Home is where the heart is but with retirement dwellings in short supply, many Aussie seniors have no choice but to leave the suburbs where they raised their families.

Statistics show retirement villages are effectively at capacity nationwide, while the supply pipeline of new stock is slowing down.

This means opportunities to age well locally can be hard to come by. It’s something that’s not lost on Jeff and Judy Jones. After spending more than half their lives in Tarragindi, Jeff and Judy, both aged 75, were excited to realise their retirement dream of remaining in their beloved community as they became the first residents to move into The Green, a new $80 million vertical village in the Brisbane suburb.

“Moving into a retirement village is a big enough change without having to move to a new area,” Judy said.

Having called Tarragindi home since 1983, the Jonses didn’t want to entertain leaving the leafy Brisbane suburb. They raised their sons, Craig and Matt, in the area and have enjoyed having their six grandchildren nearby in Tarragindi and Salisbury.

Jeff Jones Real Estate, the business the couple founded which is now run by their sons, is also a short drive away at Stones Corner.

On top of that, they love being close to known and trusted amenities and services.

Nationally, the number of Australians aged 65 and older will double in the next 40 years, while the number of people aged 85 and older is set to triple to more than 3.5 million people by 2062–63, according to the Federal Government’s Intergenerational Report 2023.

Despite the surging senior population, the 2022 PwC/Property Council Retirement Census found retirement villages were effectively at capacity. The census also found the development supply pipeline planned for the subsequent three years fell to 5,100 dwellings compared to the 2021 Retirement Census of more than 10,500 dwellings. Higher construction and debt costs, and an uncertain economic outlook may have contributed to this decreased supply.

With a short supply of retirement accommodation options in their immediate area, the Joneses were quick to jump on the chance to continue to call Tarragindi home, in accommodation that will continue to meet their needs even as their care and support requirements increase with age.

The Joneses – who were the first residents to move into The Green – say they are fortunate to have relocated to a retirement village so close to where they have been living for nearly four decades.

“We knew eventually we would need to make the move into some sort of retirement village, so when we heard about The Green, we were keen right from the get-go,” Judy said.

“While we don’t have any health issues or need help at this stage, we thought it would be better to make the move as we couldn’t see another village like it coming to Tarragindi any time soon.”

Jeff added: “We love the accessibility Tarragindi provides – we’ve got four hospitals right on our doorstep and easy access to the motorways and we’re close to the city.

“We had looked at other sites and places. We couldn’t get away from the fact this was at Tarragindi – that was obviously a big attraction, and we also thought The Green offered us more amenities than any of the other places we looked at. The design of the complex, the landscaping, the facilities – it just all fitted together so well.”

In the Brisbane Local Government Area (LGA), there was a shortfall of at least 3,600 retirement dwellings in 2023 and the disparity is only likely to increase, largely due to a lack of suitable land for all types of village development in Brisbane, according to an O’Hara Wells analysis for RetireAustralia.

At the same time, a Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (QGSO) analysis predicts that by 2031 there will be 107,253 people aged 75 and over in the Brisbane LGA, an increase of 33,178 people in comparison to 2021 figures. If this forecast proves to be accurate, not everyone will be as fortunate as the Joneses and able to continue to live and thrive in their local area for the final chapters of their lives.

As Australia stares down the barrel of a new housing crisis due to a rapidly ageing population, retirement village operator, RetireAustralia, is ramping up its offering and leading the way in providing innovative solutions to cater for older Australians.

RetireAustralia CEO and Retirement Living Council vice president, Dr Brett Robinson, said while the demographic and housing outlook looked grim with villages effectively full and the development pipeline slowing, RetireAustralia was staying ahead of the curve with a strong pipeline of new developments and a growing portfolio of newly completed villages, including The Green at Tarragindi, which officially opened last week.

“In the past year RetireAustralia has delivered 214 new dwellings, and is set to deliver just under 1100 in the space of five years,” he said.

