain our beautiful grounds, and reduce their water rates,” he said.

The proactive decision is particularly timely. During COVID-19 restrictions, many people in the broader community have been tending to their gardens and water usage has increased.

Not only does the dam upgrade adhere to Logan City Council’s water-wise ethos but it will sustain the community of 177 residents well into the future, and allows them to enjoy stunning surrounds without draining natural resources.

“The dam is the only source of water we use to irrigate the village grounds and gardens,” said Mr Adams. “We capture rainwater from 40 villas and this feeds into the dam. We estimate that by expanding its width and depth, we’ve added another 150,000 litres, or two months, to our water capacity.

“As a community, we do a raft of other things to conserve water. In addition to the dam, our Head Gardener plants drought-resistant plants that require less water, and mulches often to keep moisture in the soil. We also fill our pool from our rainwater tank.

“In the 18 months I’ve been Village Manager, we got down to having about four days of water left in the dam. It’s satisfying to know that as a community, we’ve made an environmental decision to future-proof our gardens and help safeguard us in times of drought.

“The dam is one of the hallmarks of our village and our residents are very proud of the gardens. From the clubhouse, you have a picturesque view of the dam over the pool and the lush parkland.”

Find other retirement communities where resident initiatives are thriving

There are lots of myths about living in a retirement village that don’t reflect what life is really like.  So let’s separate the fact from the fiction!

Myth #1: Being surrounded by people my age will encourage me to slow down and lose my independence

On the contrary, we find that residents revel in being part of a new social circle and making new connections, and continue to lead full and rich lives. As resident Ros explains, “If you hang around people who are really good at being retired, you get really good at being retired.”

She and her husband John moved into Wood Glen Retirement Village on the Central Coast, but life hasn’t slowed down since they sold their bed and breakfast in Port Macquarie.

Now, they live close enough to Sydney to connect regularly with family, and both volunteer and work in the local community. They also keep busy with sport, with Ros cycling, doing pilates, and going to an outside gym, while John makes use of Wood Glen’s proximity to golf, tennis, and surfing.

“We’re only a 10-15 pushbike ride from Terrigal,” says Ros. “Wood Glen has got absolutely everything. We love it.”

Closer to home, they’ve joined the village’s weekly line dancing classes, and John also plays table tennis and teaches Kelly pool. As Ros points out, “If you’re making a choice to make a change, you might as well make it as rich as you possibly can. That’s what I’m doing.”

Myth #2: My health and wellbeing will suffer

Not true! In fact, multiple research studies have shown that your health can actually improve in a retirement village, by reducing isolation and improving mental wellbeing.

Social isolation is a big problem for older Australians, with one in five estimated to suffer, which can lead to decreased mental health. Retirement living is specifically designed to counter social isolation, and instead foster a sense of belonging and community. Indeed, a villages.com.au National Village Survey from 2018 showed that 52% of residents said their happiness had increased since entering a retirement village.

That’s true for Tarragal Glen resident Gordon , who says, “Some people look at retirement village living and downsizing as though you’re giving up something, but for us we really feel like it’s given us a better life than we had before. After two years in the village we have a new circle of friends and a very full life both inside and outside of the village.”

It’s a similar story for Carlyle Gardens residents Noel and Judy. When asked about his favourite memory from living in the village, Noel doesn’t hesitate. “Friendships,” he says. “This is one of the best moves we’ve ever made.”

As for Judy, she says “all the entertainment has been absolutely first class. It’s the balance. I am happier here and couldn’t recommend it more.”

There are countless ways in which retirement living is good for your health – if you’d like to know more, here are ways in which your wellbeing could flourish.

Myth #3: I’ll be encouraged to cut ties with the broader community

When asked to describe their village community, the word we most often hear from residents is “family”. As Anne at Boambee Gardens describes it, “[the community] is like a family, it’s fabulous. You feel part of a family not only with residents but with the staff.”

But while there’s lots to keep you busy within the village itself, residents also have active and full lives in the broader community, with many volunteering or working part-time. Take our Wood Glen residents, John and Ros. John volunteers at Integrity Living as a bus attendant, while Ros does face-to-face counselling at Lifeline one day a week as well as volunteer administration work at a police office.

But no matter how fulfilling and rewarding life is in the broader community, it’s always nice to have a place to call home. As Cleveland Manor resident Nick puts it, “There’s a feeling of belonging. You can’t put a price on it.”

