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Touring retirement villages
Touring a retirement village is the perfect way to experience community life firsthand.
Call the retirement village you’re interested in to book a private tour. And yes, you’ll be able to bring your family along, too.
Or, you can join a small group tour at a community open day. Just ring the village to find out if they have an open day coming up.
Private or small group, any tour is a good opportunity for you to ask questions while with the community staff. You’ll also meet residents, explore the facilities and join in on the activities the village has to offer. Once you get a good understanding of village life, you can start to feel more informed in your decision to choose the retirement living option that works best for you.
Here are our tips for getting the most out of your retirement village tour.
Talk to staff and residents
Talking to other residents as you move about the retirement village is a useful way to get a picture of village life. Residents are often happy to share their own experience of the community and what they enjoy best.
You’ll also likely see care staff, maintenance crew and those in the kitchen. Quick conversations with these professionals are a great way to find out more about day-to-day life and what’s on offer in a retirement village.
Questions to ask residents
- What is it like living in this retirement village?
- How close are services, shops, and amenities to the village?
- What are your favourite onsite facilities and activities?
- What are the residents and staff like here?
Questions to ask community managers and staff
- How big is the retirement village?
- What security is in place?
- Do you have any plans to develop or extend this village?
- Can I get a copy of the village rules?
- What are the rules about pets?
- What kind of in-home support is available?
- Do healthcare and medical professionals visit on site? How often?
- Can grandkids or other visitors stay over and use the facilities?
- What are the rules about car parking, including visitors, caravans and boats?
Questions to ask the sales team
What types of properties - units, villas or apartments - are available?
How much does moving into this village cost?
What's included in the service fee?
What happens if I need more care and support in the future?
Explore the homes, facilities and services
Ask to take a look at the different property options available at the retirement village. Retirement villages often offer multiple types of living options, from one, two or three-bed villas and units to smaller apartments and apartments with services. A tour is a great time to explore and ask questions about prospective homes.
Also, make sure to take a look at the facilities on offer. Each village offers different amenities and services, so it's a great idea to explore.
Ask to participate in activities going on at the village that day, which can give you a good idea of what community life is like.
When visiting retirement villages, it’s important to leave fully informed and confident in the choices you make, so the more questions you ask, the more confident you’ll often feel.