Avoid the mistakes that could turn your dream retirement into a nightmare
It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make – where to spend your ‘golden years’ once you’ve retired. Even if you’ve already decided to make the move to a retirement village, there is so much to consider.
If you can learn what ‘not’ to do, it may help you avoid the pitfalls. So go in to your retirement prepared and make a great choice!
1) Not doing your research beforehand
Let’s face it, modern retirement villages are attractive! Most look and feel like a resort and have all the amenities and activities to make living there sound like one big holiday. It can be… just make sure you have ALL the information you need to make a sound decision.
Do your research online, and if you live close enough, visit and visit again at a different time of day. It may be quiet in the middle of the morning but have traffic noise during peak hour, or perhaps you didn’t notice that noisy kindergarten or hotel right next door!
2) Not taking a walk through the village
Take the opportunity to do a tour of the retirement community and find out more about your potential new neighbourhood. Have a good look at the amenities and facilities – not just to be impressed by them, but to think about whether you would use them. Are they the right kind of facilities to suit your lifestyle?
While on your tour, ask about the services you can’t see. Are there visiting medical practitioners or beauty therapists, how close is public transport or does the village have a shuttle bus service? What other services and activities are on offer? Most likely you’ll receive a lovely information pack to take home with you, but it’s always good to find out while you’re there if the real thing matches the glossy brochure!
See if you can take time to have a walk around on your own or with your partner or family. It’s a big decision and you’re entitled to go and sit by the pool or under a shady tree and soak up the atmosphere for a while.
3) Not talking to those who live there
Meet the residents; meet your potential neighbours if you can. Find out what they love (and don’t love) about the lifestyle. If the village is reputable, they will encourage you to chat with the residents rather than steering you away from them.
Often management will organise your tour around a morning tea or lunch where you can socialise and see if these are your kind of people. It’s so important you feel you will fit into the community.
4) Not driving around the local area
If you’re unfamiliar with the location of the retirement community, it’s important to have a good look around the area and see what’s on offer in the area. How close is the doctor, dentist, pharmacy, vet and how far to the hospital or specialists?
Can you walk to shops, the pharmacy, bank, post office, cafes, and restaurants? Is there public transport on your doorstep? How far is it to the places you like to go – cinema, RSL, sporting club, larger shopping centres?
Do you ‘like’ the area? There’s no point retiring to a lovely community in a not-so-nice neighbourhood.
5) Not crunching the numbers
Make sure you have a clear idea of exactly what you can afford and don’t let yourself be ‘sold’ into a property that’s beautiful, but too much of a financial stretch.
If you’re not a ‘numbers’ person, ask for help. Consult with your accountant or financial advisor and find out what will work best for you so you can live comfortably all the way through your retirement years.
6) Not being close enough (or being TOO close) to relatives
If family and friends are important to you and living close will bring you (and them) joy, then you need to consider distances when you choose your retirement village. It also depends on how often you, or they are likely to visit. If it’s weekly then you might need to live close, but if visits are more spread out, then maybe you can be too!
Once again, don’t get caught up in the ‘romance’ of a beautiful retirement community if it’s going to come at the high cost of being too far away from those you love. Of course, you’ll make new friends, but you need to ensure you can maintain your existing ones.
Likewise, if you don’t fancy living in each other’s pockets, or you (or they) think it might damage the relationship in the long term, then better to find that ‘sweet spot’ of distance that’s not too close, not too far, but just right!
7) Not finding out if your home will be suitable for you as you age
If you want to continue living in your retirement village community as you age, rather than move into a nursing home, it’s important to consider whether your new home will allow you to ‘age in place.’
Even though retirement villages are designed for active seniors, many still take into account residents’ desire to stay living in their home as long as they can before moving into higher care facilities.
Find out if and how your new home can be adapted to suit your changing needs. It’s also worth considering options such as a single-storey dwelling so you won’t have stairs to negotiate. Look at things like access, if there are disability supports already fitted in places such as bathrooms, and whether the halls and doorways are wide enough if you use a wheelchair.
8) Not finding out the community rules
Every retirement village has a rule book! It will be helpful to have a read through before making a commitment.
You may need to know things like:
- Are pets allowed, and if so, what type?
- What are the rules around renovating?
- What happens to your home when you go on holidays?
- Can you have friends or relatives staying with you and if so, for how long?
- What are the rules around friends and family using the facilities?
- What can (and can’t) you plant in your garden?
- Is there somewhere you can park your motorhome and is there a cost?
- How much property maintenance is your responsibility?
- What will happen if you get sick or have an accident while at home?
Feel free to ask your questions at Kensington Gardens
At Kensington Gardens in Albury and Shepparton, our team wants to make sure you’re completely happy before you join our community. It needs to be exactly the right fit for you. We welcome your questions on any aspect of retirement living.
Our over 50’s Lifestyle Estates offer a beautiful place for you to come home to with resort facilities including our stunning Residents’ Clubhouse.
Kensington Gardens has created an exciting, secure, and carefree lifestyle community so our residents can live full, active, and happy lives.
Arrange your safe, socially distanced tour by calling Kensington Gardens at Albury on 02 6049 3100 or Shepparton on 03 5820 5100 today or get in touch online to book a time to come in and visit us.
