{"id":1056,"date":"2022-09-20T10:54:29","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T10:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/villages.com.au\/?p=1056"},"modified":"2022-10-20T23:31:00","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T23:31:00","slug":"your-ultimate-guide-to-retirement-villages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/retirement\/your-ultimate-guide-to-retirement-villages\/","title":{"rendered":"Your ultimate guide to retirement villages"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1056\" class=\"elementor elementor-1056\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-674b34c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"674b34c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ebdb540\" data-id=\"ebdb540\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2535dde elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2535dde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>R<strong>etirement villages are set to play a critical role in the future of aged care in Australia. Villages not only provide facilities and safety, but they also bring community.<\/strong><\/p><p>In this article, we will talk all things retirement villages. We\u2019ll guide you all the way from downsizing, to getting happily settled in a village \u2013 and everything in between!<\/p><p>Topics covered in this blog:<\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"#time_to_downsize\">Is it time to downsize?<\/a><\/strong><ul><li><strong><a href=\"#risks_staying_family_home\">Risks of staying in the family home<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#carefree_retirement\">Retirement villages: your key to a carefree retirement<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#retirement_village_contracts_fees\">Retirement village contracts and fees<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#types_retirement_villages\">Types of retirement villages<\/a><\/strong><ul><li><strong><a href=\"#serviced_apartments\">Serviced apartments<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#rental_villages\">Rental villages<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"&quot;#colocated_villages\">Co-located villages<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#choosing_right_retirement_village\">Choosing the right retirement village for you<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Hit the link and you\u2019ll be taken to the corresponding section.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong><a id=\"time_to_downsize\"><\/a>Is it time to downsize?<\/strong><\/h2><p>For many older Australians, the <strong>journey into a retirement village begins by selling the family home<\/strong>.<\/p><p>While the thought of ditching the family home is inherently stressful, selling and using the equity to downsize has many financial and lifestyle benefits.<\/p><p><strong>Common reasons for downsizing include:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Being an empty nester<\/li><li>Home and garden maintenance becoming overwhelming<\/li><li>Wanting to prioritise leisure<\/li><li>Wanting a sea or tree change<\/li><li>Freeing up equity and increasing cash flow<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><h3><strong><a id=\"risks_staying_family_home\"><\/a>\u2014 Risks of staying in the family home<\/strong><\/h3><p>Staying in the family home is not without its risks. The most concerning are <strong>the health risks<\/strong>.<\/p><p>As we age, the likelihood of falling increases.<strong> Retirement villages have been specially designed to minimise this risk.<\/strong> Think features like no steps, wider corridors, bigger bathrooms, and showers with frames that can be removed.<\/p><p>This freedom to move also gives you an <strong>increased sense of autonomy,<\/strong> allowing you to stay independent longer.<\/p><p>Compare this to staying in the family home. As people age, it\u2019s common to start \u2018restricting\u2019 themselves to small areas of the home or garden. Not to mention very few trips outside.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong><a id=\"carefree_retirement\"><\/a>Retirement villages: the key to a carefree retirement<\/strong><\/h2><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1376\" src=\"http:\/\/www.getstaged.co\/site_1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/iStock-987789036.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/iStock-987789036.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/iStock-987789036-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/iStock-987789036-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/iStock-987789036-600x400.png 600w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/iStock-987789036-585x390.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>It\u2019s a common misunderstanding that retirement villages are \u2018institutions\u2019 not unlike nursing homes. This really isn\u2019t the case. Retirement villages are <strong>small cluster communities<\/strong> designed to help you get the most out of your retirement. It\u2019s all about <strong>balancing autonomy with support<\/strong>.<\/p><p>The <strong>operator of your community maintains <em>an ongoing<\/em> management role<\/strong>, which is critical as you age. This means there is a responsible person who keeps an eye out for you and your interests.<\/p><p><strong>Some of the other advantages of downsizing into a retirement village include:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>A lower cost of living<\/li><li>A dwelling designed with ageing in mind<\/li><li>Access to social groups and a sense of community<\/li><li>Emergency support<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><h2><strong><a id=\"retirement_village_contracts_fees\"><\/a>Retirement village contracts and fees<\/strong><\/h2><p>Retirement village contracts are <em>very<\/em> different from conventional property ownership. In most retirement villages you don\u2019t own your own home, you lease it. This is an <strong>agreed-to period that covers the whole of your retirement<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Also different is the fact that you pay <strong>the lease <em>up front<\/em> as a lump sum<\/strong>. You don\u2019t pay any more for your home until you leave, which is usually when you pass away. Your estate then receives back your lump sum minus the rent you need to pay for the time you were in the village. This is called a <strong>Deferred Management Fee<\/strong>, or DMF for short.