The house that you lived in for 30 years, the place where your children grew up, the lawn that you mowed regularly and kept in the best shape, is now turning out to be a bit of a burden. You no longer have the energy to pull out the weeds from the garden, vacuum the living room, or spend nights listening to your neighbors blasting music.
Deciding to move on is easier said than done. However, once you see the necessity of independent living after retirement and take in the perks and benefits, you might feel like a weight has been lifted.
However, making that decision requires serious contemplation and research to choose the best retirement community that will offer you proper care and opportunities to lead an active lifestyle.
How to Choose the Right Supported Independent Living Communities After Retirement?
Moving out of your home and settling into an independent living facility is like moving into a new home. It is a major life event of your post-retirement life, and it is natural to feel overwhelmed.
Creating a plan in such situations helps to take stock of your emotions and ensures you do not miss any details during research. Here are four tips to help you choose an independent living facility:
Choose Your Ideal Location
Retirement communities promoting independent living are all over Australia. So, the first step is choosing a location to narrow your search for the perfect retirement village. If your family lives far from you, choosing a facility close to them might make sense.
You can also move to a location based on natural beauty or weather. For example, if you are a beach person and have always wanted to live near the sea, try to find retirement communities closer to the coast. There is also a question of city, rural, or suburban as each has its drawbacks and benefits.
Check the Activities and Services Offered in the Community
Always check the amenity lists thoroughly before making a final decision. Apart from that, independent living is all about leading an active lifestyle. So, don’t forget to ask for a list of social activities offered to the retirement community residents as well.
Additionally, looking into the kind of people living in the community might be fruitful as you will be neighbours if you move there. During your research, ask for the social activity calendar of the present and previous years. Try to find out how much influence seniors have in deciding the social activity events hosted in the community.
These might prove crucial when you are living full time in the retirement village.
Decide Your Budget
Moving into a new home or a retirement village involves cost. So, decide on the budget and price point you are comfortable with before starting to contact potential independent living facilities and retirement villages.
Contract communities are a great option if you are looking to receive healthcare support. You will be offered a contract detailing the cost, facilities, and terms and conditions for review. Contracts make it easier to calculate future costs, and such communities are considered a viable option by many.
Also find out how much the one-time and monthly payments you would be paying after all the complementary and otherwise services.
Safety and Security of the Place
One of the primary reasons individuals move into retirement villages is the 24/7 security and safety offered by the management. All retirement villages have security; it is for you to decide if they are of your liking or not.
Make the most of your visits and see all the security measures. Also, keep looking for vulnerabilities and what steps the management takes to get them sorted out. A proper retirement village must provide:
- Round-the-clock security
- Emergency services on a special speed dial
- CCTV cameras inside and outside the premises
There is a huge difference between living alone and independent living. With the former, you are truly living alone, while with the latter, you have your personal space within a tight-knit community.
So, consider these tips and start preparing to live independently amongst your peers.
