April Newsletter 2019
The Pros and Cons of Living in Lifestyle Villages
If you’re approaching retirement age, you may be curious as to where you will live during this next stage of life. In this vein, there are many benefits pertaining to relocating to a lifestyle village. Living in a lifestyle village (commonly known as a retirement village) offers a range of supportive and effective features – so when considering your move, take the time to consider each parameter below.
Why Living Independently May Not Be the Right Option
Isolation
Seniors can, unfortunately, have a tendency to become isolated or lonely if living alone (or if mobility is limited at all). Finding a solution to enable seniors to easily access a social community may be easily achieved through a lifestyle village; making this a vital aspect to consider when assessing a move.
Cost
Depending on your household conditions, the economy of retaining a larger house for fewer people can be very uncertain. If considering the move into a lifestyle village, budget the costs (including healthcare, meals, maintenance, utilities, and other costs) of living in your current house when compared to a lifestyle village’s entry and residential fees.
Safety
In mature age, it may become aware that your home is filled with hazards or potential safety issues. As you assess whether you wish to remain in your home rather than relocate to a lifestyle village, it is essential to undertake a home safety assessment, and as such, apply the necessary changes to ensure your home is safe and equipped with adequate resources for your safety.
Pros of Living in A Lifestyle Village
Cost
Moving into a lifestyle village is often correlated with the downsizing process. There are multiple financial benefits of selling a large house and moving into a smaller village (with a lot more communal space), and there are also multiple benefits once residing in a lifestyle village.
A major benefit is that the facilities within a lifestyle village are included in a resident’s initial package and/or contract. Community centres, sports facilities, and recreational centres within or around the village offer reduced rates or free entry, and transport facilities within a village and beyond are often heavily.
subsidised.
Nursing Care
Lifestyle villages offer second-to-none healthcare facilities 24 hours a day, providing you with peace of mind should a fatal incident occur. This plethora of resources, amenities and support systems will ensure you maintain the best health possible – and all alleviate the unnecessary stress of seeking medical assistance outside of the home.
Social and Leisure Activities
Active social calendars are prevalent within many lifestyle villages, allowing for residents to interact, establish comradery and form friendships and connections. Activities including wine tastings, free concerts or special dinners can take place across a village which may include such enjoyable facilities as golf courses, pools, tennis courts, parklands and more.
By no means is this decision an easy one – but there is comfort in the knowledge of one of the country’s most accommodating lifestyle village’s facilities and strong community values. Champion Lakes is one of WA’s premium retirement village. Our village is uniquely designed for over 55s who seek an active, social and secure retirement. For enquiries, please contact us at (08) 9390 3909.
What is a Lifestyle Village?
Before making any big decisions about your next move, it is important to consider exactly what you hope to gain from your retirement. If you’re seeking to live independently with support and help there when you need it, a Perth lifestyle village might be the best choice for you.
Lifestyle villages are housing developments offering a range of services, facilities and accommodation options. Although additional costs are associated with lifestyle villages, properties within are often cheaper than small homes in the same area.
According to the council’s Retirement Census in 2016, Australian lifestyle villages maintain a 92% occupancy rate, displaying the growing popularity of retirement living among Australia’s over 50’s population.
Why Should I Choose a Lifestyle Village?
It is essential to maintain your independence as you make the transition from working life to retirement – and as such, your home location should prioritise not only your financial situation but your lifestyle and social needs in your senior years.
What Should I Look for In a Lifestyle Village?
When deciding on a lifestyle village it is imperative to identify features you want, features you don’t want and features you would be willing to compromise on. The following tips will assist with an initial decision regarding the move into a lifestyle village:
- Budget and FinancesSeek legal and financial advice to ensure any implications of living in a lifestyle village are understood and agreed upon before committing to relocate. Also, stick to your budget and be realistic about ongoing costs you may or may not be able to afford.
- Lifestyle and SociabilityGive thought to how you would like to spend your time in the future with regards to social interaction, hobbies and special interests. This includes investigating the special facilities on offer (e.g. tennis and golf courts), or whether having a garden attached to your accommodation is viable.
- LocationConsider whether the proximity of the lifestyle village to your relatives and close friends is of importance to you. The same principle applies to areas such as beaches, shopping centres, theatres or any other facilities of particular interest to you.
- Amenities and Special FeaturesLifestyle villages are renowned for offering a large range of amenities including libraries, community rooms, and barbeque areas. Though useful to some residents, it is important to consider if the ongoing additional payments for these facilities are of worth or necessity to you.Champion Lakes’ unique family owned, and operated lifestyle village emphasises a personal relationship with residents through onsite accessibility, is conveniently positioned nearby shopping precincts, a major hospital and train stations, and delivers options that let you alternate between the active and the leisurely. For enquiries, please contact us at (08) 9390 3909.
