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Finding what's right for you: Living options
Many Australians love to call retirement villages home. Beautiful surroundings, social communities, with majority single-level living and supportive services can help make your retirement great. But when it comes to your future home, you want to make sure you get it right.
Some retirees are excited to transition into an apartment lifestyle with a smaller space with less cleaning and upkeep to worry about. Or, a larger villa with room to entertain might be a better fit. For others, staying at home or shifting in with family is the best option.
Whatever your choice, it’s important to create a home that supports you to continue doing the things you love, in a community that’s best for you.
What do you call home?
When choosing a retirement home, you’ll want to consider your current lifestyle.
What makes your home feel like home? Do you love spending mornings on your balcony with a good book? Do you like that you live so close to the shops?
What don't you love about your home? Are there too many stairs? Does your large kitchen take all morning to clean or have too many hard-to-reach cupboards?
By weighing up your current living situation, you can start to think about the features you'll need for the perfect retirement.
You'll also need to make sure that your home suits your needs, now and into the future.
Extra support with housekeeping and maintenance can go a long way in supporting your independence.
Staying at home
If you’re independent and love your neighbourhood, staying in your family home could work best for you.
If you need a little more support to stay living at home, you can apply for a government-subsidised Home Care Package. You may be able to access services to visit your home and help you with things like cleaning, grocery shopping, dressing and showering, in addition to health care and other needs. Find out more about Home Care Packages.
Or, you might be eligible for support through the Commonwealth Home Support Program, which can also provide you with help at home or to make basic safety modifications. Through this program, you may be able to have things like grab rails, ramps or easy access taps installed in your home. Find out more about the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
Moving in with family or friends
Some people are able to move in with family or friends - a granny flat in the backyard or a separate area of a larger family home. Staying close to loved ones might work best for your wellbeing, and you’ll still be able to apply for government-subsidised help-at-home services such as Home Care Packages (HCP) or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
Retirement communities
Apartments
Enjoy vibrant retirement community life with a beautiful apartment lifestyle. Get the convenience of compact living in a modern, light-filled apartment. With options ranging from small, affordable studios to spacious multi-room apartments, you can also stay living close to city action, if an urban life works best for you.
At an apartment in a retirement community, you may be able to access a range of care and support services, including:
- Housekeeping: Cooking, cleaning 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 can help you arrange these on a fee-for-service basis, or through government-subsidised programs including Home Care Packages (HCP) or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
Units and villas
Designed and built to suit your needs, single-level one, two or three bedroom homes within retirement villages can offer you the ultimate low-maintenance lifestyle. With modern facilities, space to entertain and a courtyard or outside space, units and villas can give you a little more room to help make retirement living great.
At a unit or village within a retirement village, you’ll also have access to a range of care services, including housekeeping, wellbeing support, personal care and health care.
Retirement villages can help you arrange these on a fee-for-service basis, or through government-subsidised programs including Home Care Packages (HCP) or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
Apartments with services
Enjoy apartment living in a thoughtfully designed space with access to a little more tailored support for your changing needs. These apartments can come bundled with options for services like meals, housekeeping and heavy laundry, or you can have the flexibility to pay for other services you may need, both now and in the future, as your needs may change. Always ask the retirement village about what the options are and what kind of flexibility can be offered.
Seeking financial advice
If you’re considering transitioning to retirement living, it’s important to seek professional advice before making any decisions. You should find an independent, accredited financial adviser who you can trust.
Seeking referrals from friends and family can be useful, but always check that an adviser is accredited, too. You can search for accredited financial advisers here: Financial Advisers Register.
You should also speak to your current Superannuation Fund provider for information on investment options within your current fund.