The best way to find out more about retirement living on the Gold Coast is to visit our retirement village, the Verge at Burleigh G.C., meet our team and tour our sales suite. You won’t be disappointed!

Residents at Forresters Beach are answering a call from local charities by donating scores of handcrafted woolly warmers to help community members doing it tough during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 30-strong Ladies Knitting Group has notched up production of warm clothing and blankets to assist organisations such as Vinnies, which is bracing for a surge in pleas for assistance.

St Vincent de Paul’s National COVID-19 Winter Appeal kicked off in late June, with Vinnies NSW CEO Jack de Groot calling for community donations to help people experiencing difficulties as the crisis continues and government assistance begins to wind down.

The Forresters Beach group, which has been knitting together for 11 years, approached a local Vinnie’s welfare officer to offer blankets, beanies and scarves as gifts for those receiving welfare checks from local support workers.

Village Manager Julie Ramage said it was heart-warming to see the residents swing into action.

“Even though many of our residents are in the high-risk category, they’re constantly thinking about how they can help others in our community,” said Mrs Ramage.

As the crafty group continues to weave kindness through the Central Coast community, we think this is a purl of an idea!

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made us all reassess our priorities and what is most dear to us. For many, this means a renewed focus on health and wellbeing, keeping loved ones close, and having the support of a community.

If these are important to you too, then you need to understand how living in a retirement village can positively impact your health, your connection with loved ones and your sense of community.

Here are just eight of the ways that living in a retirement village is good for your health and wellbeing.

1. Reduce isolation and improve mental wellbeing

Even before COVID-19, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [1] estimated that one in five older Australians suffers from social isolation. This can negatively impact one’s mental health and, according to Lifeline [2], can increase your risk of depression.

Life in a retirement village is specifically designed to counter social isolation, and instead foster a sense of belonging and community. Residents have many opportunities to connect with each other through a range of social activities and events, which has a positive effect on health and wellbeing. Indeed, McCrindle Baynes research [3] of over 5,000 retirement village residents shows that 46% report improved mental health after moving into a village.

Living through a pandemic – and adapting to the social distancing requirements put in place to stop its spread – poses a significant risk to physical and mental health and wellbeing. This is particularly true for older Australians. A key challenge of social distancing is that it decreases the availability of most formal and informal family and social connections. It also removes the physical, cognitive and social benefits that are linked to routine activities, such as shopping.

Across our retirement communities, staff and residents have responded to the pandemic with creative and innovative ways to safely stay socially connected while remaining physically distant. From driveway morning teas and roadside refreshments to treasure hunts, distancing discos and care packages of puzzles, Sudoku and quizzes, residents have numerous options to safely maintain social connections.

If you’re interested in finding out more about life in a retirement village during a pandemic, check out some of our real stories about village life.

2. Boost longevity

Living better and healthier is great, but what about living longer? A Swedish study [5] has shown that being socially active can add up to five years to the life expectancy for women, and six years for men.

Researchers studied 1,800 people over 18 years, and found that several factors impacted longevity, including having healthy lifestyle behaviours, a better social network, and participating in more leisure activities.

The research is in – a retirement village is the perfect place to boost your longevity through social connections and involvement in sporting and social activities and interests.

3. Stringent infection control and cleanliness

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how a serious virus can bring our lives to a grinding halt.  It’s important for you to know how RetireAustralia is adapting to make communities as safe and healthy as possible for residents. Protection measures include:

• Increased infection control measures: All RetireAustralia staff have completed mandatory refresher training on Infection Control policies and procedures – which were reviewed and enhanced in early 2020. We’ve also trained all village and office teams on effective handwashing, and increased handwashing stations in village communal areas. In addition, communal areas are being cleaned more stringently and more often to help maintain a clean and hygienic environment.
• Visitor and staff screening: Each day before starting work, our village staff sign a health declaration. Visitors are also screened and must sign a health declaration before they enter the village. And, for as long as it is necessary, our staff will maintain records of visitors, appointments and social activities for contact tracing purposes.

These stringent measures are minimising potential exposure to the virus and supporting residents through the COVID-19 crisis.

4. Reduce the risk of disability

Research conducted by Rush University Medical Center [6] has shown that people who are more socially active are less likely to become disabled. In other words, they’re less likely to need help with daily activities or mobility.

