{"id":5251,"date":"2026-03-19T22:20:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T22:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/?p=5251"},"modified":"2026-03-19T22:22:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T22:22:03","slug":"retirees-embracing-coastal-life-and-ageing-in-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/lifestyle\/retirees-embracing-coastal-life-and-ageing-in-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Retirees embracing coastal life and ageing in place"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5251\" class=\"elementor elementor-5251\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03054e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03054e9\" 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-3ce465e\" data-id=\"3ce465e\" 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-b7f4c82 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b7f4c82\" 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>A <strong>Blue Mountains couple has joined a growing number of older Australians downsizing to the NSW Northern Rivers, choosing Yamba for its idyllic lifestyle and co-located services that support ageing in place.<\/strong><\/p><p>Healthy North Coast\u2019s latest Health Needs Assessment 2025-2028 found NSW\u2019s North Coast population was expected to increase by five per cent over the four-year period, with the Over 65s age group alone projected to increase 18 per cent across the region, as more retirees seek a relaxed, coastal lifestyle.<\/p><p>Gareth and Karyn Burchell-Thomas moved into a three-bedroom apartment at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au\/nsw\/mid-north-coast\/uniting-yamba-independent-living-14527\">Uniting Yamba<\/a> last November, when the upkeep on their large home and garden became too onerous for the couple in their 70s.<\/p><p>Karyn said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitnsw.com\/destinations\/north-coast\/clarence-valley\/yamba\">Yamba<\/a> was an obvious choice for the pair, who spent their working years travelling the country and fell in love with the region\u2019s relaxed coastal lifestyle.<\/p><p>\u201cWe wanted something low maintenance to give us more time for our hobbies,\u201d Karyn said.<\/p><p>\u201cWe\u2019ve gone from living in the mountains to having the beach on our doorstep. We love the connection to the water, and we are so happy living in Yamba.<\/p><p>\u201cOur apartment has quality inclusions, good-sized rooms and plenty of storage, and the community is thoughtfully designed, beautifully landscaped and well-maintained, with great facilities for social connection.<\/p><p>\u201cWe love the dedicated barbecue areas and the Deck House, with a big TV screen and huge open plan kitchen, which are perfect for entertaining.<\/p><p>\u201cBeyond our home, Yamba itself is a fantastic destination with cafes, pubs, local markets, golf, fitness centres and community groups to join, so it\u2019s great to feel like we\u2019re on holiday every day.\u201d<\/p>\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dcae86f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dcae86f\" 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-58b6c63\" data-id=\"58b6c63\" 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-6e74227 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6e74227\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.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-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture6.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5254\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture6.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture6-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture6-585x390.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cd18dab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cd18dab\" 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-2147301\" data-id=\"2147301\" 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-d14505b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d14505b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uniting.org\/services\/retirement-and-independent-living\/villages\/yamba\">Uniting Yamba<\/a> comprises 50 new waterfront apartments located opposite Yamba Marina, with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom waterfront apartments and two-bedroom villas, co-located with onsite aged care.<\/p><p>Gareth said the boutique retirement precinct, which provides independent retirement living apartments and access to neighbouring aged care services, offered the couple peace of mind as their needs changed, without the care burden falling on their family.<\/p><p>\u00a0\u201cThat three-tier level of care, including independent living, at-home support and on-site residential aged care, made us feel so safe and secure about the future,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re quite active, but if anything happens to either of us, I\u2019m confident we will be well-looked after and the family won\u2019t have to worry about us.\u201d<\/p><p>Uniting NSW.ACT Head of Property Development Adrian Ciano said with the NSW North Coast\u2019s booming over 65s population, precincts like Uniting Yamba met the shift to &#8216;right-sizing&#8217; for security without compromising on lifestyle.<\/p><p>\u201cFinding brand new apartments with co-located aged care services is rare, let alone in such a beautiful coastal location, where people can age in place and embrace a more relaxed way of life,\u201d Adrian said. \u201cAs a faith-based organisation, we are a welcoming community where everyone can belong, with people of various faiths and backgrounds already part of our thriving community.<\/p>\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-17c7f6d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17c7f6d\" 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-e204d0b\" data-id=\"e204d0b\" 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-036c09d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"036c09d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture7.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5255\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture7.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture7-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Picture7-585x439.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e5a6ab3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e5a6ab3\" 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-848295f\" data-id=\"848295f\" 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-60f4151 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"60f4151\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cYamba is a regular finalist in the Top Tourism Town awards and has emerged as a popular destination for sea changers, with over-70s making up almost 29 per cent of the local population \u2013 more than double the national average of 12.1 per cent.<\/p><p>\u201cWith our final waterfront apartments now selling and ready to move into, we\u2019re proud to be creating a purpose-built environment where residents in NSW\u2019s north coast can downsize and start their next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c09793 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c09793\" 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-bdf76ee\" data-id=\"bdf76ee\" 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-302ca7a elementor-button-success elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"302ca7a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/thedcmgroup.createsend1.com\/t\/y-e-aihithd-l-yd\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Return to Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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>A Blue Mountains couple has joined a growing number of older Australians downsizing to the NSW Northern Rivers, choosing Yamba for its idyllic lifestyle and co-located services that support ageing in place. Healthy North Coast\u2019s latest Health Needs Assessment 2025-2028 found NSW\u2019s North Coast population&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5252,"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":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5251","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5251"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5258,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5251\/revisions\/5258"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}