What does it mean to live independently in retirement?

How to help your parents choose support and care services

We all want to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible. For some people that independence lasts for many years, while others may have reliance on support and care earlier.

Reliance on others is a normal and healthy component of our lives. We are all interdependent on each other, especially those people closest to us. We’ve all experienced the positive aspects of a sharing and caring community at some point in our lives. That’s important because no-one is skilled at everything they need to do or achieve. Most of us are more fulfilled when we coexist with others.

Although everyone at any age engages with a range of people who assist us in various ways, we don’t resist that assistance and we certainly don’t resent it. Yet we do resist anyone who we see as wanting to control us.

It’s the same for your parents in their retirement. They may resist people they feel want to control them, not necessarily because they desire to be independent, but because they feel they could lose their ability to choose.

Enabling choice in retirement

Choice is the great bastion of independence: our choices define us and enable us to maintain direction in our lives. That’s why it’s important to do what we can to ensure your parents or loved ones can make their own choices, albeit with support and assistance, perhaps even with advice, but always with the right to choose.

When their choices are respected and supported, no amount of support or care is seen as a threat, because they won’t feel as though they are being controlled.

What is support & care in retirement?

A healthy community supports and cares for its members, always with a high degree of respect and dignity.

A retirement community provides security, not simply because of its walls and gates, but also thanks to the awareness of needs, companionship, shared experiences and interests, and a healthy level of trust and pride in that community.

Support and care are at the heart of a healthy and vibrant retirement community. They include all community members, respect their individual gifts, passions and skills, and welcome them as contributing to a vibrant community.

How can retirees access support & care?

It’s a fact that some community members require more support and care than others. This care and support may come from within the community, but frequently as these needs develop they call for assistance from skilled and experienced external providers.

External support and care services can begin with some cleaning and develop through meal provision, hygiene and nutrition assistance, and in many cases include a range of medical support services.

A small number of people may require 24 hour assistance which can be provided through a “live-in carer” or through relocation to residential care.

All Government supported & funded care services must be accessed through www.myagedcare.gov.au. This requires an assessment of needs by the Aged Care Assessment Team, after which the person requiring the services can select from a range of care providers.

Support and care at Renaissance

Renaissance staff respect the right of all residents to choose for themselves. That’s why at Renaissance, our staff focus on:

• Identifying needs
• Facilitating access to assistance, and
• Supporting residents and their families in that process.

The key function of Renaissance staff is to facilitate the continual development of a vibrant retirement village community. You will discover a wide range of resident activities and interest groups, numerous optional services (such as visiting GPs, health and well-being consultants, hairdresser, and more).

At Renaissance we provide options and support for residents when obstacles are difficult to overcome, such as the process of accessing and applying for care services. Even though Renaissance does not deliver the services directly, we have a range of independent service providers that are available to suit individual residents’ requirements.

At all times the choice remains with you and your family. In this way we help our residents maintain their independence for as long as possible, regardless of the extent of the support and care you may require.

Discover what it means to live independently at Renaissance Victoria Point

If you feel your parents could benefit from living in an independent, resort-style retirement community, you’re welcome to come and have a chat with us at Renaissance Retirement Living at beautiful Victoria Point.

You can also join us at one of our regular small group information sessions where we answer all your questions about retirement living over a relaxing morning tea. 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!