Making the big move from your family home to a retirement village can seem daunting, but it shouldn’t! Here at PropertyMash, we’ve got all the information you need to make the move as painless as possible, no matter why you might be choosing to move. We’ll point you in the direction of the best apartment, townhouse or house and land estate for you and your feature, and then we’ll help you learn everything you need to know about what you can expect when you downsize to a retirement community. We’re also here to help you remember the little things, like how to minimise your belongings and choosing the right storage location if you need it.
What is retirement living?
Retirement living refers to independent retirement living situations, although it can also be used as a catch-all for many different types of retirement homes. These retirement homes, villages, communities and living situations are created specifically with seniors in mind, and as such, are places where retired individuals and couples have a number of amenities and lifestyle opportunities that allow them to live their best lives. Retirement living communities tend to be slightly older than their over-55’s counterparts, although some argue that over-55’s villages are also retirement communities. As you can see, it can get a bit confusing, but it really comes down to the fact that these are just marketing terms used to differentiate slightly different projects.
One of the key attractions of a retirement living situation is that the environment has been designed so that residents can ‘age in place’. The apartments, townhouses and houses are designed to be low maintenance, and most generally have a number of amenities available for resident’s use.
Whatever the reason, there generally comes a time when the family home has done its job and you need something smaller, which is where a retirement living situation comes in. You might choose to buy a new apartment, townhouse, or a new home — make sure you choose the one that will help you enjoy your life to the fullest!
If I want to move into a retirement community, what should I keep in mind?
Retirement living situations can really vary quite a bit across Australia, and even in states themselves. Some retirement villages offer just new apartments or houses, and little to no amenities, while others might offer everything from communal kitchens to weekly house cleaning. Whatever you choose should be suited to you and your lifestyle, and the location you want to live in. For example, if you plan to move into a retirement apartment building that’s close to a hospital, it may be less important for you to have a health and wellness-focused retirement home than it is to have a building focused on creating a community via cooking classes and regular outings.
Keep in mind that retirement living villages and communities, if not specifically marketed to the over-55’s crowd, may have some higher-care facilities or aged care/nursing home facilities integrated. This is ideal for people who want to be able to live in their own homes for as long as physically possible. If this is something that interests you, make sure you talk to the developers to discuss how these options work, and whether payment plans have to be put together in advance, etc.
From deciding on the best time to move to decluttering, read everything you need to know about retirement living here!
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