Finding Your Perfect Retirement Home

Finding Your Perfect Retirement Home

Retirement marks not only the end of a career, but also the beginning of an exciting life chapter. It’s a time for relaxation and new adventures, hobbies, friends and fun.

If you are heading into your twilight years, there’s a lot to look forward to. The first step to making the most of this special time? Finding your perfect retirement home.

While some opt to downsize to an apartment or townhouse, a growing number of Kiwis are exploring retirement living options. Why? The safety and security are obvious drawcards – but when it comes to village living that’s just the beginning.

The appeal of premium retirement communities

Every year, thousands of New Zealand retirees make what is potentially their last big financial decision and move into a retirement community – and that number is rapidly rising. According to consumer.org.nz around 48,000 people currently live in retirement villages across Aotearoa New Zealand, and that number is expected to grow to more than 81,000 in the next ten years. So what’s driving the influx?

New Zealand’s aging population is obviously a key factor, but Helena Pearson, Village Manager at Metlifecare’s newest luxury retirement village Orion Point, says the fantastic lifestyle on offer is also extremely compelling.

“More and more people are looking for an active retirement lifestyle, one where they have the freedom to travel and do all those things they’ve always longed to do but never had the time, or the means,” Helena says.

“Retirement villages offer the perfect lock-up-and-leave lifestyle and there’s no maintenance to worry about so you can focus on doing what you love. There’s also a strong sense of community and companionship, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing there’s ready access to care should you ever need it.”

Many retirees are also selling up and releasing invested capital from their family home so they often have more ‘financial means’ to live the life they choose, even after buying the right to live in a premium retirement village.

The facilities on offer are top notch too, with many luxury retirement communities resembling a five star resort or country club. Orion Point is no exception, boasting everything from penthouse suites, restaurants and a rooftop bar, to a wellness centre, swimming pool, library and hairdresser. Add to that an exciting lineup of hobby groups, clubs and activities and it’s fair to say that for many, villages like this offer the ultimate in retirement living.

“There’s still a lingering assumption that moving into a retirement village is akin to moving into an old peoples’ home, but that couldn’t be further from reality. Luxury retirement village communities available these days are about as far as you can get from that,” adds Helena. “Residents do not have to forfeit style and luxury just because they want to tap into all the fantastic benefits that a retirement village community can provide.”

Choosing between a retirement village and a rest home

It is important to understand the difference between retirement villages and aged residential care accommodation, or rest homes. Retirement villages typically offer independent and assisted living options, with all the facilities and services you want to live the lifestyle you desire. Rest homes on the other hand (also sometimes referred to as care homes or aged residential care) provide a higher level of care around the clock and offer assistance with all aspects of daily life from bathing and dressing to medications, mobility and diet.

Luckily, many luxury retirement communities offer a continuum of care from contemporary villas for independent living right through to hospital level and dementia level care – so there’s the choice (if space is available) to continue to call your chosen village ‘home’ whatever stage of life’s journey you happen to be at.

Exploring luxury retirement living options

If the idea of moving into a luxury retirement community appeals, the next step is figuring out which village to choose – and with over 450 retirement villages nationwide, there are plenty of options (and something for everyone!).

Research commissioned by New Zealand Seniors revealed that the top five key considerations people make when deciding where to settle down in their retirement are affordability, access to healthcare, nearness to amenities, proximity to family, and friends/people to socialise with. If you want to make the most of your golden years, taking the time to find a home that meets your unique needs is paramount.

A great way to get the ball rolling is by making a list of the things that matter most to you. This will help you figure out what your non-negotiables are, and what you’re willing to compromise on.

Like any real estate decision, location, location, location will likely be top of your list. Are you a culture vulture who loves the bustle of city life, or do you prefer quiet coastal strolls, or peaceful rural views? How close do you want to be to family and friends? How important is accessibility to airports, public transport and of course, quality healthcare services? Do you have a pet, and are pets allowed at a particular village? An independent living villa may be the perfect accommodation style for now, but further down the track it might be good to know that there are options for assisted living and higher-level care, should you need it.

Once you’ve ascertained the area you want to live in, visit some of the villages in that region. Organise to have a village tour and attend a village outing or event so you can get a real feel of the community vibe. Finally, don’t forget to get chatty with the residents! Afterall, they know what village life is like better than anyone. Find out what sort of services are available on site - can you get help with housekeeping and meals delivered if you need it? Will they collect your mail if you take an overseas holiday? What’s the security like? Is your potential new home fitted with security call buttons, and is there someone on site 24/7?

Affordability is another key consideration. Find out the cost to buy into the village, what other fees are involved both upfront and ongoing, and what your financial outgoings are likely to be, each week, month or year. If the numbers don’t stack up, pivot your search to villages whose numbers do stack up.

Choosing the perfect retirement home takes some planning, research and careful consideration – but like everything in life, the more you put into it the hunt, the more you’ll get out of it. Your perfect retirement home is out there, it’s just a matter of finding it.