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When people move to a retirement village they often wonder how their life will change. Retirement villages are designed for people who are seeking a community-oriented and supportive living environment, where care options are available when needed. Here are some ways your life may change if you move into in a retirement village:
Activities and lifestyle
Retirement villages offer a variety of social and recreational activities tailored for older adults, such as fitness groups, art and crafts, morning teas, happy hours, card games, billiards, table tennis and more. When you move into a retirement village, you may find that your days suddenly become busier with new opportunities to socialise and make like-minded friends. This means that life becomes more active and fulfilling and you will feel less isolated. While these options are available when you want them, you can also choose to live a more private life if you prefer.
“There are quite a few goers in the village,” says Jenny, a resident at Boambee Gardens Retirement Village. “There are others who go and do things outside of the village too. It’s fantastic this way of living.”
“Some of the residents are very busy, there are those who get involved, others who like to get into the gardens. There’s a lot of activity going on here, they’ve got painting groups, yoga groups there’s bingo and table tennis, there’s quite a bit going on. There are other residents who keep to themselves and you won’t see from one year to the next. They often have outside interests or they may just like to keep to themselves.”
- Jenny, a resident at Boambee Gardens Retirement Village.
Accommodation and amenities
Retirement villages provide various living options, such as independent living units or serviced apartments. If you move into an independent living unit, life won’t change too much, as you will live as you did in your own home. Although, you will have all of the benefits of age-friendly design, such as wider spaces in the bathroom, grab rails, etc. and while this may not impact your day-to-day life the moment you move in, you will realise the benefits as you age. If you require more support or care and decide to move into a serviced apartment, your cleaning, linen service, meals and personal care, will be provided so you will have more time to do things you want to do.
Depending on your village, there may be other amenities such as communal dining areas, libraries, gyms, bowling greens, swimming pools, and other facilities that you can use on a daily basis. For example, you could find that your mornings are spent doing an exercise class, you may then choose a book from the library to curl up with in the afternoon and then catch up with neighbours for happy hour in the evening. Most people don’t have access to this range of choice when living in their family home.
“Someone told us about retirement village living and we hadn’t really thought about it, but decided to have a look and thought ‘this is great!’ It’s got all the key things that make life easy as you get older, like the size of the bathroom that can fit a wheelchair and fittings so you don’t trip.”
- Chris, a resident at The Verge Burleigh G.C. Retirement Village.
Community and support
Retirement villages are designed to foster community and connection among residents. When you move into a retirement village you will have opportunities to interact with other residents, participate in a range of activities and interests, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals. You may find this sense of community could be one of the most pleasantly surprising parts of living in a retirement village, whether it’s taking part in an organised activity or simply greeting neighbours while walking through the village.
“Having settled into the villa we discovered a sense of community we hadn’t expected. Villagers talk to each other, not only in regular activities but when they meet in the street,” says Gordon, a resident at Tarragal Glen Retirement Village.
“Our village is a real community supported by our Village Manager and her staff, and at this stage of our lives moving here was the best decision we could have made.”
- Gordon, a resident at Tarragal Glen Retirement Village.
Safety and security
Retirement villages typically offer safety and security measures, including emergency call systems, to ensure the wellbeing and peace of mind of residents. When you move into a retirement village you will discover that you are part of a community where you have neighbours, friends and the village team looking out for you. This sense of community and care will most likely be one of the main differences from life in the street where you currently live.
“I’m scared being on my own, so it’s peace of mind being her. I’m so relaxed and feel safe and secure. Whatever happens you’re never alone here.”
- Tina, a resident at Magill Retirement Village.
Care when you need it
In RetireAustralia retirement villages, residents have access to in-home care services from our own Home Care team or trusted local partners. If your care needs do change, Home Care means you can continue to live safely in your own home for longer. Home Care support includes help with household chores, meal preparation, showering, dressing, and medication support, plus more.
Some villages also offer serviced apartments which are perfect if your care needs are increasing and you want to continue living an independent lifestyle. In a serviced apartment, you will come and go as you please with the benefit of having cleaning, linen laundry and meals taken care of.
““At one stage we needed some care and we got in touch with the care team, they came up here and got approval for a package for my wife Nola. I had an accident some time ago and the care team were absolutely marvellous. They came up here and showered me and made the bed, which took a big load of Nola.”
- Norm, a resident at Tarragal Glen Retirement Village.
Clarity on financials
Moving to a retirement village often involves financial considerations, such as monthly fees and services, and potentially selling your current home. It’s important to carefully consider the financial implications of living in a retirement village and plan accordingly. Having a complete understanding of upfront, ongoing and outgoing village costs is important. One of the attributes of retirement villages that many residents like is the certainty it offers. When you move in you will know the outgoing payment you will receive. In uncertain times, you may find it comforting to know where you stand financially.
“We have a clear and transparent contract. Before people move in, they know exactly how the contract works and how much money they will walk away with.”
- Lexi Connor, Boambee Gardens village manager.
Change in daily routine
Your daily routine may change in a retirement village as you discover and take advantage of the amenities and activities on offer. This can provide you with a new rhythm and structure to your days, which may require some adjustment.
It’s important to note that retirement villages can vary in terms of their offerings, so it’s essential to research and visit different retirement villages to find the one that best fits your needs and preferences. Additionally, adjusting to a retirement village may take time, and it’s important to be open to new experiences as you embrace this new chapter of your life.
“Since we’ve come here, we’ve been so busy – like this morning we went to the gym and then line dancing. We also love table tennis and play a few times a week, and I like to go swimming too. We have a much busier life than before.”
- Lorraine, a resident at The Verge Burleigh GC.
Discover if retirement living could be right for you by downloading our Retire Ready guide.
Discover if retirement living could be right for you by downloading our Retire Ready guide.
