What is a retirement village?

Tips to help you decide whether the lifestyle is right for you

If we were to come up with a ‘dictionary definition’, we’d say that a retirement village is a community of homes and facilities designed for over 60's who are active enough to live independently in their own home. Yet there’s a lot more to a modern retirement village than that!

Retirement village residents tell us that they really appreciate the added feeling of security, the community spirit, and all the other features such as the community facilities and customisable services.

Retirement village operators in Australia can be either privately owned, not for profit, or publicly listed companies. Each state has its own Retirement Villages Act that governs the operation of villages within that state.

What type of person lives in a retirement village?

If you’re 60 and over, retired or still working part-time, and you’d like to live in a community of like-minded people of a similar age and outlook, chances are the retirement village life will be perfect for you!

Moving into a retirement village can overwhelmingly have a positive impact on your life. Research shows that strong social relationships can help us live longer and even have a better chance of resisting and fighting disease. That’s great to know, since village life is designed for socialising, with a year-round calendar of events and common spaces for connection.

Of course, once you’ve retired relaxation and downtime are so valuable too. So in a retirement village you can be involved as much or as little as you like. It’s just that life is more convenient and you’ll have access to a range of health and wellness initiatives including the service provider of their choice.

What’s the difference between a retirement village and aged care?

As we’ve seen, retirement villages are designed for people over 60 who can live independently in their own homes, while enjoying the shared facilities and benefits of retirement community living.

On the other hand, people who live in residential aged care facilities (such as nursing homes) require a level of daily care for their health and safety. Entry into government funded aged care is based on an assessment by a government-appointed Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

Can visitors stay with me?

When you choose to live in a retirement village, it’s your home. That means friends and family are most welcome to stay with you. Of course, one of the attractions of retirement villages is the way residents know who their neighbours are. So for extended stays, it’s a courtesy to talk to the Village Manager and let them know who is staying with you, and for how long.

How do I choose a retirement village?

When you’re weighing up different villages, you might like to think about the type of home designs; the number and type of activities on offer; and what facilities you’d really wish to have access to.

You can also think about your preferred geographical location, whether you’d like to live in an urban, regional or coastal environment in your retirement years.

Can I visit a retirement village to see if it’s right for me?

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage you to come along and attend one of our Information Days. You’ll be welcome to have a look around the village, talk to our residents, and check out the community facilities we have on offer.

It’s a great opportunity to have all your questions about retirement villages answered in a relaxed environment, with no pushy sales pitch.

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!