“The Green, located eight kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, is an exemplar in the field of evidence-based home and community design principles, which takes all aspects of sustainability and ageing into account.”

A new national Retirement Living Council report, released days after the opening of The Green, has outlined the value of retirement villages to Australians.

According to the Better Housing for Better Health report, those living in retirement villages across the country are helping taxpayers save nearly $1 billion in health care costs by delaying their entry into aged care.

The report also showed residents living in retirement villages are 41 per cent happier, five times more socially active and 15 per cent more physically active.

The Green, an $80 million vertical retirement village which includes 92 independent living apartments, also features an array of amenities, including access to Australia’s newest, championship-quality bowling green.

“Like all our villages, The Green is designed to offer choice, support, social connection and peace of mind,” Dr Robinson said.

Evolving from a property-focused sector in years gone by to one that now focuses on health, wellbeing and care, Dr Robinson said the retirement living sector was at a pivotal juncture.

“More older Australians are choosing to live in a retirement community rather than an aged care facility,” he said.

“It is critical that governments understand this as they plan for the significant increase of older Australians and aim to keep the aged care sector operational.

“At RetireAustralia, we are taking an innovative approach by providing a continuum of care model that allows seniors to age in place.

“At The Green, for example, we have a care concierge and for select future communities we will be introducing care hubs – specifically designed for higher acuity care.”

The Federal Government’s Intergenerational Report 2023 states the number of Australians aged 65 and older will double in the next 40 years, while the number of people aged 85 and older is set to triple to more than 3.5 million people by 2062–63.

While the 2022 PwC/Property Council Retirement Census found retirement villages were effectively at capacity nationwide with a supply pipeline of new stock slowing down.

According to the census, the development supply pipeline planned for the subsequent three years fell to 5,100 dwellings compared to the 2021 Retirement Census of more than 10,500 dwellings. Higher construction and debt costs, and an uncertain economic outlook may have contributed.

Increasing the development supply pipeline will not only help meet growing demand for accommodation options for older Australians but will also help address the nation’s housing crisis.

The Better Housing for Better Health report showed while the current pipeline of retirement communities will reduce Australia’s housing shortage by 18 per cent, growing the pipeline to meet current demand levels could ease this deficit by 67 per cent.

“Retirement living plays an important role in housing Australia’s growing ageing population, particularly as the nation battles an ongoing housing crisis,” Dr Robinson stressed.

Retirement communities are designed to provide an affordable option for older Australians, with the Intergenerational Report 2023 stating entry prices on average are 48 per cent lower than median house prices in similar areas.

“The focus for the sector needs to be on injecting supply into the market to meet growing demand but legislative reforms and other factors like high construction costs are making it harder for operators to build and operate age-friendly communities,” Dr Robinson said.

“Governments across the country need to realise if more seniors are living in age-friendly communities there is significant economic upside for them through reduced interaction with the health system and delayed entry to aged care, while more houses become available in the traditional real estate market.

“We are asking for a leg-up and if they create investment and development environments that facilitate more supply, the sector is ready and waiting to do it.”

When rugby great Dr Brett Robinson was looking for a retirement village for his mother, he was determined to find a homely environment that would provide a much better experience than his father had during the latter stages of his life.

The former Wallaby’s father, John, died in a nursing home that offered great clinical care but lacked homeliness, following a battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

That experience nearly five years ago was at the front of his mind when he started to think about accommodation options for his mother Heather, an active and extroverted 75-year-old keen to keep her independence.

Although Robinson’s siblings were initially hesitant about Heather moving into a retirement village, Drayton Villas in Toowoomba quickly emerged as an obvious choice.

Born and raised in Toowoomba, Robinson has a very personal connection to Drayton Villas – his grandparents Wilfred and Mary Salter were among the first residents to move into the village, which he remembers visiting as a child when the site was a drive-in movie theatre.

It’s a connection that became even stronger in 2019 when he became the CEO of RetireAustralia, the company that operates Drayton Villas Retirement Village.

