Should You Consider Living In A Retirement Village?

Article first published on iAfrica.com

Retirement villages have an inherent appeal if you’re considering re-organising your accommodation and lifestyle options when you retire. They offer the advantages of independent living in your own space, without all of the time-consuming maintenance in your own home and there’s talk they even boost your life expectancy with all the amenities they offer.

So how do you weigh up the pros and cons and make a balanced decision on whether it’s the right move for you? Here are some pointers to get you started.

The pros and cons of moving to a secure retirement village

As a Baby Boomer, you can expect to live 10 to 25 years longer than your parents did, and there’s a good chance you’ll be healthier and more physically active than they were at the same age.

As we age, change becomes more and more difficult so if you’re planning to downsize your life while upsizing your security and your circle of friends thanks to retirement village living, why wait?

No one enjoys having to move house, nor the expense involved, but this is about taking a long-term view of your future.

Garry Reed, Managing Director of Evergreen Lifestyle Villages, offers this checklist for those weighing up the pros and cons of staying in their own home versus moving to the safety of a professionally managed and operated retirement village:

Physical health

Our bodies naturally require more care as we age, and no matter how fit we are, we’re all susceptible to accidents, sudden falls, and broken bones.  And as debilitating as this can be physically, the financial implications are often more dire. According to a 2018 report by Just Retirement, pensioners who require 24-hour care can expect to pay almost twice as much in their own home versus living at a retirement village that offers both primary and personalised home-based healthcare services, on-site emergency facilities and 24-hour nursing, as well as frail- and dementia-care for those who need it.

In later life, the importance of being able to access medical care quickly and easily, while not breaking the bank, will become a priority, so having healthcare facilities and trained professionals close at hand means that you’ll be able to enjoy your golden years without worrying unduly about these unforeseen eventualities.

Mental health

Loneliness, boredom and social isolation become a reality as you age, particularly if you’re stuck behind high walls in the suburbs, nursing a spouse, or no longer able to drive. However retirement villages are home to vibrant communities of elderly people who are keen to make new friendships, to stay active, and even to learn new skills. There’s always something to do, and someone to do it with. In addition, for those who may have a partner who ends up suffering from dementia, top-class assistance is on hand, allowing you to share the onerous burden of care.

Home and garden maintenance

Cooking, cleaning and gardening all get much more difficult as you age, and keeping up with home maintenance can be both onerous and costly.  As your property ages, you’ll probably have to deal with rust, rising damp, leaking roofs, and rotting timber frames, and you might need to replace worn carpets and curtains, all of which will make a substantial dent in already tight budgets. For example, the cost of replacing a geyser currently runs to about R7 500, while repairing your roof, will set you back between R10 220 and R14 600 on an average sized home in SA. Unfortunately, you can expect your home to need more attention – not less – and those big bills will be a reality for many years to come.

A professional onsite team takes care of all aspects of daily life – like cleaning, painting and repairs, gardening and landscaping, healthcare, housekeeping, laundry, catering and more – so that our residents can relax and enjoy complete peace of mind.

Safety and security

We all become much more physically vulnerable as we age too, and with home invasions an unfortunate reality in South Africa, security is a burning issue for young and old alike. Staying safe isn’t cheap either; consider the costs of insurance, security systems, alarms, and armed response services. These are among the less obvious costs that continue eroding your hard-earned savings and investments when you choose to remain in your family home for the long term. At most professionally run retirement villages, 24-hour security is part of the package. And if you do go away on holiday, you can simply lock up and go, knowing your home is safe and secure.

Financial peace of mind

When you buy into a retirement village, you get a lifestyle that suits your needs in every way. Evergreen Lifestyle for example, runs its villages on a Life Right model that means that for an initial investment and a monthly fee, you and your spouse gain the inalienable right of occupation for the remainder of your lives. And because the developer retains ownership of the property, no bond registration or transfer fees are payable. VAT also doesn’t apply, and monthly levies are transparent and affordable. It is a cost-effective way to plan for the future, giving you financial peace of mind.

Quality lifestyle

At professionally managed retirement villages, cleaning and catering are taken care of for you, so you can focus on what really matters – living life to the fullest. The village’s resort-style facilities include communal lounges and entertainment areas, libraries, bistros,  gyms with heated indoor pools, lots of green spaces, as well as organised activities like excursions, bridge evenings, film nights and social dinners, ensuring that residents can remain as busy, active, and sociable as they wish to be.

So rather than wondering whether you can afford to move, you should be asking yourself whether you can afford not to!