Myths about retirement village living – and the actual truth!

There are many myths about retirement village living, but they don’t do anyone any favours – so it’s time for the truth to come out. Here’s what it is really like living in a retirement village like Highgrove.

Myth 1.
It’s just for really old people.

The truth:
Yes, ‘older’ people live in retirement villages, but it also depends on what you consider ‘old’. Remember, age is just a number, and many residents of retirement communities are still very active people who choose to live in a village because of the convenience and security it provides them. They want to socialise, travel and live in a comfortable home, without all the hassle of maintenance and upkeep. In fact, for many people, living in a retirement village actually enhances their quality of life.

Myth 2.
It won’t feel like home.

The truth:
When you move into a retirement village, it’s not a lot different to just moving to another house. At many retirement villages (like ours), a property is refurbished when someone moves out and before you move in, and you can bring all your own furnishings and decor ready to settle in and make it feel like home. Some villages allow you to maintain your own little garden if you wish, or leave it to the caretakers if you’d prefer.

Myth 3.
Family can’t visit or stay.

The truth:
Your family and friends are very welcome and can most certainly visit. If you have a room spare, they can even stay for a night or two! It’s your home and you are allowed to have people come whenever you would like. A retirement village is very different to what is commonly known as a ‘nursing home’ (or an aged care facility), in that it is an environment where people can come and go as they please.

Myth 4.
You have to join in on the activities.

The truth:
Most villages have a variety of activities and social occasions available for residents to join in on. But, there is absolutely no requirement that you have to partake in any of them.
Your life and home is completely independent, in that if you have a routine that you would prefer to stick to, then you can. Of course, it is encouraged so that you can meet your neighbours and feel a sense of belonging to the community – however activities and hobby groups are totally optional with no pressure to participate.
However, you may be quite surprised by what’s on offer, it’s not just all ‘old people’ activities. It’s always good to keep an open mind, because you may find a new hobby to enjoy or at the very least, make a new friend.

Myth 5.
You lose your independence.

The truth:
As mentioned above, a retirement village is certainly not a place where you are ‘locked away’ from the outside world. You can come and go as you please, all while knowing your home and property are safe and secure – ideal if you like to regularly get away for a holiday.
The truth is, retirement villages are focused on allowing people to live more independently than they would on their own out in the community. This is because there are a range of options to suit someone’s level of required assistance, which is able to be changed when their needs change. With many on-site services, on-call care, services and recreation facilities, it enables more people to live their life to the fullest, in whatever way they please.

So, has your view of living in a retirement village changed? We hope so! Of course, if you have any other questions or ‘myths’ that need to be busted, you can always contact us to have a chat. We’d love to hear from you.