Residents drive the activities in retirement living or land lease communities.
Whether it’s the wine growers at BaptistCare’s The Grange retirement village in Wagga Wagga, in the NSW Riverina, or the influx of entertainers at Palm Lake Beachmere Bay, in Moreton Bay, Queensland, or the home brew craftspeople in various villages across Australia.
There’s various card clubs, bands from residents, tennis and bowls tournaments between villages. Residents from four RetireAustralia villages gather together for bowls. It’s not just sport it’s the camaraderie that is so important when ageing.
Sarah Young, Village Manager at BaptistCare’s The Grange, said residents are encouraged to pursue their passions.
“We help the residents partner with outside agencies, we help with providing assistance and expertise, but all the activities are resident driven. The wine makers are off in a bus to see how this year’s vintage is going as I speak,” she said.
Social interaction provides six benefits:
- Increased sense of belong;
- Greater well-being;
- Better sleep;
- Improved ability to manage stress and anxiety;
- Lower risk of dementia;
- Lower risk of mental health conditions, such as depression.