Robinson – a former Downlands College student who was the inaugural captain of the ACT Brumbies and has experience as a medical doctor and sports administrator – sees his appointment as an opportunity to deliver the type of care that wasn’t enjoyed by his father.

Making the move from the family home into a retirement village is a big decision, but Heather was relatively easy to convince and hasn’t looked back since moving into Drayton Villas Retirement Village late last month.

“Mum is loving it – she is well looked after, and she’s totally immersed herself in it. We are really pleased we made the decision now rather than later,” Robinson explained.

“Initially, my brothers and my sister didn’t understand as they saw the move as more of a property transaction. They didn’t understand the value of community and social connections that a village like Drayton Villas offers.

“Mum is a country girl and there are a lot of country people living in the village. It’s a special place where people care deeply about the residents.”

Heather grew up in Toowoomba as the daughter of two graziers and, together with her husband John, raised their five children in the township although the family spent many weekends at the Robinson Family Vineyard at Ballandean.

After decades working on the vines, ferrying kids to various sporting commitments, and caring for her husband in his final years, Heather said she was enjoying her new low-maintenance lifestyle.

“My mother was one of the first residents at Drayton Villas, so I knew a lot about the place before I moved in myself,” Mrs Robinson said.

“As soon as you drive into the retirement village you get a warm feeling. The atmosphere is lovely and relaxed, and the staff are very friendly and helpful.

“I am a very social person and there are just so many things to do at Drayton Villas. I keep myself busy by playing indoor bowls, pool, table tennis and laps in the heated swimming pool.”

Dr Robinson says his mum, like all retirees, deserves to enjoy a great and supported life in her twilight years.

“There is this fear that by making the move that a person is losing control. However, that is far from the case – moving into a retirement village is about maintaining your independence, having privacy and social connection, as well as having support and care when you need it. Most people who make the move realise that they should have done it sooner.”

One of Australia’s leading retirement village operators is challenging the concept of aged care in a new advertising campaign that asks viewers to think about what real care looks like.

The ‘Your Care Factor’ campaign features confronting vision that compares the challenges of older Australians staying alone in their homes to those who receive hands-on care and support.

The digital and local television ad campaign is for Glengara Care, RetireAustralia operated aged care apartments at Tumbi Umbi on NSW’s Central Coast.

The advertisement juxtaposes elderly people struggling with loneliness, isolation and mobility – a grim reality faced by many older Australians – against Glengara Care residents being served nutritious meals prepared by a chef, enjoying social activities with friends and family, and living independent lives in their luxury, modern apartments.

RetireAustralia CEO Brett Robinson said the ‘Your Care Factor’ ad campaign was designed to break the mould in aged care advertising.

“We know the ad will be provocative because it challenges the viewer to think about what real care looks like for those we love,” Mr Robinson said.

“People often have pre-conceived ideas of what aged care looks like, and many consider it a last resort.

“We wanted to lead the charge in challenging those preconceptions by creating an advertising campaign vastly different to the aged care ads people are used to seeing.”

Mr Robinson said it was important to illustrate how Glengara Care offered a genuine alternative to aged care that offered residents a rich and fulfilling life.

“Glengara Care offers a true alternative – one that goes beyond ticking boxes of basic care criteria like having your groceries delivered, and instead offers an advanced level of care that supports the whole individual, with an emphasis on maintaining their dignity and independence,” he said.

That means living in an apartment home in a community, rather than just a room, and having freedom of choice when it comes to lifestyle and schedule.

“It was important to us to show that Glengara Care doesn’t look or feel like a nursing home. It’s a community, but one with all levels of care available,” Mr Robinson said.

“We know our residents have worked hard in their lives and we want them and their loved ones to expect real care and an enjoyable supported lifestyle.

“Why give up all the things that fulfill your life? We think our residents have earned so much more than that.”