How to Choose a Lifestyle Village
It’s essential to identify what is important to you when selecting a lifestyle village – and with so many options to choose from, picking the village that is the perfect fit for you can be quite overwhelming.
But whether it’s an apartment-style complex or an over 50s community you are leaning towards, these tips will help make that choice a little bit easier.
The Choice of Homes
Knowing whether or not you are willing to downsize before relocating to a lifestyle is crucial due to limitations regarding accommodation sizes. While some villages offer spacious villas, others are confined to apartments, and deciding which you’d prefer to reside in is a brilliant first step in choosing the perfect lifestyle village for you.
Meet the Staff
Interacting with a village’s staff (notably its manager) will provide valuable insight into how the village appears and is maintained – an important factor in selecting a community to begin residing within. Other discussion with the manager may include information regarding the security measures taken within the village, such as security gates and 24-hour assistance.
Investigate Social and Leisure Activities
Be sure to ask each lifestyle village you visit about the activities and amenities that are on offer to residents. This may include swimming pools, lawn bowls pitches or gymnasiums to name a few, and all of which may ensure your social and leisurely needs will be met within the village.
Speak to Existing Residents
Obtaining an opinion of the lifestyle village from some of its current residents is perhaps the most crucial tip of all when it comes to the selection process. As a potential future resident, there is no source better to gain an understanding of day-to-day life in the village than those who are closest to it (and view it every single day).
Surrounding Facilities
It’s a good idea to think about the facilities and amenities you would like to have nearby to your lifestyle village. This includes shopping centres, beaches or perhaps health and community services. It is also important to consider whether having these facilities within walking distance is a priority for you.
Consider Your Future Health Needs
Investigate whether your ideal lifestyle village will be able to facilitate the delivery of health care and support, or whether they partner with nearby aged care facilities to assist their residents.
Talk to the experts at Champion Lakes Lifestyle Village. We encourage people to talk to our residents to get a first-hand account of their experiences and to gauge how happy they are. When you’re ready to step over the threshold to a wonderful new future, we’re ready to welcome you. For enquiries, please contact us at (08) 9390 3909.
Downsizing Tips
Before moving into a lifestyle retirement village, it’s common to begin the process of downsizing. Whether for financial or lifestyle factors, this can be quite an overwhelming task, especially as your retirement home can’t house all of your possessions. However, if executed well, this process can set the foundation for an enjoyable lifestyle in your golden years.
To simplify your downsizing journey, take advantage of these useful tips.
Do Your Research
Downsizing can often be a lengthy process. By setting and defining goals, difficult tasks will become immediately more manageable.
It is also important within the research phase to seek out any expert legal and financial advice about your downsizing options, considering the impact on your lifestyle and finances both now and in the future.
Pay A Visit To Your New Retirement Home
Visualising how your possessions will fit in your new lifestyle retirement home is an important part in the downsizing process and will give you a clear idea of which items won’t be accommodated for in this new space. Other limitations such as parking, corridors and lifts should also be considered before the moving process.
Seek Assistance
It never hurts to reach out to family members or friends for help decluttering in the downsizing process, particularly with items of great sentimental value. Once all together, use a downsizing checklist to plan every stage of the process, ensuring a stress-free, collaborative, and organised process.
Donate Items
Rather than throwing old possessions away, try and find a new home for them. Tackle one room at a time, ensuring the option to donate items is always there. Acts, like organising a garage sale or giving useful items to family or friends, will help reduce waste and give your items a second life.
Don’t Push Yourself and Enjoy the Process
Focusing on the possibilities of your new home rather than the items you need to discard will ensure a smooth start to the retirement journey. Enjoy the ride!
By no means is downsizing an easy feat but relocating to the right lifestyle retirement village for you can make all the difference in alleviating stress. Champion Lakes is one of one of WA’s premium retirement village. Our village is uniquely designed for over 55s who seek an active, social and secure retirement. For enquiries, please contact us at (08) 9390 3909.
Summer News and Updates
Thank you Mike for organising the Champion Lifestyle Cup Sweep. And congratulations to Jenny for taking out the win!
Our Grand Opening of the Community Lodge last month was a great success. We were very fortunate to have such great weather and enjoyable entertainment. Also a very warm welcome to all those who reserved a village home site, we look forward to you joining our Champion Lakes family soon.
Congratulations to Joyce for winning two nights accommodation at the beautiful Port Bouvard Marina. We hope you enjoy a well deserved relaxing weekend away.
A big thank you to Ron and Denise for donating so many Christmas lights and decorating the Lodge ready for our Christmas celebrations. They look fantastic!
Our newest three bedroom display Poppy is now completed! So please pop in anytime and have a look.
Warm wishes from Keith, Jane, Leah, Ben and the Champion Lakes team.
