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Trial stays
Choosing a retirement village

Trial stays

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Trial stays

There's no better way to learn about retirement living than to experience it firsthand. While touring a prospective village can give you a good vision of village life, trial stays can take this a step further. By staying a night or two at a retirement community, you'll gain an insight into all the positives that village life could bring you. 

Trial stays are particularly helpful if you have specific support and care needs. Getting a feel for the support and care services on offer, how accessible the properties and facilities are will ensure that you could live comfortably and well if the village is to one day become your home. 

Contact the village you’re interested in to see if they offer trial stays. Some may charge a fee, so you should ask when you contact the village. 

Trial different properties 

Talk to the manager of the retirement community you’re interested in and let them know about the lifestyle you love and any additional support needs you may have. 

They’ll be able to help select a property for your stay, based on your needs and what’s available. 

You might trial an apartment with services, or a unit or villa. Speak with a community manager about what trial stay options are available. 

Join in on activities 

Trial stays are a great way to immerse yourself in village life and build a strong understanding of what a future there could look like. 

During your trial stay there may be plenty of opportunities to try out village activities. Think about the activities that might interest you, or try something new you would like to give a go. You could play a game of lawn bowls with residents or head out on a village excursion. Trying out activities during your trial stay will help you decide if the village is a good fit for you. 

Enjoy the facilities 

Having a swim in a pool or taking an activity in the community centre are great ideas to test out the different amenities on offer. Enjoy a meal in the restaurant or on-site cafe, or spend an afternoon in the library. These are all great ideas for building your village knowledge during your trial stay. 

Get help at home 

If you need a little more support to stay living independently at home, you may wish to try out some of the help-at-home services the village offers. 

In a retirement community, you may be able to access a range of care services, including: 

  • Housekeeping: Cooking, cleaning, laundry, and gardening 
  • Wellbeing: Shopping, transport, and home modifications 
  • Personal care: Showering, dressing, and grooming 
  • Health: Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech, dietary, hearing and vision. 

Retirement communities may be able to help you arrange these on a fee-for-service basis, or through government-subsidised programs including Home Care Packages or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

Questions to ask yourself during your trial stay 

  • To make the most of your trial stay, ask yourself the following questions: 
  • Is the property accessible? 
  • Can you imagine the care at home services making things easier for you in the future? 
  • Do you enjoy the facilities? Do you feel safe and secure? 
  • Could you do with more assistance or a different support service? 

Trial stays aren't just about reviewing a potential retirement home, they allow you to experience retirement living for yourself, and to make sure that the lifestyle works for you. They are a stepping stone to help you choose a community that aligns with your vision of an enriching and comfortable retirement.

There's no better way to learn about retirement living than to experience it firsthand. While touring a prospective village can give you a good vision of village life, trial stays can take this a step further. By staying a night or two at a retirement community, you'll gain an insight into all the positives that village life could bring you. 

Trial stays are particularly helpful if you have specific support and care needs. Getting a feel for the support and care services on offer, how accessible the properties and facilities are will ensure that you could live comfortably and well if the village is to one day become your home. 

Contact the village you’re interested in to see if they offer trial stays. Some may charge a fee, so you should ask when you contact the village. 

Trial different properties 

Talk to the manager of the retirement community you’re interested in and let them know about the lifestyle you love and any additional support needs you may have. 

They’ll be able to help select a property for your stay, based on your needs and what’s available. 

You might trial an apartment with services, or a unit or villa. Speak with a community manager about what trial stay options are available. 

Join in on activities 

Trial stays are a great way to immerse yourself in village life and build a strong understanding of what a future there could look like. 

During your trial stay there may be plenty of opportunities to try out village activities. Think about the activities that might interest you, or try something new you would like to give a go. You could play a game of lawn bowls with residents or head out on a village excursion. Trying out activities during your trial stay will help you decide if the village is a good fit for you. 

Enjoy the facilities 

Having a swim in a pool or taking an activity in the community centre are great ideas to test out the different amenities on offer. Enjoy a meal in the restaurant or on-site cafe, or spend an afternoon in the library. These are all great ideas for building your village knowledge during your trial stay. 

Get help at home 

If you need a little more support to stay living independently at home, you may wish to try out some of the help-at-home services the village offers. 

In a retirement community, you may be able to access a range of care services, including: 

  • Housekeeping: Cooking, cleaning, laundry, and gardening 
  • Wellbeing: Shopping, transport, and home modifications 
  • Personal care: Showering, dressing, and grooming 
  • Health: Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech, dietary, hearing and vision. 

Retirement communities may be able to help you arrange these on a fee-for-service basis, or through government-subsidised programs including Home Care Packages or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

Questions to ask yourself during your trial stay 

  • To make the most of your trial stay, ask yourself the following questions: 
  • Is the property accessible? 
  • Can you imagine the care at home services making things easier for you in the future? 
  • Do you enjoy the facilities? Do you feel safe and secure? 
  • Could you do with more assistance or a different support service? 

Trial stays aren't just about reviewing a potential retirement home, they allow you to experience retirement living for yourself, and to make sure that the lifestyle works for you. They are a stepping stone to help you choose a community that aligns with your vision of an enriching and comfortable retirement.

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