Reinventing Retirement
How retirement lifestyle communities are rethinking the way we retire.
Retirement communities aren’t what they used to be. Not so long ago, the term ‘retirement’ conjured images of ‘nursing homes’ but the growing population of baby boomers starting or preparing for retirement is changing all that.
There’s growing resistance to anything that looks like, smells like or smacks of a nursing home or institution these days, and that’s a good thing. The youngest baby boomers turned 50 just a few of years ago, and they’re looking for something completely different.
Lifestyle Villages where members enjoy private residences but share recreational or community spaces are becoming more popular. These developments attract younger residents – 55 or over – who are looking to downsize their maintenance but up-size their lifestyle with a community of like minded individuals with whom they can feel in tune.
And here are four ways retirement communities are changing the face of retirement for the better:
1. A greater focus on health and wellness
Maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle is key to getting the most out of your retirement. Most of the new-look developments are located in enhanced lifestyle locations, so there’s plenty for you to do nearby and great infrastructure to help you take advantage of it.
Plus, with walking paths, community facilities, group fitness classes and more on site, they couldn’t be further from the image of the passive nursing home. With so many lifestyle options available to you, it’s easy to prioritise your emotional and physical well being.
2. Totally connected
Just because you’ve retired doesn’t mean you’ve disconnected from the world. The latest communities realise keeping connected is crucial in today’s age and have built accessibility to technology into the fabric of their master plans.
That means there’s easy connectivity to the internet, giving you the ability to remain in touch 24/7 at the click of a mouse.
3. Encouraging independence all the way
Today’s retirement communities are designed to make you feel more independent as you age, not less. This is in keeping with the fact that residents are more youthful than ever before. In fact, retirees not only feel younger, they are younger – the age of people living in these communities has dropped to a youthful 55 rather than the expected 65+.
Equipped with high-quality amenities, easy-access open spaces and proximity to transport options, the planned communities reinforce the feeling of self-determination and freedom that should be integral to retirement.
And while you’ll live in your own home, the supportive community of having like minded individuals around and security infrastructure like CCTV will make you feel as if someone is always looking out for you.
4. Surprisingly affordable day-to-day
You might be considering a move to a retirement community because maintaining your current family home is taking up the time you could be enjoying a simpler lifestyle. And downsizing your maintenance also means you can enjoy substantial savings in the cost of living.
New 6-star energy-rated resort-style homes mean you’ll save more in energy costs straight off the bat (not to mention it’s designed to be kinder to the environment). You’ll also reduce fuel and car running costs with central layouts that make it easier to live, shop and thrive close to home.
Retirement communities are a radical rethinking of retirement – one that embraces the future of aging with gusto and creativity.
They’re a return to more communal, more social living in keeping with a generation that has transformed our way of thinking so many times throughout the decades – and doubtless it’s not done yet!
An Encore Living community is all of the above and more.