How to Choose a Retirement Village
When it's Time to Move, Call in the Expert Movers in Melbourne
September 2018
You spend years slaving away at work trying to build a career, and the day you can retire seems like lightyears away. You dream of being able to spend your days at a much slower pace, doing only the things you want to do, and not have to work another day in your life. Sounds like bliss!
But the closer people get to retirement age, the more people start to dread the thought of actually moving into a retirement home. Some might actually shudder at the thought of moving into a retirement home as they are often associated with the feeling of losing your independence and feeling too young to need to live in an “aged care facility”. You can still fend for yourself, you don’t need nurses looking after you.
But retirement homes are not what they used to be. Nowadays you can find apartment complexes and communities with resort-like facilities and activities to keep you busy all day long. Now it’s about lifestyle, living out the rest of your years the way you want to. Retirement villages offer so much more than just aged care and support, and you have the choice to be as independent as you want to be.
Retirement homes are now less about dependence on people and facilities, and more about down-sizing and enjoying the life you want with many activities to socialise with others. So why not live in something purpose built to help you maintain a high quality of life?
So, once you’ve decided the time is right to move into a retirement village, how do you know which one to go for? With retirement homes popping up all over, there are so many options to choose from which can make it a little overwhelming.
There are a few things to consider when choosing a retirement village:
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Location, Location, Location:
One of the most important considerations, location can play a big role in deciding on the right retirement village. You should think about how you want to spend your retirement years; do you want to be close to family? Close to the beach or to the city? Stay in the same area you’re currently living in or try somewhere new? Perhaps you want the convenience of being close to key amenities like shopping centres. There are retirement villages in so many different locations around Australia, so you need to decide on what location is right for your needs.
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Lifestyle is Key:
Picture what you would like your everyday life to look and feel like to help you decide what type of village would best suit your lifestyle. Can you picture yourself living a private quiet life? Do you crave social interaction and facilities? Are you keen to down-size to apartment living or are you after something big enough to bring your beloved pet and maintain a veggie patch?
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Village Facilities:
Some retirement villages offer resort like facilities, from golf courses and tennis courts, to swimming pools and social and hobby clubs. Some villages also include restaurants, libraries, barbeque areas and cinema rooms. Again, think back to your lifestyle desires; if you want to live a quiet life you probably don’t need to look at retirement villages with lots of flashy facilities. But if you would like to make new friends and try new activities, then the retirement home facilities on offer will help make this happen for you.
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Lifestyle Assistance:
The main benefit of living in a retirement home is the easy and convenient access to assistance if it’s required. From meal and laundry services, to healthcare, personal care and general support. Retirement villages specialise in this kind of support, and if it’s something you think you might need either now or in the future, you should look into what kind of support is on hand at the retirement village you’re considering.
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Retirement Village Pricing:
Retirement village costs can vary quite wildly, depending on a lot of factors such as the ones mentioned above; location, facilities, assistance, and the type of dwelling you choose to live in. The method of payment can also vary; you may purchase your dwelling outright, or have weekly or monthly repayments. Look into the payment options available and what will best suit your budget and lifestyle.
The retirement village that best suits your needs might be interstate or just down the road. Either way, you’ll need a bit of helping to move into your new home. John Ryan Removals are the leaders in intercity and interstate relocations in Melbourne, and can help you move across town or across the country. If you’re moving into a new retirement home, the last thing you need to worry about is all the heavy lifting that comes with it! Let John Ryan Removals take care of every aspect of your house relocation, so you can focus on getting excited for your new chapter. Call the team for a free quote.
For more information, get in touch with us today!