<\/p><p>You will also be required to contribute to the cost of running the village which can average $80 to $100 a week. Residents control this budget, and the operator cannot by law make any profit from it.<br \/><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><h2><strong><a id=\"types_retirement_villages\"><\/a>Types of retirement villages<\/strong><\/h2><p>Now you understand the benefits and fees of retirement home living, let\u2019s look at <strong>specific village models<\/strong>.<\/p><h3><strong><a id=\"serviced_apartments\"><\/a>\u2014 Serviced Apartments <\/strong><\/h3><p><a href=\"https:\/\/villages.com.au\/qld\/rochedale-south\/aveo-freedom-rochedale-1093?minPrice=&amp;maxPrice=&amp;category=\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1377\" src=\"http:\/\/www.getstaged.co\/site_1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SERVICED-APPT-Aveo-Rochedale-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" \/><\/a>First up is the most straightforward model: <em>serviced apartments<\/em>. As the name suggests, these are <strong>independent apartments with access to services<\/strong>. These include cleaning, fresh linen, meals and low-level allied care support.<\/p><p>Serviced apartments <strong>tend to be smaller<\/strong>, usually one bedroom or a studio apartment, with a kitchen suited to light meal preparation only. Main meals are normally provided in a communal dining room.<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><h3><strong><a id=\"rental_villages\"><\/a>\u2014 Rental Villages <\/strong><\/h3><p>Rental villages are designed with older retirees in mind, starting at 60+ and going well in the 80s.<\/p><p>In Australia, we have two types of rental villages. The first is the <strong><em>traditional retirement village<\/em> <\/strong>where the operator provides several village units for rent.<\/p><p>The second is the <strong><em>single-purpose rental village<\/em><\/strong>. This is a gated community, usually with around 50 single bedrooms or studio units and a community dining room.<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><h3><strong><a id=\"colocated_villages\"><\/a>\u2014 Co-Located Villages<\/strong><\/h3><p>Co-located villages are <strong>retirement villages that have an aged care home (nursing home) either attached to it or on the same campus<\/strong>.<\/p><p>In the past, this model has been unpopular with customers and operators. However, things are changing.<\/p><p>As retirement villages shift away from resort living to supported housing, <strong>having an aged care home attached to the village is increasingly desirable<\/strong>.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong><a id=\"choosing_right_retirement_village\"><\/a>Choosing the right village for you<\/strong><\/h2><p>While we are big advocates of retirement village living, it\u2019s not for everyone. It represents a <em>big shift<\/em>, so before committing it is important to make sure it\u2019s the right fit for you.<\/p><p>The best way to do this is to <em><strong>try before you buy<\/strong>.<\/em> Try living in a retirement village for a few weeks and see if you like it. During this time chat with residents and staff to get a feel for the community and the lifestyle. You could even try going to some of the village\u2019s social events!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Don&#8217;t know where to start?<\/h2><div>Try our free online service,\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yourconcierge101.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YourConcierge101<\/a><\/strong>. All you need to do is answer some simple questions and we\u2019ll provide you with your own toolkit tailored to your specific circumstance. Click the button below to find out more today.<\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div>\n\t\t<!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\n\t\t<span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-bcd97ea9-8a05-4ac1-be1f-40823d630bbc\">\n\t\t<span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-bcd97ea9-8a05-4ac1-be1f-40823d630bbc\" id=\"bcd97ea9-8a05-4ac1-be1f-40823d630bbc\">\n\t\t<!--[if lte IE 8]>\n\t\t<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\t\t<![endif]-->\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/21150930\/bcd97ea9-8a05-4ac1-be1f-40823d630bbc\" >\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-bcd97ea9-8a05-4ac1-be1f-40823d630bbc\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/21150930\/bcd97ea9-8a05-4ac1-be1f-40823d630bbc.png\"  alt=\"New call-to-action\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"\/\/js.hubspot.com\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script>\n\t\t<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\t\thbspt.cta.load(21150930, 'bcd97ea9-8a05-4ac1-be1f-40823d630bbc', {});\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Retirement villages are set to play a critical role in the future of aged care in Australia. Villages not only provide facilities and safety, but they also bring community. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[98,97,99,103,83,95],"class_list":["post-1056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement","tag-apartments","tag-explained","tag-land-lease-communities","tag-rental-villages","tag-retirement-villages","tag-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1056"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1440,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1056\/revisions\/1440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}