The good news is that researchers looked at a broad range of social activities, so whatever your interests, your social activities will have a positive impact. Researchers measured social activities like going to restaurants, playing bingo, volunteering, going on day or overnight trips, and visiting relatives and friends.  With a busy social calendar on offer in all of our villages, you’ll be spoilt for choice in how you wish to stay active.

5. Fewer and shorter hospital stays

The Property Council of Australia [7] reports that retirement villages provide services that enable residents to have shorter hospital stays – and fewer of them. In fact, retirement village residents leave hospital a full two days earlier than non-residents. That’s because retirement village residents can be discharged into a safe environment that’s equipped with hand railings, ramps, an emergency call system and on-site support staff.

What’s more, the social connectedness that’s inherent in a retirement village helps counteract problems of social isolation and depression when you’re home after an operation. When you consider that falls and depression are two of the most common health conditions for older people [8], it’s no wonder that a safe, secure site and supported community can help keep retirement village residents out of hospital.

6. Visit the GP less often

In the Property Council of Australia report, it’s estimated that over 65s visit their local GP about 6-7 times a year. In contrast, residents in retirement villages make 1-3 fewer visits each year. They attribute this to the fact that many retirement villages have staff on-site who can assist with minor health concerns.

At The Verge at Burleigh G.C., RetireAustralia’s brand new vertical retirement village opening on the Gold Coast soon, residents can choose from a wide range of personalised in-home care services, helping make life a little easier and a lot more relaxed. Our caring and experienced team can help with household chores, meal preparation, showering, dressing, and medication support, to name a few.

7. Lower the risk of dementia

Research shows that engaging in meaningful activities can reduce the risk of stress-related illnesses and dementia [9]. Specifically, activities with purpose – like music, drawing, meditation, reading, and arts and crafts – are particularly helpful in boosting health and wellbeing.

Our retirement villages offer ample opportunities to take part in social and leisure activities and The Verge at Burleigh G.C. is no exception. Designed to maximise social connection, residents will be able to enjoy multi-purpose recreation facilities surrounded by friends, family and like-minded neighbours. Here, you’ll be part of close-knit community and can get to know your neighbours over a drink on the terrace, or by taking part in one of the regularly organised social events. You can also join the Burleigh Golf Club or one of the many community clubs close by, such as the Miami or North Burleigh Surf Clubs.

8. Delay the move to aged care

Would you like to hold off on moving into residential aged care? If the answer is yes, then living in a retirement village could be a good start.

Research cited in the Property Council of Australia report [10] found that residents of retirement villages enter aged care later than those moving from the family home. This isn’t a matter of weeks or months, but years – an average of five years to be exact. This also means you get to enjoy the village facilities and lifestyle benefits of retirement living for longer.

It seems the course is clear – life in a retirement village is likely to boost your health and wellbeing, but also your sense of fulfilment. And a life well lived is worth aspiring to!

If you’re interested in retirement living that ticks all the boxes, take a look at The Verge at Burleigh G.C., a unique vertical retirement village overlooking the 10^th tee of the Burleigh Golf Course and just minutes from the beach and all that the Gold Coast has to offer.

 

[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia’s Welfare 2017 , 5.1 Ageing and aged care

[2] Lifeline, Loneliness & isolation 

[3] McCrindle Research, The McCrindle Baynes Villages Census Report 2013 

[4] Villages.com.au, National Village Survey 2018

[5] Rizzuto, D, Orsini, N, Qiu, C, Wang, H and Fratiglioni, L, Lifestyle, social factors, and survival after age 75: population based study, 2012

[6] Boyle, P, Buchman, A and Bennett, D, Purpose in Life is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Incident Disability Among Community-Dwelling Older Persons, Rush University Medical Center Research 2011

[7] Property Council of Australia, Retirement Living, and Grant Thornton, National overview of the retirement village sector 2014

[8] Biderman, A, Cwikel, J, Fried, AV, and Galinsky, D, Depression and falls among community dwelling elderly people: a search for common risk factors, 2002

[9] Gutman, S and Schindler P, The neurological basis of occupation, 2007

[10] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Patterns in Aged Care Program Use 2002-03 to 2010-11, cited in Property Council of Australia, p. 8