Considering village life for your retirement?

A village lifestyle might be something you’ve contemplated. Or perhaps something you’ve never considered.  Either way, there seems to be one enormous thing that brings people to thinking about it… the desire to be a part of a community.

Just listening day in and day out in our community it is clear that life after 60 has its fair share of loneliness.  Whether you’ve lost a loved one, been through a divorce, losing some friends in the process; left your job and the social network of your workplace behind; or just gotten a little more lonely over the years, it seems many people are looking for a place where they can meet and enjoy the company of people just like them, a community.

But what is it that most people are looking for when they seek out village life?

Community

Community is the greatest single benefit for all who choose village life.  The social contact of friends and acquaintances close by, who each offer different levels of companionship and entertainment can be a wonderful thing when you’ve been living alone, or lost friends over the years.

Flexibility

Many villages offer apartments or units and provide a range of general services to all residents. They may also offer additional services, sometimes including personal care, on an ‘as-required’ and ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis. So, as your needs change, the services you receive can be adjusted accordingly. Some retirement villages also offer serviced apartments that come with a standard package of services, such as housekeeping, meals and laundry and linen, if you want them.

Convenience

Village lifestyle looks pretty convenient to most people living in a traditional house today.  Most of them offer a range of shared common areas and facilities – as well as relatively low-maintenance homes and gardens that you can ‘lock and leave’ should you wish to travel.

Lifestyle and amenities

Villagers can spend their days enjoying local attractions, and unwind with well-appointed amenities designed by not just architects, but by a cadre of specialists in lifestyle and wellbeing. For example, some of these villages may include features such as a golf courses, swimming centres, nearby shopping facilities, covered parking and qualified aged care 24/7.

Location

Villages come in such diverse locations there is sure to be availability in one that fits your dream, whether that be nearer the ocean, in the country, or within close proximity to your family.  Location should not necessarily be a concern, as at the heart of every well-run and well-designed retirement village is its community. Residents are generally friendly, supportive and ready to welcome you into a new life – because they most likely come from where you do.

Personality

Every retirement village has its own personality, its own way of relaxing, entertaining and having fun. If you’re looking forward to joining such a group of people with the same preferences, then it is a fair bet that they can’t wait to meet you too.  But taking a look inside and seeing how the community works before you buy is certainly possible.  Most villages will encourage you to come and stay for a weekend and “try out” village life to see if the village fits you.

The Cost

The economic benefit of village life is that facilities and services can be provided to a community more efficiently than they can be provided to a dispersed group of individuals.

Financial arrangements will most likely include ongoing, recurrent charges and also, usually, a deferred management fee or DMF, which must be paid when the resident permanently vacates their unit. The formula used to calculate this fee can vary from place to place, making it difficult to shop around and compare homes in different retirement villages.  But it is clear that you need to consider both the entry price and the other costs in your research.

Fun, freedom, community, health, happiness, affordability, accessibility, safety and security should be hallmarks of a good village, but it is always up to you to do your research.

Have you looked into village life or are you living it now? What have you found to be the best aspects of it? Tell us in the comments below…

This article is sponsored by Aveo retirement villages. For more information on your lifestyle options take a look at the Aveo website or call 13 28 36.