Glengara Care has 70 care apartments, and offers regular events and activities for its residents, as well as a 24-hour care team and respite care. More than half of these apartments are already sold.

The advertising campaign, made with creative agency New Word Order and production company Two Little Films, will run as a digital campaign, as well as on Central Coast TV networks from 1 June.

Watch the ad here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7jqtkLrRuc&feature=youtu.be

A vertical retirement village on the Gold Coast has become the first new development to be built in Queensland with a 4 Star Green Star rating and a gold accreditation for accessible design.

The Verge at Burleigh’s first building, Jasmine House, achieved the 4 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) by using passive design principles including smart insulation, glazing selection, LED lighting and electric vehicle charging stations.

The rating distinguishes The Verge as ‘best practice’ in sustainable design and is the first Green Star certification on a greenfield site for the village’s operator, RetireAustralia.

RetireAustralia Senior Development Manager Judi Hutchinson said achieving the green rating and Gold Australian Liveable Housing accreditation was a major achievement.

“4 Star Green Star rating represents best practice in environmentally sustainable building practices, which is not only good for the environment but good for our residents as it helps keep energy and water costs down,” she said.

“The Gold Australian Liveable Housing accreditation recognises that the building has been designed in a way that it is easy to access and navigate as people age. An example of this is wider kitchen areas, which allows residents to use a mobility walker.”

Designed by specialist senior living architects O’Neill Architecture, Jasmine House at The Verge features various green elements including:

• Energy: Grey laminated glazing to provide low solar heat gain through window surfaces, construction of facades in alignment to solar pathway, ceiling fans to apartment bedrooms, living rooms and external balconies, low intensity LED lights, motion detection and lighting control
• Water: Reducing portable water consumption through water efficient design initiatives, namely the installation of high efficient WELs rated fixtures and fittings, water efficient appliances and an air cooled VRF plant

In addition, The Verge has also been designed to meet energy and water reduction targets.

The energy design for Jasmine House is a 40 per cent reduction in energy use in comparison to the Green Star standard benchmark. For water, the design is a 20 per cent reduction from the benchmark.

“The driver for this is two-fold – it’s good for the environment and helps keep operational costs down for residents,” Ms Hutchison explained.

GBCA’s Senior Manager of Market Engagement, Nick Alsop said the Green Star certification is a great outcome for RetireAustralia and the residents of The Verge.

“The Verge is a great example of a building that has been designed to be healthy for residents to live in, better for the environment and cheaper to run. We look forward to continuing to work with RetireAustralia on the next stage of development.”

The Verge is a staged vertical retirement village which, when complete, will consist of three six-storey buildings featuring expansive apartments that capture views of the adjacent Burleigh Golf Club course.

Stage one features 40 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses positioned along the fairway of the 10^th hole, plus an innovative wellness centre.

RetireAustralia has applied for a 4 Star Green Star design rating for the second building, which is under construction and will include 66 independent living apartments.

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A Labradoodle puppy that will become a Hearing Assistance Dog has been named ‘Laurel’ by residents at The Laurels Retirement Village, which is already home to a clever pooch that belongs to a resident with hearing loss.

The Adelaide Hills retirees had been vying for the honour to name the pup as the village’s operator, RetireAustralia, has exclusive naming rights because it is contributing towards the cost of training the puppy.

The winning puppy name was revealed at a special morning tea on April 5, an event which celebrated the ‘pawsome’ and enduring association between RetireAustralia and Australian Lions Hearing Dogs.

The Laurels has been home to Hearing Assistance Dogs in recent years, including a highly intelligent canine named ‘Spud’ that provides a set of furry ears for resident Bronwyn Paddick.

Now RetireAustralia is giving back to a charity that has benefited residents by helping with the cost of training a puppy, which will have a few visits to the village before being placed with its new owner.

Hearing Assistance Dogs play a vital role in the lives of their owners – they increase the quality of everyday living and help alleviate conditions often associated with hearing loss including depression, anxiety and communication withdrawal.

