What is the difference between a retirement village and aged care?

Decide which option will best suit your needs in the years to come

Aged care homes and retirement villages each have unique qualities and benefits. The choice you make for your later retirement years will depend on your individual needs and what you foresee you’ll require in the future.

It can be difficult weighing up whether a retirement village or aged care home is the best choice for you, or your loved ones. Each provides unique benefits that appeal to specific needs, which is why it’s important to understand the key differences.

This news post may help make things clearer as you start planning the next stage of your life.

What you can expect when living in a retirement village

Retirement villages offer an independent and flexible lifestyle for people who don’t require additional living assistance. These communities are ideal if you want to spend your retirement years with people of a similar age who are at a similar stage in their life.

This lifestyle will suit you if you enjoy getting out and about or entertaining friends and family at home. You can travel regularly if you wish and come home to an active, social retirement community.

Retirement villages today offer luxurious resort-style amenities such as swimming pools, a gym, bowling green, theatre, and well-appointed dining facilities that often host a range of live entertainment. Social coordinators organise activities for residents that keep their social calendars as full as they would like.

Home maintenance and landscaping services may be included in your fees or be offered at an additional cost.

Retirement villages provide the ideal environment for people who want to make the most of their golden years and are healthy and active enough to be able to live independently. Models for retirement villages vary, as do the fees and services dependent on which type you choose. You need to weigh up the financial benefits and pitfalls of each before deciding which is best.

What does an aged care facility provide?

Aged care facilities (or aged care homes) include some level of supported living and care and provide an option if you are unable to live independently. If you (or your parents) require any level of assistance, such as personal care or feeding, an aged care facility is designed to accommodate a broad range of needs.

While retirement villages are available to people over the age of 55, aged care facilities are often government funded and may require you to have an ACAT or ACAS assessment (Aged Care Assessment.) The assessment takes into consideration several factors including health, medical history, physical needs, psychological requirements, social needs, and any other special needs. This assessment helps you or your loved one to access the right level of care.

Depending on their health and mobility, residents have meals in their room or a shared dining facility at set times throughout the day.

If you’re requiring daily care, an aged care home can provide a safe, comfortable environment that can meet and adapt to your individual needs for the years to come.

Retirement living at its very best is waiting for you

If you’ve decided that an independent, resort-style retirement community is what you’re looking for, come and have a chat with us at Renaissance Retirement Living at beautiful Victoria Point.

We invite you to join one of our regular small group information sessions where we answer all your questions about retirement living over a relaxing lunch. You can even chat with our lovely residents and ask them all about life at Renaissance. We’ll take you on a tour of our stunning facilities and show you some of our attractive villas.

Call Renaissance today on (07) 3820 7700 or contact us to book a spot at our next information session. We look forward to meeting you!