How to choose a retirement village – 6 things to consider before deciding

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This article is a helpful guide to making informed decisions on choosing the best retirement village for you. We highlight key factors like lifestyle preferences, healthcare services, community support and village amenities.

Choosing a retirement village becomes easier when you know exactly what you are looking for. This article is a guide for individuals and families to help make informed decisions around what retirement living looks like and choosing the best retirement village to make their vision come to life.

Key takeaways:

1. There are six important factors to consider when choosing a retirement village: Location and local amenities, facilities and village services, rules and policies, types of contracts, financial implications, and finding a reputable provider.
2. It's important to identify the right village through research, taking a tour, and asking questions.
3. BaptistCare is a trusted provider backed by 80 years of care.

1. Location and local amenities 

While there are always more relationships to be made within your new retirement community, consider the impact your location may have on your existing ones.

Retirement living often means more time on your hands to enjoy the things you love most. Think about the access you will have to local amenities. Are there local restaurants and stores you will enjoy frequenting? Close proximity to quality medical facilities and public transport can also make life easier down the track and should be among the many things you consider when researching the best retirement village. 

Your favourite hobbies may also help dictate your location – if it’s important to you to spend more time on the golf course or at the beach, make sure the retirement village you choose is located accordingly.

2. Facilities and retirement village services

Every retirement village is different. While there are more common aspects of facilities and services, below we look at:

Accessibility features

Consider how easy it is to access your potential home, be it an apartment or a standalone house. Here’s a few questions to consider: 

• Is parking easy for you and visitors to manoeuvre in and out of? 
• Does the height of your current vehicle fit in the garage? 
• Do you have easy access to your home via clear and well-lit entryways? 
• Would mobility concerns impact you getting in or out of your home?

Security features

Peace of mind is so important when it comes to retirement living and it’s important to consider what security features are important to you. 

One of the key benefits is the joy of being surrounded by a tightknit community that helps look after each other. It may be as simple as collecting your mail or keeping an eye on your property when you are not there. Other security features can also include emergency call features in your apartment, regular staff onsite, and secure access to your community.

Dining options

Great coffee and dining options close-by can certainly contribute to living the good life. However, you may want to consider whether having such dining options as part of your retirement village is on your priority list. Other food options commonly available to retirement village residents include community meal delivery services, regular catered events, or local food subscriptions with village discounts.

Recreational facilities

When it comes to choosing your retirement village, consider which of the following recreational facilities may be important to you:

As you conduct your research, you’ll start to notice that each retirement village has its own personality and it’s important to get a feel for this during your tours. For example, did you know that one of our BaptistCare Retirement Villages has its own vineyard? Read more about retiring to a vineyard here. You can readily explore the types of facilities available at each BaptistCare retirement location by using our helpful interactive map.

In an earlier blog, we explore how to thrive in retirement for 11 tips on an active social life.

Social activities

Much like bottling your favourite type of wine with the help of friendly neighbours, a huge drawcard for retirement living is in the scope of social activities.

Many villages host resident-led outings and an impressive social calendar, where like-minded individuals come together to do what they love most. With everything from walking groups, gardening rosters, and woodworking in Men’s Sheds, to trips to the theatre and local places of interest, social activities and events offer a wide range of choices to contribute to a full and vibrant life. Be sure to ask for a current activity schedule to get an idea of frequency and types of events on offer.

Some village operators, like BaptistCare, actively encourage residents to come together as a community, and often host meals and celebrations making use of the villages’ alfresco BBQs and dining areas. Resident-led events like regular Happy Hour get-togethers give good insight to the type of community you’ll be moving into, so ask about the interactions amongst residents when visiting onsite.

Maintenance and support services 

One of the main reasons for moving to a retirement village is the desire to downsize from large family homes with expensive upkeep. Moving to a retirement village can free up lots of time by embracing an easy-care, low-maintenance environment. In saying that, it’s helpful to understand what maintenance or costs you are responsible for, when it comes to your new home. Fully refurbished or brand-new homes often bring peace of mind in terms of interior and exterior upkeep of the home itself.

3. Rules and policies

Modifications to living spaces

It’s a good idea to understand the changes you can make to your home in a retirement village. Revise the existing renovation policy and ask any questions during your village visit if you are considering making changes to the existing space. This helps you understand both the possibilities and the limitations when it comes to modifying your space in the future.

Overnight visitors

Are there limitations in the village rules and visitor regulations that would impact how you live your life in your retirement village? We always suggest asking the question around family and friends visiting and staying in your home, particularly if you have expectations around regular visits and impending holiday stays. 

Pet policies

For some people, having a pet is an important lifestyle preference. It’s important to do your due diligence in understanding the approval process and pet policies at your chosen retirement village. This can help you avoid disappointment down the track, or worse, having to give up your pet when it comes time to move. 

4. Types of contracts

In Australia, there are three common types of ownership or contracts on offer in retirement living: 

1. Strata or community title is where you pay an agreed purchase price, and are registered on the title deed, and become a member of the owner’s corporation. This is the least common form of ownership in retirement villages. 
2. Lease hold is where you pay market value in exchange for a period of time (for example, a 99-year lease). This is commonly used in for-profit operators. 
3. Loan licence agreement is where your lump sum or entry payment buys you a licence to occupy your home indefinitely. This is commonly used by not-for-profit providers, including BaptistCare. There are several benefits associated with this, including:

• No stamp duty 
• No capital replacement – this means that your Exit Fee will not include the replacement or repair of any items provided by the operator
• No refurbishment costs when you leave 
• Guaranteed fixed return with no capital loss or gain (this means the value of your home will stay the same during the time you live there)

5. Financial implications

Everyone’s financial circumstances are different, and the fees of retirement villages vary, however, when it comes to your retirement, you want to make a smart financial move. This means weighing up the entry and exit fees, and considering the ongoing costs associated with daily living in the retirement village. For more information, explore our comprehensive guide on retirement village fees.   

6. Finding a reputable provider

When researching retirement villages, consider the following ways to help you identify a reputable provider to ensure peace of mind for your investment: 

• Verify the village’s reputation – Once you have a short-list of villages that meet your needs, check their accreditation and licencing. You can read through online reviews and testimonials.
• Visit the retirement village – Book a tour to view the retirement village and take your time as you explore the amenities. Speak to current residents and carefully observe how the staff engage with residents. 
• Ask the right questions – When actively exploring different village options ask questions that help you to compare the merits of each. We encourage you to speak to existing village residents while touring the grounds. Get curious. We’ve listed the common questions we get asked to help you find the best retirement village for you.

Retirement lifestyle with BaptistCare

As an experienced and leading provider of care, our warm and welcoming retirement living communities for over 55s offer a broad range of lifestyles. We understand the importance of community, belonging, and togetherness. It’s why our retirement villages have been designed with a people-first approach. Our residents are at the heart of everything we do. 

Featuring beautiful homes within picturesque grounds, our retirement communities offer you peace of mind and security, with a range of flexible financial options. BaptistCare has been trusted by thousands of Australians across the retirement villages, aged care, and community service sectors since 1944.

How do I find a retirement living village near me

At BaptistCare, we’ve been providing quality, person-centred care for over 80 years across our retirement living communities in New South Wales, ACT, and Western Australia.

You can explore the benefits of retirement living communities by simply using BaptistCare’s handy online tool to find a location near you. 

Click the link below to learn more about BaptistCare services:

Retirement Living | Adaptive Living | Find a village | Financials (NSW & ACT) | Financials (WA)

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