Residents at The Laurels are familiar with the work of Australian Lions Hearing Dogs, with Hearing Assistance Dog ‘Spud,’ moving into the village in September 2020. Since then, he has been alerting deaf owner Bronwyn to potentially life-threatening risks around her home.

RetireAustralia’s Industry and Community Liaison Anna Zinenko said the organisation’s contribution towards the training costs of the puppy was a fantastic opportunity for the village to strengthen its connection with the charity.

“It’s a way for residents to support Australian Lions Hearing Dogs,” she said.

“They get to name the puppy and the sponsorship money goes towards training the puppy.”

Australian Lions Hearing Dogs CEO David Horne said the contribution was valuable, given the charity is 100 per cent funded by donations and sponsorship, and training a Hearing Assistance Dog can cost upwards of $37,000.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from RetireAustralia,” he said.

“They know the benefits that a Hearing Assistance Dog has on a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, seeing first-hand the impact on The Laurels resident Bronwyn with Hearing Dog Spud.”

Australian Lions Hearing Dogs Development Director Alix Katala said it was incredibly special for the charity, located at Verdun, to engage retirees who were part of the same community.

“To give The Laurels residents an opportunity to meet and name an adorable future Hearing Dog puppy is so rewarding, we look forward to sharing the puppy’s training journey with them,” she said.

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Older artists, who traditionally find it difficult to have their work exhibited, now have an outlet with a new exhibition highlighting the work of over-65s.

The Senior Artists’ Exhibition 2022 is giving older artists a real opportunity to share their work with the public, with dozens of retirees having their artwork professionally curated and sold at no cost at the event.

The over-65s from across the Southern Eyre Peninsula have submitted a variety of artwork, including paintings and sculptures, for the exhibition which runs until April 1 at Port Lincoln’s Nautilus Arts Centre (NAC).

Presented by RetireAustralia, owner/operator of Lincoln Grove Retirement Village, the exhibition also aims to improve seniors’ mental health and wellbeing by providing them with an opportunity to be creative while connecting with like-minded people.

Nautilus Arts Centre coordinator Sue Roesler said there was a real need for the exhibition.

“Older artists can be overlooked and may not have the same outlets to show their work,” she said.

“There are quality pieces at the exhibition. We have already sold several pieces and we expect many more will be sold.”

Retiree Jenny Sundelius has relished the opportunity to create art for the exhibition.

“I am self-taught and love the time I spend painting. It is so relaxing and with some background music the creativity flows,” she said.

“It gives a real boost to your mental wellbeing. I work on my paintings until I am happy and hope that other people will also enjoy my creativity.”

While entrants have the chance to become the People’s Choice certificate winner, the exhibition was never really designed to be a competition.

“The exhibition was created as a way to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of our seniors,” Lincoln Grove Community Engagement Consultant Janet Grocke said.

“Painting and sculpting are great ways to take your mind off the worrries of everyday life and studies have shown that activities like painting and sculpting help reduce stress levels.

“As Pablo Picasso once said, ‘art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

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Australia’s property boom, along with the Central Coast being a highly desirable location, is driving demand for local retirement villas.

RetireAustralia expects the release of 12 retirement villas at Forresters Beach will sell fast with a waitlist already growing.

RetireAustralia’s CEO Brett Robinson said there were 25 people already on the waitlist and two deposits had been secured.

“The property boom most certainly will play a key factor in the overall sell, but what we have seen in the past and at this present moment is the villas at Forresters Beach are incredibly popular; we’re consistently getting enquiries about this village,” Mr Robinson said.

Mr Robinson said the last release of new villas was in 2017 when 158 villas sold within 24 months – an average of 6 – 7 villas each month. There has been a steady interest in this village, with over 175 enquiries in the past 12 months. However, only 15 villas have been available for sale in the past three years.

“The enquiries we are getting about Forresters Beach reflects the standard of services and amenities available at the village which is magnificently set around a network of lakes.

