To move or not to move into a retirement village?

How to answer this important question for retirees or the soon-to-be retired

When – or if – you should move into a retirement community is a big decision. That’s why it’s vital that you take your time and ask some key questions, so that you can make the best choice for your personal situation.

It’s true, the retirement village lifestyle doesn’t suit absolutely everyone. Yet those people who do their research and decide it’s the right move for them mostly never look back. In fact, many of them tell us that they should have made the move sooner!

What questions should you ask about retirement villages?

There are numerous questions to ask that can help you make the right choice for your needs. It’s just a starting point though. You need to do your homework. Talk to friends or family who have made the move to a retirement village and find out what they like about it – both the upside and the downside. Asking questions will give you a fuller picture of what to expect.

You may have questions that you need to ask yourself, so you know exactly what you are looking for and what you are willing to compromise on – or not. Some questions may be of a more personal nature, such as those that affect your family. Others may be centred more around the retirement village itself: the type of homes available, the facilities on offer, its location, village rules or general atmosphere, and of course, the costs.

Once you’re armed with your list of questions, you can then start researching the retirement communities that appeal and see how they measure up against your list of questions… and against each other!

Preparing a list of questions will also help if you’re planning to discuss your retirement options with family members.

Some common questions that retirees often ask

• How will our children feel about us moving from the family home?
• How will we downsize our belongings when the time comes to move?
• When is the best time for us to move? Should we wait until we retire or move earlier while we’re active, healthy, and independent?
• How close do we want to be to our family and friends?
• What style of home would suit us in our retirement?
• What type of environment would appeal to us e.g. close to water, nature, shopping, medical facilities, entertainment, transport?
• What types of recreational or sporting facilities would we like to have available in our retirement community, or close by?
• Would we want to live in a smaller or larger community?
• Can we have visitors and if so, how many and for how long?
• What about our pets? Can we bring them with us?
• How secure is the village? What is in place to ensure the safety of residents?
• Is there management on site in the village 24/7?
• What types of services would we like to have available to us e.g.: home maintenance, cleaning, on call medical, visiting practitioners.
• What happens to our retirement home when we want to travel?
• What are the costs involved in buying and moving?
• What about when we’re older and want to move from a retirement village to aged care for higher levels of support?

Still have questions about retirement villages?

There is certainly a great deal to think about, research and talk through before you decide on where you’d like to live in retirement. At Renaissance Retirement Living we are here to help answer those burning questions you have about what to expect when you buy in, move in, and live in a retirement community.

If you would like to find out more and get a real feel for what a resort-style retirement village community is all about, we invite you to come and have a chat with our team and meet some of our lovely residents! They’ll tell you why they’ve made the move to Renaissance at beautiful Victoria Point.

At our monthly small group information sessions, you can ask important questions about retirement living over a relaxing lunch. You’ll enjoy a tour of our wonderful community, and we’ll walk you through all your retirement accommodation choices.

Phone us today (07) 3820 7700 or contact us to book your place at our next information session. We’d love to meet you, answer your questions and help you make a decision that is the right one for you.