At Arenburg, we provide more than just expert legal service. Our care-based approach means that we’re dedicated to making sure you find the retirement village that best suits your needs. From our experience, some recurring things that potential residents seek in retirement villages are access to medical services, access to facilities and safety and security. In other words, accessibility and layout!
Why is accessibility important?
Accessibility in a retirement village covers a wide range of things, such as access to medical services and access to facilities.
The most important factor when it comes to choosing your new residence is taking care of your health. The last thing you want is to move into a place, then find you don’t have access to help in case of an emergency– or even just for a check-up!
Research how long it would take to get to the closest hospital in the event of an emergency and what transport is available. Also, consider how close emergency services (such as Paramedics) are to the retirement village. If the local hospital is one you’re unfamiliar with, it’s worth looking into the hospital’s reputation as well!
The next thing to consider is accessibility to the type of medical services you need as an individual. Can you easily get to the podiatrist? Nutritionist? Accessibility to whatever medical services you need is a top priority. Retirement villages may have their own GP or other medical services who make scheduled visits, so make sure you’re familiar with how to get to this service and how to book an appointment.
On another note, one of the great things about living in a retirement village compared to living in general residence is that retirement villages provide facilities ‘on tap’– meaning you get to enjoy as much of the facilities as you like. Research shows that access to facilities increases social interaction, wellbeing and overall enjoyment of your residence. These facilities encourage companionship, security and peace of mind, so be sure to check they’re easily accessible!
Depending on the retirement village, there could be a range of facilities available to residents, such as swimming pools, gyms, libraries, movie theatres – all sorts. You’re retired; it’s time to have fun and relax!
It’s important to know what type of facilities you’re likely to use, then check how easy these facilities would be to get to. Are the facilities close to your residence, or is there transport in the village that could get you there easily?
Why is layout important?
The layout of your retirement village can have a huge impact on your quality of life.
Have a think about the layout of your new home. If you or your partner requires a wheelchair or walking stick, can you still use the kitchen and bathroom? Are there appropriate ramps or lifts if you’re in a wheelchair? Things like how wide the doors are, tight corners or stairs and sharp ends of furniture become important here. T things can cause you to be extra cautious in your own home.
Also, check with the village operators if you can make home modifications to improve your independence around the house, and how to go about putting these in place. If you’re over 65 and approved by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), you may be eligible to have some costs covered for modifications such as adding handrails or non-slip mats.
At Arenburg, helping you find the right new home is important to us. If you have any questions or concerns regarding how to pick the retirement village that best suits your needs, please don’t hesitate to contact Arenburg Legal on (07) 3181 5554.
Get your copy of the free Arenburg Legal Retirement Village Checklist here.