“Our Home Care Services for instance, offers residents a number of opportunities including household chores, meal preparation, showering, dressing and medication support to name a few. It’s the perfect setting for residents to live life on their terms.”

The latest, and second last, release of 12 premium villas at Forresters Beach is worth $10 million.

When the project is complete, the retirement village will cater for 450 residents.

Mr Robinson said it was a proud moment to see the project’s evolution come to fruition following a 20-year period.

“It’s really exciting to see the village’s growth after the first Development Approval was granted back in 2002.”

Mr Robinson said the Forresters Beach villas, which ranged in price between $550,000 and $950,000, were also favourable because of its ‘beautiful neighbourhood character’.

“No two villas are the same and each one is beautifully fitted; it’s the simplicity of the design that makes it really attractive to residents.

“The best part is that the village is close to beaches, boutique shopping, charming cafes and is just a short walk to Wyrrabalong National Park’s coastal trails and lookout with sweeping views.”

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The development of Australia’s newest, championship-quality bowling green will be at the centre of RetireAustralia’s $80 million retirement community, The Green, at Tarragindi.

The first sod was turned on Thursday, August 26 at the site of the single-stage development, which will adjoin the new Tarragindi Bowls Club and club house. The project will be delivered under a partnership between RetireAustralia and the Yeronga Services and Community Club and will take 18 months to complete.

RetireAustralia CEO Brett Robinson said he was looking forward to seeing The Green come to life.

He said The Green would resonate with the downsizer, owner-occupier market – especially people who didn’t see themselves living in a traditional retirement village.

“The Green, like all our villages, is designed to offer choice, support, social connection and peace of mind,” he said.

“We enhance these elements with a diverse range of services and care options to ensure we continue to meet our residents’ needs.

“We not only design homes, but we also build communities people love to make their own.

“The Green will be one of those – a thriving community with care at its heart.”

Hutchinson Builders have been awarded the construction contract for the project.

“Hutchies is absolutely delighted to be working on this unique project,” Hutchinson Builders chairman Scott Hutchinson said.

“The overgrown site has been sitting dormant for a long time so we can’t wait to get started and turn it into something that will be a big asset to the community with many amenities for locals and residents of The Green.”

The Green features 94 independent living apartments, 11 different apartment types (most featuring stunning city or bushland views), and underground parking. Other features include a private cinema, library, indoor and outdoor gym.

Just 8km to Brisbane’s CBD, parks, schools, shops, restaurants, medical services, and culture and buzz of inner-city life are just a stone’s throw away.

All residents will also enjoy access to the Tarragindi Bowls Club, which will proudly boast a championship-quality bowling green.

Nathan Young from the Yeronga Services Club said having the country’s newest bowling green at the heart of The Green development would be a big drawcard for future residents and the local community.

“A lot of hard work and consideration has gone into this project so it’s exciting to see it get under way and I hope it will be enjoyed by our valued members and the community for many years to come,” he said.

Outdoor entertainment will be a hallmark of the new Tarragindi community, with 70 per cent of the site dedicated to open space. It will include a landscaped recreational parkland with communal barbecue areas, common lawn, productive garden and children’s playground.

The Green is an exemplar in the field of evidence-based home and community design principles, which take all aspects of sustainability and ageing well into account.

Every apartment is carefully considered in design layout and interior finishes to cater to residents’ needs such as hearing loss or visual impairment.

Residents will also be able to choose from a range of services including personal care, domestic support and clinical care, which can be tailored to their individual needs, and funded privately or if eligible, through a government funded care package.

Expressions of interest to secure one of the community’s independent living apartments are now being invited, with several already secured.

To find out more about this unique new retirement community in the heart of Tarragindi, register your interest at thegreentarragindi.com.au or call 1800 955 070 to book a confidential, COVID-safe appointment in the new display suite at 3/212 Cracknell Road, Tarragindi.

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