What is a retirement village and why make the move?

There’s no doubt that retirement villages are becoming an increasingly popular lifestyle choice for Australian seniors.

A recent study by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute revealed that retirement villages are projected to house 7.5 per cent of people over the age of 65 by 2025, with the number expected to continue in an upward trajectory.

But what exactly is the attraction to retirement villages? How big are they, and what are they like to live in? Are they worth the investment and the effort of uprooting? We’re here to answer all your questions and more.

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What is a retirement village?

A retirement village typically refers to a cluster of homes and shared facilities designed for people over the age of 55 years old.

Varying in size, villages might take the form of a handful of houses nestled together in a small, close-knit community, or they could be a sprawling village home to hundreds of people, with a wide array of shared facilities such as bowling greens, clubhouses, and swimming pools.

Regardless of size, retirement villages are characterised by a strong sense of community, which is usually fostered through shared activities and events.

Retirement villages are aimed at older people who are living entirely independently however housing has usually been designed with easy mobility in mind. For example, homes sometimes feature wider hallways, no stairs, and are often adaptable for mobility devices.

Arial shot of the grange retirement village in wagga wagga nsw

Who are retirement villages for?

Retirement villages are available to anybody over the age of 55, however the average entry age in Australia is 75i, with most residents having ceased full-time work.

They are a great lifestyle choice for both couples and single people alike.

Retirement villages are a wonderful place to live if you value socialising and connecting with other people at a similar age and stage of life – while of course maintaining your own personal and private space.

Retirement villages are also appealing to those who want to take control of their future health needs, having often been co-located with a residential care home, or with in-home care services available for residents.

What are the benefits of moving into a retirement village?

Retirement living offers a wealth of benefits that set it apart from conventional housing. We’ve listed the most common five benefits often mentioned by residents:

One of the strongest attractions to retirement living is the dynamic social scene that comes with it!

Residents can enjoy the ‘community feel’ of the village through regular activities and events like movie nights, trivia, or fitness sessions, while also maintaining their personal and private space.

It’s this kind of regular connection and informal support among the village community that can have a powerful effect on promoting positive mental health in older age, as well as combating feelings of isolation.

Residents often cite safety concerns as being one of the primary reasons for moving into a retirement village.

Villages sometimes feature a range of security measures that provide peace of mind to residents, such as security cameras or sensor lights, as well as the informal support and ‘neighbourhood watch’ of the community.

As an extra safety measure in many of our BaptistCare retirement villages, we also have a monitoring connection system that allows people to call for emergency help at the push of a button, offering more freedom and confidence to live independently.

Many residents say that retirement living often feels like a permanent vacation, and that the village offers a ‘holiday resort’ feel. There are often swimming pools and gyms, beautifully manicured gardens, bowling greens, and walking tracks to enjoy each day.

Residents might meet friends for a coffee at the onsite café, or they might choose to host a barbecue for visiting family using the communal facilities.

Many retirement communities even have on-site services such as hair and beauty salons and libraries, reducing the need for frequent travel should residents prefer to stay closer to home.

Many service providers have chosen to incorporate residential aged care within the retirement village estate so that residents requiring additional care can remain in the community.

At BaptistCare, for example, our Adaptive Living approach provides retirement village residents with easy access to our on-site home care and residential aged care so they always have peace of mind knowing there is available support, if and when they need it.

How much does it cost to move into a retirement village?

The costs associated with moving into a retirement village can be broken down into three main stages: Before you move in, whilst you are living in the property, and what happens when you leave.

Read a quick guide to how these costs work in our blog ‘How much does it cost to live in a retirement village?’

How much does it cost to live in a retirement village?